Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing amazing. I have enjoyed so much getting emails from many of you. It is nice to hear what is going on back home. I feel out of touch with what is going on in the great U.S.. For example, just yesterday I found out that Britney had to give her kids up to K-Fed! Come on people! How come no one thought to email me about that! Just kidding!

The past week has been a busy one. On Monday nights I have been coaching boys basketball. We had our first “real” practice on Monday, and I had an absolute blast! The boys are so respectful and eager to learn. I think they are very excited about having a coach and a structured practice. We have our first game coming up soon, so I will let you know how that goes. We still need a lot of work!

On Tuesday afternoon I went to an orphanage in a township called Nyonga. As soon as we pulled up in the car, the kids came running  to the gate. There were loads of kids, and the house was incredibly little. There was one cement house with a few tin shacks surrounding it. All the kids had to play in was a small area of dirt in the front.  Although no one told us, it was very obvious which kids had AIDS and which had been abused. Even as total strangers, the kids immediately came up to us to be held. Many of them would not let go to be put down. It was very sad to see, but I am glad that we will be going back at least once a week. Many of the kids just need to be held and loved.  They are also in a very dangerous township, and there are not enough people to watch the kids to make sure they are not wondering off or being taken for various reasons. I must also mention that although many of them were sick, some of them seemed unscathed by the conditions. If you think about it, pray for them. I know that sometimes we feel like praying isn’t enough, especially for something so big, but in fact praying is the best help we can offer. I read a quote by Oswald Chambers the other day that read, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works- prayer is the greater work.”

On Friday I was able to go into the township of Masaphumelele. There were three of us who walked around with a guy named Timothy who has been living there for about six months. In any of the townships, it is important to go in with someone who knows the people, otherwise it is incredibly unsafe, especially as white Americans. The people in the townships automatically think we are rich. It is funny because the kids came running up to us like we were celebrities. They even followed us around, amazed to see white people. They are so cute! Timothy leads a Bible study and is the coach for the basketball team. I met his team and there was definitely some trash talking going on! Our first game is against them! I talked with Timothy about teaching English in the community, because all of the people are from different countries in Africa. His face lit up! He also needs someone to lead a Bible study for women. My face lit up! So, if things work out right, I will be teaching English/leading a Bible study every Friday in Masaphumelele. I am incredibly excited! The people there need hope in the worst way. While we were walking around, I got the chance to pray for a young girl who had just lost her mother to AIDS. She was overtaken with grief. I realized then that only God has the power to help these people come out of the darkness they live in day in and day out, and I am thankful for the opportunity to share with them what I know about God’ love.