Thursday in South Africa

WOW ! A small group of us were allowed to do home visits in Dwaleni. We visited several people that were so ill that they were homebound. We watched as His Holy Spirit brought healing and salvation. I feel very humbled to have had experienced this day. After home visits we walked to the feeding center ( oh and everything is steep hills and small dirt paths between homes. Lots of chicken and roosters! ) The feeding center was filled with aproximately 200 hungry, (for food and love). We almost ran out of all the food, but God was at work and all were fed. It was heart breaking when some of the food ran out. We had balloons, games, coloring and face painting. I did face painting on most likely 100. Many of the kids had open sores and eye infections, my heart went out to them, they had to be in such pain. But still they were excited to get a "cat" face or hearts on their face. So much happened today that it may be awhile before it is all process. This team is so anointed and so loving, I have never experienced this much of the Holy Spirit day after day!!!!!!!LOVE IT! - Krista

The Lord is really good! Thank you all for praying for us. We can feel and see the effects of your prayers. The Holy Spirit has been strong!! We fed over 200 children today in Dwaleni and played games with them. I had pictures to give some of the children that my daughter-in-law sent with me. They loved looking at the pictures and the ones that received them were so excited. We are told they cherish things like this for years. The ladies and workers that work in these communities to feed these orphans need your prayers. They work hard and don't have a large enough place to feed the kids. Since we were here last year more children are being fed. And they realize that more will be coming...~~~Patti

Woohoo! What a day! I spent the morning with Ken and Katy Beth sanding down a metal door and windows that were donated for a staff member's home. After lunch we headed to one of the larger feeding stations. The kids there are poorer than the ones we were with yesterday and it showed greatly. Ken and I signed up to paint fingernails. When Lynn found out she burst out laughing. Apparently, she didn't think our fingernail painting skills would be that good. We were highly offended. Not really. I had so many children around me and over me wanting their nails painted that people couldn't see me. At some moments it was hard to breathe. As soon as I finished a hand, twenty were shoved in my face. Finally we got it down to a plan and a rhythm. I was praying over the hands of the kids as I attempted to do some form of a good job. Most of the kids were happy to just have one hand painted or they would have me paint a hand and run over to Ken to have him paint the other one another color. It was crazy! And those sweet, sweet faces. To go to school here you have to wear a uniform. Since most of the kids are very poor their uniforms are tattered and torn and let out and let out and let out. And still they wear them proudly and the school accepts the shape they are in because it is the best they have. I love that. - Nancy

I was in the group that visited people in the community that are sick and for the most part homebound. One of the most touching moments was seeing Stanley, a local full time volunteer, after visiting with a girl who couldn't walk. She had a disorder in her feet and couldn't walk. She had one lady that visited her every few days, but has no friends or visitors. She was soooo lonely. That really touched Stanley and praying for him and the girl was very moving. After that, we walked to the feeding center for the kids in the local schools. The children were lined up from smallest to biggest to make sure the younger kids got fed. By the time we were dishing out food to the older children the food at the bottom of the pots was getting smaller and thinner and it was so heartbreaking that the last few plates had no meat. We had some beef jerky in our bags so we improvised. Praise you Jesus! Each night we have a meeting and share our God moments. I'm pretty sure we're going to be up late tonight :-) ~ Renate