08-09-08

Couple of quick notes from our day today...

Our luggage completely arrived at Bethesda around noon. It is very dry and dusty so our socks were turning orange from the clay/dirt/sand. Thank you for your prayers for our luggage to arrive.

Would someone please tell Patrick that we found a person (one of the interns) that loves "Skyline Chilli" here in S'africa. Not only loves it but actually was a waitress there in Ohio...some world huh?

Today was a long and eye opening day. We went on the "Temba Tour" with the Cryans and Meredith. We drove through three poverty stricken townships. There are no words to describe the things we saw, and we will remember them forever. The people live in poverty like we have never seen before, and we are having a hard time putting it all into words. The homes are mostly tin shacks, no bigger than the living room in your home. None of them have running water in the home, electricity, or indoor plumbing. They have to search for wood to make fires to keep warm in the 30 degree weather that is here at night. Some of these homes are led by children. The mom and dad have passed away (often from AIDS, yet no one will claim that is how they died) and the oldest child drops out of school to provide for and take care of the younger siblings...some of which are infants. A handful of the orphans here at Bethesda are behind in school and have had a difficult time adjusting to life as a child again because before they came to Bethesda, they were raising their younger siblings. As we drove, it completely shocked us to see modern convience side by side with poverty, whether that be KFC next to a tin shack or the wireless internet that we are able to use just a football field away from people scavenging through other poor people's trash to find food.

Another humbling and sad experience we had today was going to the Temba Cemetary. Roger and Carol couldn't believe how many more grave sites were there since they had last visited in February. We saw once again the havoic and disaster the AIDS epidemic has caused in this country. We some countless graves of children, many who never lived to see their first birthday. Many were small mounds of rocks without a headstone. They decorated the graves with the baby's bottle or toys. There were hundreds of people that arrived on buses for the many funerals that were going on simultaneously throughout the cemetary. It was a very sobering and eye opening morning.

After lunch, we got to help one of the families here. The houseparents had to go into town; so we watched their nine children (6 of which were under the age of 4). Meredith, the intern here, helped as well. It was high energy for 5 hours. It was so good to finally spend some time with some of the children. The boys loved Andrew's red goatee and sideburns, they couldn't stop touching them. Kate wasn't left out though, her hair was styled too...the one and a half year old kept touching it and saying "Payloah" which means beautiful. They were so sweet and so full of life. Andrew also played an interesting game of uno with 3 of the 3 and 4 year olds...not sure of the rules but in the end, everyone was a winner! We had a great time with them.

We then walked next door to another family's home where we were to have dinner. This family has 6 children, ranging 5-13 years old. The dad is a pastor, an administrator of a school, and a houseparent...he is very busy. But was so interested in Andrew's work at the Holland Rescue Mission. Here in S'africa they don't have anything like that for the poor, but he compared what Andrew does with some of the ministries of his church (reaching out to orphans and abused women). It was a wonderful time of fellowship over dinner and the time of singing that was led by the little five year old girl. The dad also read some verses to encourage us and his family, followed by Andrew closing in a time of prayer. It was very special and great to interact and get to know this family. It was so amazing to see these many orphans apart of a great big family that loves God and is raising these children to love Him and serve Him.

Exhausted at 9 pm! Good night!