UPS and DOWNS

We have had a lot going on this week and I will do my best to give the short versions. Tuesday was a public holiday, youth day, but we had a team here and the Life Skill Educators wanted to hold hygiene day for the kids. They taught them how to cut their finger nails and toe nails and also how to wash their hands and feet. I was privileged to be asked to teach them oral hygiene instructions. I have also been blessed to have met a Colgate Rep. here that is supplying me with toothbrushes and toothpaste for the kids. We saw about 60 kids that morning.
Wednesday night was our Bible study and while we were waiting for everyone to come we heard screaming from over the wall. Mike and Tafadswa ran out of the gate only to find it was 2 of our girls that had been robbed. Fortunately, they didn’t have their phones on them and one of the girls had put her money in her mouth so they didn’t steal anything. They realized that Blessing wasn’t screaming and started trying to figure out what was in her mouth, about that time the other guys came around the corner and they took off over the wall. We spent most of our evening praying for peace and protection for them. Thank the Lord no one was injured.
Friday was another eventful day in one of our communities. Living Hope had an open day, which people can come to our facilities for free testing of HIV, diabetes, blood pressure, and to learn about the love of Jesus. For those that were tested we gave them food and an opportunity to spin a wheel for a prize. It is difficult to say how many people were seen because of the stigma associated with being tested. We do know most of them go to different communities to be tested for HIV so that the people in their community won’t know their status by their attitudes when they leave the site. Also in the same community of Masiphumelele, Living Hope paid to have a zinc building erected for the kids club about 4 weeks ago and the corrupt counsel of that area didn’t like it being on the property and ordered it to be taken down. The community of ladies was on our side and they were yelling at the counsel telling them to leave the building that the children needed Living Hope’s presence. Unfortunately, the end result after 4 hours of trying to negotiate resulted in having to take it down. There is much needed prayer for this community.
We had another grandson born last night his name is Landon Ross Talley. 45 minutes after Karen had him, Jordan had his computer set up at the hospital so we were able to see him on our computer here. Jordan had also sent a camera to us via Cooper, so everyone was able to see us too. Technology is wonderful. Thanks for your prayers and support!!

Great visit with Cooper

The last 2 weeks have been spent with Mike’s youngest son, Cooper. He graduated from high school on a Friday night, boarded a plane for Cape Town on Saturday, and arrived late Sunday evening. Mike and I made a promise to ourselves that we would try to spend as much time with him doing what tourists do but that we were also at our busiest time with volunteers. It has been an awesome couple of weeks he has seen all of the tourist attractions, including shark cage diving, and seen one of the most beautiful places in the world. Cooper has also been able to see all that we do and it has given him an understanding of our “call” to be here. I pray he will be able to convey this to his siblings. He has had the opportunity to work in the communities in kids club; he helped our maintenance guy by hanging a door and fixing a generator and lots of other small jobs. (This was right up his alley) Lastly, he had the opportunity to hang with the 11 volunteers on several different occasions. It has been quite the experience for him to be able to be with people from all round the world that were here because this was where God called them to be and the bonus was they are all close in age. Today is our last day and we are taking him, along with all the volunteers, to a Rugby game. It has been great for Mike and I know it has been great for Cooper too. As soon as Cooper arrives back in the states, he will embark on the next season of his life. He will be heading to Nashville to Diesel Mechanic School. We are very proud of him and pray this transition will be easy for him. Mike’s sister is going to let him live with them so he won’t have to get an apartment. That is a huge blessing from God!! Please pray for traveling mercies for him, the transition of leaving his family and friends(girlfriend), and for his mind to be focused on school.