hookers & the making of men...I have seen South Africa!

Exodus 4:12
" Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

Back row (girls): Ntombovuyo, Mandisa, Nandipha, Amanda, Siyamthanda
Front row (boys): Khanya, Aphiwe, Simphiwe, Siya

Beautiful picture. Beautiful kids. Seriously, I had a great day.

Thursday was my first day as Miss Watson, the substitute for the 3rd & 4th grade class at the farm school. It was quite a day, and I can't explain it in any other way than to say it was a blessing. I say that word a lot, but to be honest it's (to me) a very descriptive word for my life. School started at 8:15 am, and we began our day with an explanation of who I am and where I came from. Then we went on and I had them tell me their names and their age, and what their favorite subject was. The majority (7 out of 9) loved Math. So we did Math... for a long time. They were AMAZING! Division and multiplication, these kids were crazy about that subject! We moved on with the day and worked through English, I taught them what a noun was, and I felt like I accomplished something, yay! We did about an hour of reading, and the kids actually really enjoyed reading aloud... even the ones that were a bit slower, it was very impressive!! We didn't really touch on the science subject much because they didn't have good materials for that area...but we managed to learn a little about energy, and where it comes from... another great accomplishment. My day at the school at 2:00. What a great experience it was. I totally believe it was a God thing that I was there too. The right day, and the perfect experience... what an awesome God.

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So, about the girl that sits at the corner, she has become very friendly, and has grown to enjoy our company. Her name is Siphokazi. I found out (mom & dad, this is your answer) that she speaks Xhosa, so Unakho and I went to talk to her and figure out a little more about her and why she sits at the corner all day. We came prepared too, we had oranges for her & her mother and sisters. We discovered that she sits there because her mother tells her to. She also said that she will be starting school next year at the farm school, which was an odd discovery, since she looks old enough to be a student. We took a picture of her and I, and we went on our way back home. (I'll post that picture a little later, I don't have it ready right now.)

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Today was another trip to Motherwell. We trotted in the bright yellow Beetle to Mdengentonga, and Mfumisikuma. Those of you world travelers from March, those were two of the schools we did our HIV/AIDS training at. Anyways, I stopped by to give them photo albums full of pictures from the March trip and they were very thankful for us remembering them, and actually coming back. It was a fulfilling experience. I really think those kids in Motherwell are beautiful. I hope that doesn't sound creepy at all, but I think they are all special, and I wish I could spend more time in that town, soaking into just maybe one family, and seeing their hearts. I'm just blabbing now.

After we visited the schools we began looking for things to do, and Daniel decided it would be cool for Brooke & I to see the making of men. What I mean by that is, here there is a cultural tradition for boys, when they turn 18 for them to get circumcised. When that is over, they have to live in bushes for about 30 days (a month). They are not allowed to talk to girls, and they have to be painted in funky colors, and they just live in the bushes. No joke, but we failed to find boys living in the bushes...so they can become men. Kristi claims it's a very funny experience, to see one of them, but I missed out. Bummer.

On with the day...we went to the beach, and on the corner of the road we ran into Kristi's hooker friends. There were only three of them but Brooke and I approached them and they were very friendly. They told us their hooker names...? They were Vivian, Rosie, and Cynthia. Great names. So anyways, we began to explain who we are and we gave them oranges and we talked to them for a little while. Vivian told me that I must give her all my old clothes, and I told her that I don't live here, but I would hopefully come to visit her once more before I fly home to America. They were very sweet. Brooke and I got a rundown of a normal day for them. They charge R100 a round, which to convert to dollars you divide by seven. That's not much, but that's more than the normal pay for a laborer per day...R70, or $10...that's not a lot at all. Wow, we take so much for granted.

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We made two more beach runs recently, and it's much too cold to hop in the water, but the Oceans kids don't hesitate. They are brave. Brr.
I have spent more time at Oceans, and it has been fun. On Tuesday night we went to the movies with the older kids and saw Hairspray...amazing movie!! Seriously, watch it! That was totally awesome spending time with them doing that.

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Update: Wednesday with the Motherwell visit...it was perfect. It ran so smooth, and it was amazing to see people get their food, and have it paid for. They were so ready for their months supply of food. I was very happy to experience a little more of the Child Sponsorship program.

One mother & father in the Child Sponsorship Program with their whole cart full of food.

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--Traci Johnson, I met the mother of your family! She was so happy to get the goodies you had for her, and her kids. She was a very sweet lady, and has an awesome smile. The kids were in school so I wasn't able to get a picture of the whole family, but the mother was more than happy to have a picture taken, so I have that for you.

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Although I'm having an amazing experience out here in South Africa, I miss home, Kansas, and my cozy bed. It is so cold out here at night, I feel like I'm going to freeze to death. Also, I can hardly sleep with the mixture of noises made by all the animals that dwell outside the house. It's irritating, I miss my peaceful sleep (even though dad, you make lots of noise in the garage while I'm sleeping at home). I will be excited to be home on Thursday.

Thanks for taking so much time to read my blog, and to be so amazing in my life. All of you are great and I miss you. I will look forward to seeing those of you I can see when I get home. :)

I love you mom, and dad, and Ember!
Continue to pray for me during these last four days here, and also for a safe flight home! I'm not ready for the grueling 15 hour flight...by myself. eek!

Love you all,
Destiny Faith B. Watson