Blessed

5 months and 2 days ago Jennifer and myself jumped on a plane and headed to South Africa with no idea as to what it was going to be like, let alone what we were going to be doing for the next 9 months. Since then I have been blessed everyday! I get to live in an astonishingly beautiful place. I get to work with kids who have slowly stolen my heart and I get to do it all in the name of God. I have been able to meet some great people who I now consider family and I know I say this alot...but I really can't believe how fast this time has flown by! One of the biggest blessings I've received so far was getting the opportunity to have my family come over and see my life as I know it now. I loved being able to let them ultimately walk in my shoes for a day. They got to drive through the townships that I've grown to love, hug on the kids that have stolen my heart and see God's amazing beauty in the mountains and water that surround us. This last week God sent me another blessing!! My cousin Braxton has been backpacking around Europe for the last 2 months and his last stop was Cape Town, South Africa. It was so good seeing him!! I haven't seen him in over a year because he moved to Houston and well we both were always busy or out of the country. Anyways it was awesome having him here and letting him see first hand the work I do while I'm here. It's one thing to tell others about my experience but it's so much better for me to actually be able to show someone and let them be a part of my days. 

So with that said...there will be alot of pictures in this entry. Hope you enjoy em :] 

first picture in Africa! Went down to the waterfront 

Fortunately the Stormers, who is Cape Town's rugby team was playing their last home game before the playoffs. A huge group of us went. They won && it was fun...even though I didn't understand anything really. 

 jennifer 

 Braxton && myself 

Jennifer. Tammy. Danielle. myself

 us ladies trying to brave the South African winter. Weather is cold here y'all..

ladiess.

 even though it was freezing outside....you never turn down gelato! After the game we went and had some dinner at the waterfront and then some gelato. THEN went and saw the new Spiderman movie. SO good!!! everyone go and see it.

 glad they bonded. 

The weather here has been pretty chilly. But thankfully the last 2 days have been absolutely perfect! Nice and warm with not a cloud in the sky. Yesterday Braxton came to our side of the mountain and I got to show him around Living Hope and then take him out to Capricorn, the township I work in, and let him experience club. Unfortunately, for some reason, about half of the kids weren't there that day! May be because it was the first day of normal club && they may have still been in 'holiday club hours' mode. But none the less he got to see a little glimpse of what I do every afternoon. the kids loved him...he had one certain admirer, Nikita. 

Nikita 

 two of my favorites. Jeremiah && Calvin 

 Put Braxton in charge of the oranges. 

 Kids Club. learning the bible story...if you look real hard you can find me :] 

Before club, since it was a beautiful day we took Chapman's Peak Drive to show off our pretty home! I think Braxton enjoyed the view. 

Well he is currently on his way back to Texas! Can't say im jealous that he's getting to sit for the next 20 hours but I am a little jealous that he's going back home. Starting to look forward to leaving this journey and starting my next one! Love you Braxt, hope you had fun :] 

LASTLY. got to show yall how much fun I can bring to a party. haha just kidding..but really. SOO there is a girl here, her name is Amy. She moved here and is currently a volunteer nurse at Living Hope. Love her love her. Well for the last 8 weeks she took leave and went home to visit friends and family. Well while she was back in the states she turned 30! So naturally the day she got back we had to throw her a surprise birthday party! The theme was around the world because while she was away she visited many places including London and Paris so this was perfect. We each had to come representing a country in the way we dressed and then we had to bring food from that country as well. I sent that I was going to be Texas, but was quickly shot down because it wasn't a 'country'. Im obviously the only volunteer..besides Jennifer..that is from Texas, other wise they'd understand. SO instead I choose Mexico! While I was thinking about what to wear, I told Jennifer I am going to go with the full intention to win 'best dressed' award, even though there wasn't such thing. For some reason Meagan, my team leader in Capricorn just happened to have a legit sombrero at her house. WHAT! awesome..better believe I went and got it. When we got to the house that the party was out it was obvious I would have won the 'best dressed' award. haha so high five for me. Jennifer would have gotten second. ;) 

But here is the awesomeness that ensued that night. 

Mind you...some of these people at this party i'd never met before...while others I've met maybe once or twice. I think I'm finally to the point where I'm in my element. For those who know me back home...they know I love to have fun and always love making people laugh. Here however I've kind of been on the back burner and just that going with the flow, laid back kind a girl. But this night I was back to the fun. 

Surprised birthday girl Amy :]

foods from the different countries! I contributed some delicious chips&&hot sauce 

ladies && gentlemen....I give you me..mexican version. 

While looking for props in Capricorn, I found this bowl and jokingly told Jennifer to go as a Asian person. She absolutely did. 

 && this was the moment I just wanted to contribute to the fun. Natasha brought out the guitar because she thought it would be a great picture. But while she was taking the picture I decided to serenade everyone there. Unfortunately I am not fluent in Spanish so I don't know any songs BUT I sure did put every spanish word I knew into a melody. Im sure I looked ridiculous but I kept people laughing so it was worth it. 

 Tammy the South African && the mexican. 

 Julia. reppin England && Jennifer the Asian.

 But really...who wouldn't want to be our friends!! 

Like I said...blessed with fantastic friends, people who like me no matter how ridiculous I seem, scenery that still blows my mind, kids who make my day better, && a Lord who made us all. 

Count your blessings each && every day! I promise you God never gets tired of hearing how thankful you are for him and everything he has given you. 

:]

 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one bodyyou were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdomthrough psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:15