Well we had a very eventful Saturday night. First off, we had a traditional African Braai (so basically an African barbecue) for dinner, cooking and eating out in our courtyard. Have I mentioned that I love that it is summer here? Oh to be outside, all the time. The wireless here even reaches outdoors, so many of these posts are written while I am sitting out in the front garden with the most beautiful mountains stretching out before me. It is glorious.
Anyhow, whilst we were cleaning up from dinner, Justin decided that it was a grand idea to throw poor Danger in the pool... which then lead to all of us getting thrown in, naturally. Luckily, I got the claim-to-fame of being the first person to get Justin in during a water fight (when he went to chuck me in, I held on to his waist with a death grip, so he had no choice but to go in with me. sucker.). So with the exception of SJ (who was photographing with my camera, so no one dared to try to get HER wet... dangit I should have thought of that first) we all ended the evening in the pool, fully clothed, making the best of the situation. To round out the water fight, one of the brothers (ie: one of the priests who lives in the other building on the property) came up to ask Sue a question. Brother Barry is quite proper, so it was right embarrassing to have six of us in this little paddling pool without our togs. All he had to say was "at least you're all wearing clothes'.... ah well. Once we all got done splashing and dunking one another, we all dried off and went to hang out with Danger and his friends- another fun night out in Lesotho. Oh, and of course we ended the night with midnight snacks around the pool before heading to bed, which we all agreed was the best part of the night :o)
Sunday was yet another great day. SJ and I went out and did some shopping for the people who live in the Kome Caves. At their request we brought them sugar, salt, tea, biscuits, nuts, and some sweets for the kids. Everything that we got had to be non-perishable since they have no refrigerators or anything in their tiny homes built into the caves. It was such a blessing to meet all of the children who live there, as they take such joy in the small treats that we brought them. From the time we began hiking down the mountain to the caves, the children followed SJ like she was the pied piper. It was quite cool to see how much they all love her, and how they look forward to her monthly visits.
I have found it fairly amusing how we are treated almost like celebrities here, because there are so few white people around. Nearly every child we meet rushes to touch our very strange skin, or reaches for our hair to pull it, brush it, and 'style' it. Just this morning at the preschool, they had a private school come to visit and bring donation clothing for the kids at the orphanage; within 5 minutes of them being there they were gathered around SJ and I, sitting in our laps, playing with my hair, and asking us a hundred questions. They were precious.
So today begins the counseling training; I spent a good part of this morning with MeNeo, who runs the orphanage of around 30 children, answering her questions about 'problem behaviours' and helping to support and encourage her in the great work that she is doing with her very extended family. She loves all of the children as if they are her own, and it shows. The little ones that I work with every day are well adjusted, and you can tell that they feel safe and cared for. I helped MeNeo brainstorm how to keep affirming each child and to make sure that each child knows that they are unique and special to help them form healthy identities even without the luxury of parents that are all their own. I will meet with MeNeo a few more times, before my time here is up.
This afternoon I am headed to the MIS orphanage to do a group session with the teen girls there. I have been talking with SJ, and I think I am going to design a curriculum for her to do a psycho educational group once a month with them once I am gone to help them with self-esteem, identity formation, self-efficacy, and relationships. I am so excited to meet with these girls and hopefully help them understand how special they are. Then this evening I am meeting with the other missionaries and the staff of the MIS orphanage to give them an introduction to trauma and answer any questions that they have for me to the best of my ability, so please be praying for my time with them. Also pray for the language barrier, as the workers at the orphanage speak very little English. Once again, thank you all for your prayers and support! God bless.
"'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
~Jeremiah 29:11
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