im back

well not going to lie, I forgot I even kept a blog there for awhile! But don't yall worry...I'm a back! && I'm sure your thrilled. 

sooo what has been going on since the last time I updated this thing? 

Well this last friday I went back to Green Market Square. Jennifer was having a stay inside and watch movies all day kinda day. So I decided I needed to get out of the house. I drove into town, got the BEST parking spot...parking is ridiculous downtown. Anyways walked to the market and first person I saw was Max, this rasta guy that sold me my last painting I put a picture up of. He came and gave me a hug, people here are so friendly. He said he was surprised I really came back since I said I would. We talked for a good while. At one point he put his headphones on me so I could listen to his music. He was listening to some Jamaican style gospel music...it suited him well. 

I then proceeded into the market where everything was still free to touch. Saw faces I remembered from the last time and they seemed to remember me too. I found out one of the BEST reasons for actually following through with saying you'd be back...well first because it's always good to do what you say but secondly...there would be a few times where i'd come up on someone and they'd be like "ahh your back! now look and see what you want...you told me you'd come back and buy something". To which I responded "ohh yes but I still need to look around, I'll come back next time and you know I'm good for it"! and bam....they leave me alone and don't pull out every trick to try and get me to buy something. pure genius. should of done this the first week here. haha

so what im sayin is i've mastered this whole get people to leave you alone at the market business. :] 

BUT I did buy a new belt...pretty much impossible to not leave there with something. 

But I did love walking through there and hearing my name being called from different people! Nice feeling being known in the middle of a huge city. 

love the little things. 

work side of things have been good. club's been going well. I taught the lesson this week. We've been learning about rules and how having rules isn't always a bad thing. Soooo obvious..I pulled out the 10 commandments and just talked about how God has rules for you too and what not. Got a little booklet for them to put together, it seemed to work out good. On Tuesday, Danielle came to club to observe. She is the curriculum coordinator and we asked her to come to give us ideas on how to handle the discipline issue in Capricorn. Anyways she was asking my older kids questions about what I talked about and just stuff about the 10 commandments and they rocked it! Answered all her questions and it just made me smile...they really were listening. Most of the time I just hope they are. So that was nice. 

I also got to go on a home visit this week. We go to the kids homes to meet whoever they are staying with and just let them know who we are and what their child does in the afternoons at club. Well unfortunately in Overcome we found out that 2 of the kids that actually haven't been in club in awhile, well their mother hung herself. So Ilana and myself walked through Overcome to their house. We had to get one of the older kids to show us where it was. I liked walking through Overcome. I hadn't done it before because it's one of the more dangerous communities. Anyways we get to the house and this viscous looking dog comes out a barking and just angry. Ilana squeals and jumps back a bit. I stand there and laugh at her. While were waiting for the dad to come out, Ilana looks at me and says she's scared. I told her everything is going to be fine, just got to go talk to him. The dad comes out and hits the dog and we go inside. This is going to sound awful but the first thing I thought of when I walked in was how it looked straight out of the scene of a horror movie. It was really dark, there was laundry hanging from the ceilings, random stuff just around. Walls made from different pieces of wood or scrap metal. And inevitably, while looking around, I got curious as to where she did it. Kind of morbid but lets be honest..you probably would think the same thing. Just a erie place, but also a place this family called home. The dad's name was Jeremiah. Super nice man, looked just like his kids. We introduced ourselves and asked how he was doing. Asked if he was the primary care taker of the kids and how he was going to support them. Really these visits are just to make sure our kids are being taken care of. It was obvious his kids come first in his mind which was nice. We asked if he had any idea why the kids mom killed herself and he just said the truth is she was on drugs...not much more to it than that. He mentioned many times he missed her and each time I noticed a little tear in the corner of his eye. So sad that this is just a part of life in these communities. Death happens everyday and you just have to keep living life. 

At one point he was saying something about the house and asked if we'd like a tour. I said absolutely! I'd always wanted to see the inside of these people's homes, especially farther in the communities where they are literally shacks. It was surprisingly big. Some rooms were so hot because of no windows. Full of flies but also full of alot of love. the kids had toys everywhere. It was eye opening but in a good way. I've always enjoyed the little things and this just reiterated the fact that I personally don't need a ton to make me happy. I mean it really is just stuff isn't it? After our tour we were about to leave and I prayed with him and Ilana. Just asking God to comfort them in this time of distress and wrap his arms around his kids. He seemed very appreciative. Just a cool moment. 

Another fun day in Overcome was when one of the kids brought 3 kittens to club. I'm not really a cat person....but these little things were too cute. The one I was holding climbed up and sat on my neck under my hair. I think he liked being out of the wind and in the sun. So yes..like all animals, they're dang cute when they are babies! 

ALSO. stuff like this is why I know being here is doing some good. We asked the kids what was some things we could do to make club more fun or just different things we could do to change it up a bit. This was one of the answers from one of my older kids in my group. Warmed my heart seeing it :] Sweet boy.

Today in Capricorn, ALL my kids actually sat down and did the craft. I couldn't believe it. Usually Denzil, the kid towards the back standing in the gray shirt, well he's usually 'too cool' to participate or if he is he's purposely annoying every other kid. He's an unpredictable mess but I have yet to give up on him. He's already a leader...I just wish he would use his talents for good. Today was a rare occurrence when he did such thing. He actually picked up all the trash for me and put the colors up. Then asked if he could help me with the food. I just looked at him and said who are you? What you don't know is earlier before club, him and another kid were having words with each other, no idea what was said, it was in Afrikaans but I bet everything I own it wasn't anything good. Denzil had a big ole rock in his hand && I don't trust him, specially with something like that. I sat him down and talked to him. He gave me the silent treatment, or just talked in Afrikaans. But I got up and said well no use sittin with you if you won't talk to me and he told me he was never coming back to club again. I just said well thats fine but unfortunate because I'm leavin here pretty soon and you probably won't see me again. Once club started he walked in and was fine. When he's good he's good...and when he's bad & no one wants to be around him. && as hard as it is not to just yell at him or hit the daylights out of him when he does stuff...I have no doubt that's what he's used to outside of club. So I hold it together and just show him I care about him in whatever way I can. 

Every kid needs to be shown they are worth being loved. 

Last week was miss Tamsin's birthday! we got together and let our competitive juices flow and played some board games. Played Apples to Apples most of the night which was hilarious. I only got one green card...but obviously had the BEST answers each time. At one point the card I put in was just awful...but so funny. && once they found out it was me that did it...just seemed to make everyone laugh a little harder and proceed to say they weren't surprised in the least. Sorry to yall who have no idea what i'm talkin about since you haven't played this game. But with that said....go play it. It's a good time. 

 There are 3 new guys staying at the house now. They just graduated from Wheaton and are staying here for the next 3 months to volunteer with Living Hope as well. So right now our house is all volunteers. Kind of nice. But the other night we walked down to watch the sunset. When we got down there we were greeted by two beautiful views. The sunset over the ocean, then a rainbow by the mountains. && to think some people don't believe in God. 

Ha. last Sunday it was cold and rainy && we decided it was a stay in and watch movies all day kinda day. It was pretty fantastic. This was where you'd find us if you were in the house. I even took a nap that day! first one since I got here actually. relaxing. 

But yes so there ya go, a little update on my life. Not too much longer until I leave my life here and go back to a new journey. I will admit it's starting to get hard for me to not count down the days until I leave. I know I need to live up each day and not think about leaving, but thats next to impossible when you know what's waiting on you back home. Can't wait to see everyone I miss and love so much. maybe possibly excited to see one person more than others ;) but none the less miss you all! October is almost here. crazy! 

Leaving yall with this. Been helping me lately with thinking about what the heck I'm going to do when I get back and all the decisions I have to make. 

loveyouguys