Hi friends!

I am finally at a computer where I can blog!!! It's been quite a while since I've gotten to check my email and was overwhelmed by how many comments I got to read. I just started crying, thinking how grateful I am to have so many friends praying for me and thinking of me. This past week has been incredible...the Lord has been doing so much and teaching me so much. The bandwidth on computers here is very limited, so I will need to load pictures after I get home. That's just fine...I'll get to do post-Africa updates!

Well, too many wonderful experiences to describe them all, so I'll just write a few:
Highs:

• The game reserve on Tuesday was awesome! (Brad, I don't remember the name...sorry!) We saw rhinos, zebra, lions, cheetahs...and we even got to walk around with giraffe! (Jen, we actually did have the same experience that we had at the zoo and I have pictures! :)
• We have been working with a local community center in one of the poorer neighborhoods, playing games with the kids and teaching Bible studies. We took some of the older kids up to camp this weekend and had a wonderful time. I rode on the bus with them to camp and spent the whole time talking with some teen girls (again, big surprise!). We did a low ropes course for some team-building exercises and had small group discussions with them. I feel so thankful that I got to connect with some of the girls.
• Yesterday, we had a day off and our team went to a market for some awesome shopping! We went down to the Waterfront, which reminded me so much of San Francisco. I fell in love with the area and could definitely see myself here some day (don't worry Mom...I still want to come home!!) Then we went to an authentic African restaurant called Moyo. They painted our faces in traditional African design, we had an amazing buffet and they performed live music and dance.

Low:

• There hasn't been one ultimate low experience, but the Lord has been teaching me some hard lessons. I have definitely learned that, when God calls you, you just need to show up and let Him work. This has been hard to learn, but I definitely know it now

Thank You:

• Safety and health!
• Amazing, life-changing experiences and wonderful new friendships
• Connections with the community...the kids LOVE us! They will literally chase after our vans as we drive away.

I love and miss you all so much!!!

alair