Yesterday I still didn't have to go to work, so I slept in then decided I wanted to go to club. When I got out to Overcome it was nice to be 'welcomed back' by the kids. But my happiest moment was this afternoon. This morning I went into the main office in Capri and saw everyone..did some work then went out to Capricorn. Now like I've mentioned many times before, there are some boys I'm really trying to encourage and work with. I've seen some progress in Denzil about not being disruptive and mean to the other kids but nothing besides that. Well TODAY I get to club and he rides in on his bike with his normal tough guy facade and is riding around popin wheelies when he sees I'm watching. Then he comes over to me and stops his bike. I just say hey and he looks at me and goes...Shelby! Where were you ALL week last week?? I just smiled and said 'I was with my family...what did you miss me or something?' and his tough guy facade turned into a smile and he said yep and hugged me. My heart melted a little bit, it was super nice coming back to that. Then when club was over Denzil and Jeremiah stayed later and said they wanted to hang out with me a little longer. Slowly but surely I'm getting through to these boys and I couldn't be more excited. Just hope God continues to use me even if it's just to show them someone here cares very much about them and loves them. Soooo yes. Great first day back :)
SOOOOOO now to this last week with my family!
They arrived on Friday, June 1st. Now the plan was that I was just going to go check in at the hotel and hang out there untill they got there from the airport. Now who in their right mind would really think I'd go along with that plan...I OBVIOUSLY went up to the airport to surprise them. At one point I thought my mom saw me while walking across the bridge and I threw up my hood and crisis was adverted.
Well I stood behind some people to get these pictures. I guarantee you someone in that airport was thinking I was up to no good. Finally Kenzie saw me when they were all there talking to the lady that was picking them up and then it was a big ole surprise. :]
this will be a mostly pictures entry
** if you click on the pictures you can see them bigger**
Well while they were here we did alot of things!
Went to Cape Point, where we saw some Ostrich's. I was slowly getting closer to it and it began to make noises at me. So this was as close as I thought necessary!
We then went and checked out the Two Oceans Aquarium. I love love aquariums && zoo's...yep I pretty much turn into a little kid and ohh and ahh over everything!
Also went and checked out Boulders beach. It is where you can go hang out with the penguins. Now for all of yall who doubted me when I said there are indeed penguins in Africa....proof!
Then we drove the 3 hours to Cape Agulhas. Now this place is a tiny town and is known for being the most southern point in Africa, where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean meet. I told everyone that there is absolutely nothing to do here except say you've been...so we naturally went! Mom will never give up a good photo op.
This picture of my nanny && pop might possibly be my favorite ever.
Another fantastic thing we did was go up on Table Mountain!! the morning we went it was beautiful. The morning fog in the city was slowly leaving so we got a beautiful view of Cape Town. I found out that Table Mountain is now one of the 7 wonders!! so awesome...I know they are constantly changing but visiting the 7 wonders is one of the things on my bucket list :]
p.s. I live on the other side of the last mountain you see in this picture :]
ohh I had to.. :]
After we went up on Table Mountain we went over to Signal Hill. Here the SA Navy sets of a cannon at noon every day except Sunday and Holidays. I promise there is a certain reason...but unfortunately I only remember getting my eardrums rung after standing a few feet behind the cannon when it went off. Shelby-0 Cannon-1
Hope yall are enjoying the pictures!
Saving the best adventure for last! Got to cross something off my bucket list this past week. We went on an African Safari! Now the weather was certainly not ideal but I still loved every second of it. I really want to go up and do a week long safari now! We got to see the big 5 (cape buffalo, rhino, elephant, Lion, leopard) with the exception of the leopard. Our guide said he has been working there for 3 years and has only seen the leopard once! Now I took quite a few pictures here of course but I'll just show my favorites to spare yall some time!
beautiful rainbow to end the trip
So yes that was our week in South Africa in a few pictures! When we weren't off sight seeing or visiting new places you'd find all of us down on the waterfront. Our hotel was just down the road so we were here every night.
Im officially the adventurous eater in the family. This meal consists of kudu, crocodile, ostrich, venison sausage && warthog!
Well it comes without saying that I had a great time showing my family around and letting them see where I work. I think their eyes were open to the hardships that many people in this world, especially in Africa, face...extreme poverty. I remember the first time I was in Ghana, experiencing it for the first time, looking into the eyes of people who live in mud huts, having my mindset completely changed. It's one thing to hear about it but it's a totally different thing seeing it with your own eyes. My dad actually told me that he was talking to one of the guys that worked at the hotel and I came up in conversation and my dad mentioned I worked with the kids in a township and the man apparently couldn't believe I actually went in to work there. I just thought why not? These kids need just as much if not more love and attention that any other kid out there. I love doing what I'm doing and I know that God is keeping us protected while were doing what we do. I am not any superior to these people in God's eyes and that's the mindset you have to have when working here.
Mankind wants glory. WE want health. We want wealth. We want happiness. We want all our felt needs met, all our little human itches scratched. We want a painless life. We want the crown without the cross. We want the fain without the pain. We want the words of Christ's salvation to be easy...
- John Macarthur
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