Missions Momma

This week was packed with all kinds of things.  First of all I have started going to a new gym that is cheaper than the one I was previously going to.  Well I had a meeting with a personal trainer and he set up a new program for me so this past week I was getting used to that.  I am so glad to say that I have not been too sore which is such a wonderful praise!! 

As far as LivingHope is going I went to children's club in Mountain View this week as well as Red Hill.  On Thursday I went to Mt View and it was so much fun.  I went to just hang out at club and see how things were going and ended up helping with the small ones(like 3-6 year olds) they were so precious and just laughed at me when I was trying to say certain words in Afrikans!!  I was working in the office this week finishing up creating the assessment piece that is going to be used to evaluate afternoon children's clubs.  On Thursday night some of the us got together at Rene (South African who is becoming my new SA mom) for dinner and watch the president of SA give his state of the nation's speech.  

Friday was training day as always and I was looking for something fun for the LSEs to do for the first hour because we were waiting on the team leaders so I got this idea that we all needed to make cards for people in our lives that sometimes we just don't get a chance to tell them how much we care.  The project went really well we all became like little children and had stickers, crayons, markers, and all of that fun stuff.  It was just a nice relaxing time.  Then we went over curriculum and I had to introduce the assessment to all of the LSEs and it went over very well.  I was watching them to see their reactions and it all seemed like it went well.  I am waiting to see if I hear anything from them.  I am going to start the evaluations on Monday.

I had the chance to have lunch with a friend on Friday afternoon who has recently gotten engaged so that was lovely.  Friday night I went to a concert at the chapel at Living Hope.  The concert was for the children of Red Hill to help them raise money because 32 of them do not have bus transport to go to school.  The government is not doing anything right now and so they are trying to help the kids do something and be a part of the solution.  The kids did such a wonderful job singing  and then some of the young boys did gum boot dancing and then some of the teenage girls sang!  It was so precious the kids were so excited and they raised about 3, 400.00 Rand.....  which is awesome and will cover the cost of transport for ONE WEEK. 

Saturday I just relaxed in the morning and then in the afternoon I went to Ocean View because some of the Life Skill Educators are in a band and they were having a concert.  Then I had to go to a bridal shower.  There is nothing like  a South African bridal shower because they do things quite differently.  That night Avril asked me to help with a dinner that Living Hope was doing for the married couples.  She was suppose to host it but when John was put in the hospital I said I would help.  So Al (another volunteer) and I hosted it.  There were suppose to be like 8 couples but only two came.  It was a quiet night but I was glad to be able to help.  It is humorous to know that two single people were helping at a marriage dinner!  The evening went well and we had a good time.

Sunday....good old Valentines Day.  I went to church in the morning and then went home and changed and drove to the mall because I was meeting a couple people for lunch  and then going to the movies.  The problem was we were going to go and see Valentines Day but it was sold out so we went and saw Avatar.  Then I went and spent some time with Melanie and Kendra and we watched this new tv show we have gotten hooked on.

Monday.....back to work in the office.  I spent the morning just working on things here and there.  I also this afternoon started doing observations/assessments at children's clubs.  I did the first one and it went well.  I am looking forward to this being a good process....we shall see how it goes!!  Then I went to the gym, went home cooked dinner and relaxed for the evening!