Holidays

Now that school is over, the teachers have all dispersed to their homes or other jobs for the holidays, and I have also left the farm.  Though I did not go far…  I am now at Lily of the Valley where most of the high school students who attend Hope Valley live.  Originally I was just told I was coming here for the week after the school let out to practice my Zulu with the kids, but because Nikki (the other SALTer) is now placed here at the orphanage I will spend most of my holidays here.  Except when we are on retreat with MCC staff and our learning tour trip to Lesotho!

Being here so far has been good. Nikki and I are staying in a house together and making our own meals. I am enjoying getting to eat more than just toast and something else for supper and having more variety in the food I eat.  Though I am finding it a challenge to decide what I actually what to eat. Good thing Nikki is here to help make decisions! :)

Because we are going on retreat on Sunday it feels like I will get some what settled in here and then leave. But I know I will be coming back.  It was funny to have kids I did not know my name come up to me and yell “Ms. Rebecca!” from across the compound.  I am glad they feel comfortable enough to come and talk to me already.  I have even been able to connect with some of the high school students which I like because I will be able to talk to most of them again when we get back to school in January.  My main project while I am here will be reading with the kids.  Bridge and Hilary (the managers of the Lily of the Valley Village) have asked me to take the time to sit with some of the kids who need practice reading.  Today Nikki and I made a list of the kids who were needing some extra help.  Once I have read with each of them I will be able to tell Nikki who needs the most improvement and then once I am gone she will work one-on-one with them.

Each morning at 8:00 the volunteers and staff are welcome to join in on prayer to start the day together.  And we did this at school but for some reason this just seemed more intentional and it has been a good thing to start the day.  It has also encouraged me to get up in the mornings and read my Bible.  It has been a really long time since I did this.  I think I thought that once I got to started on this trip I would just be natural to start reading my Bible all the time and that my relationship with God would just grow stronger.  But really it has not been that way.  I have not really been intentional with reading my Bible and spending time with God.  So the past few mornings I have been getting up a few minutes earlier and reading my Bible and just taking the time to pray about different things that come to mind, about my day, about home and about life in general.  I will let you know in a few weeks how it’s going and if I am still being intentional about getting up. 

I am looking forward to the retreat with everyone! Especially because there is lots of time for us to go to the beach and enjoy the sun!  There is also lots of time to just relax and do simple things like make crafts, watch movies and play games!  We also will have some sessions that different people will lead and I think these will be good!

Until next time go and enjoy some time at the beach!! …Oh wait!! You all have snow! Haha ;) Well go and enjoy the snow for me! Make a snowman or snow angel or go have a snowball fight for me!!

P.S. Sorry for no pictures will get some for you soon! :)