Stuck...

Just an hour before i was headed to the airport to wait for the third day in a row i was sitting trying to talk myself into being thankful for the little things going on around me. I was trying to remind myself that i am safe, i don't have a family or home that has been destroyed by a storm. I am also not someone who is waiting to fly home to New York to possibly...nothing. Now i sit here eating lunch truly beginning to realize just how grateful i really am. Yes, i hate being in the airport for hours and hours for days. But if i had gotten on the plane on monday i wouldn't have met two missions teams, one of which has kind of taken me on as another member of their team. I wouldn't have heard the story of a precious South African man who drove me to the airport this morning or had that great conversation with the 22 year old man who made my dinner at my hotel last night. I wouldn't have been blessed by the smile of a beautiful woman who buried her husband last week. Sometimes it does feel hopeless and that i will be stuck here forever but when i look around on that plane, instead of getting on a plane with complete strangers i will be sharing a flight with real people who i can now call friends. 

Wherever i am through this journey i seem to keep finding mothers who take care of me. In KFC an indian woman wanted to call me later to make sure i was safe and okay. In line yesterday i stood by a woman who later would come up to me just to make sure i was still doing alright. And not to mention the many people who put me before themselves in line because they know my own mother wants me home since it has been so long. So yes i am dying to get called to be on that 19 hour flight home but i would be blind if i didn't see the joy that surrounds me. This is entire experience is reminding me that when i am stuck anywhere; maybe a christmas shopping line, the doctors waiting room or even in church that the people around me are not just bodies but they are people with stories that may even change your life forever. So next time you are annoyed at a long line stop! Why not open your mouth and ask the other annoyed person next to you their name! Just try it!

Hope you are blessed! I am! 

Wow! The Joburg airport is listening to country music! Ha!

Road trip!

Starting about three months ago Shelby and I decided we needed to go on a little trip before we head home for Texas. After a lot of discussion we decided on a road trip down the Garden Route. We were going to rent a car and head east with zero plan and thats exactly what we did. After a few little hitches with getting a car we started on the road with just us and the road. Oh and we had another guest along for the ride. A friend of mine, Rencia, came in for the passion concert and she road with us to her home in Jeffery's Bay. We had a few things in mind that we wanted to do but for the most part we had no clue what this trip was going to hold. Well, we had a blast! Here's what we did...

We started out our trip first with an amazing upgrade! I was in complete shock when i saw our new rental. I kept ooing and ahing because i felt so priviledged! So we said goodbye to dear jackie and headed in this new beauty. Jackie was so wonderful though. We realized that she was absolutely perfect for the dangerous areas we had been working. It would not be recommended to take this newer and nicer car into our areas. But for the road trip, she was perfect! :)

So this was day one. We took a road called Route 62 which reminded us of Route 66 in the US. It was a beautiful drive! We had some good times on that road...

Some times of singing and dancing...

And there was some leaping. :)

Oh and there was some dried fruit too.

Anyways, we decided we needed to hang out with some ostrich because we have been seeing them everywhere since we got to SA. The time had come... I decided I didnt like them very much.

Right next to where we were staying was a dirt road that went to a beautiful and very cold waterfall. I loved it!

We then headed to a place where we had wanted to go since the beginning...the Cango Caves! They were absolutely amazing! I kept wondering how people could possible not believe in God. How in the world would something so incredible just happen?

After the caves we continued to the Cango Wildlife Park where we saw animals that i fell completely in love with. The white tigers played and played in a way i have never seen before. I could have watched them for hours.

We also had a few encounters. :) I was a little nervous about the snake but when it was on me i was fine because it was the coolest feeling. It you havent touched a snake you need to because they feel awesome!

On a few adventures we came across some amazing dirt roads. There is nothing more fun than picking roads and driving down them. This has become something Shelby and i do often and we have been blessed every time!

So beautiful!

Here is Monkeyland! This was a very unique place i thought because there werent any cages. Yes there was a fence but when you go on a tour it is like you are walking through a forest with monkeys all around you. I saw so much more than i expected. We decided this day would be declared monkey day. Before and after we went to Monkeyland we ran into large groups of baboons. Shelby and i find it interesting that we are now very used to seeing baboons around all the time. Interesting to be used to baboons roaming the streets.

One of our friends here told us about a beach that no one ever goes to. So we went and enjoyed its beauty. Oh and Shelby played with some jellyfish.

This in the highest bungee jump in the world! We thought people were a little crazy when we were watching. :/

And now for the BEST DAY EVER!!! The day started out with us going to the Elephant sanctuary. We were pretty excited!

I might have been just a tad too excited...

:/........

We quickly bonded with them! :)

I mean, who wouldnt bond with this precious animal!!!

Then........we headed to our game drive!!!

We were the only two because it was raining...but NOTHING was going to stop us from doing this! So we went on and we saw some pretty great animals!

And some more...

And for those of you who dont know, i have been wanting to see a wild giraffe since i came to Africa. I cant really tell you why, i just did! And i saw them! :) I even prayed for them and God sure did deliver! 

This little baby starred at me for a few mins and winked at me several times. :) 

If that wasnt all enough...on our last day we stopped in a place called Hermanus. This place is one of my favorites! It was absolutley beautiful and the moment we got out of the car we saw two whales swimming and playing. I had seen whales several times before but this time they were having so much fun. They made me see the incredible glory of God and made me feel so blessed! They were so beautiful!

Then on our last hour home this is what we saw through our windows! 

I can NEVER say that i am not blessed beyond all measure!

I am blessed!

Beautiful Muizenberg!

The past month of September we did team building activities. This was them playing soccer on all fours.

They work so great as a team.

They had to build the tallest tower. It didn't hold up very well!

They had to build the tallest tower. 

They had to carry people over a "river".

We made an awesome maze! They loved it!

This past week we had a team from Tennessee come for a week! They were a blessing!

Teaching the kids a new song for Holiday club.

I love these girls! Unati, Linda, and Cinazo.

Chubby Bunny!

The container was decorated for Holiday club. Looks pretty good I think!

For the last day of Holiday club and my last day with Living Hope we decided to take the teens hiking. We went to this cave which is called Elephants Eye! It was an amazing experience to share with them.

The whole gang! Oh how I will miss them!

This is usually what happens. If the doors are unlocked then about 10 kids will pile in.

Jade and Tevon. They give me such a hard time but it is all out of love.

Ilana and Stacey! It was such a blessing to work with them over the past 8 months. They have become family!

Nieem, he has one of the sweetest hearts!

This is Rudolph! I absolutely love this kid. 

These teens have truly changed my life and I can't believe I am leaving them!  

These boys bring me so much joy.

Shelby's awesome camera skills!

Woohoo! Passion was just about to start! I had been looking forward to this all year!

Lauren!

My friend, Rencia, came to visit. :)

So incredible to experience this while being in Africa. There was something so special about being in Cape Town for this!

Oh Lauren!

This is Chantel and Tammy! They have become dear friends of mine. I will be sad to say goodbye!