November 9

Sorry for no picture today, I've been sitting here for over 30 minutes and the uploading just isn't happening today :)

This week I’ve gone out to Capricorn to visit my friend Naaz at Rainbow Educare—her preschool (she’s the principal). I went out Monday to take some pictures of the newly painted building for them, and let me just tell you about the unique experience I had that day. I met their handyman, Mango, and he decided that he wanted to put on a little show for me…So, how often do you get to watch an African man dancing to Michael Jackson?? I mean, it was pretty impressive, and kind of made me think of the scene in Napolean Dynamite where he danced in front of the whole school. It was one of those classic moments that I’ll probably remember forever, and don’t worry I have it all on video. Then after that he sang “Honky Tonk Angel,” (not sure who sings it, but he definitely sounded like Elvis… )

Anyway, I’ve gone off on a tangent…I went back on Friday to deliver the pictures that I had taken. They were sooo excited to see the pics (if you haven’t read the other blogs…a group of volunteers recently painted the inside and outside of the building—so Naaz had asked me to take the before and after shots). Seeing these pictures will help them to remember how far God has brought their little crèche!!

Today, Naaz told me stories of all of the ways that God has provided for the needs of Rainbow. Just this morning, someone had walked in off the street just to take a look at the facilities and asked, “What do you need?” “A ceiling, for one of the classrooms,” was the answer. And just like that…God provided!! The lady is going to fund the much needed new ceiling. Another time, a donor gave in support tiling for one of the classroom floors. Just to hear Naaz speak of God’s faithful provision and her trust in Him to provide for the needs of this preschool was amazing to me. Do I live my life with such confidence in God, then overflow with joy and gratitude for His provision??

No doubt, she has her share of challenges. After the ceiling and tile stories, she told me that yesterday a sewage pipe had overflowed in the crèche and you know how nasty that can be…I believe she described it as a “poo factory.” ☺

I looked for little Robin (a 4 year old student at the crèche who has become special to me ☺), she was not there today and had not been all week. Naaz has talked with her father today, and all we can do is pray that all the kinks that have kept her from school this week will be worked out and that someone in her family will make sure that she gets to there each day. Thank the Lord that since Robin has started attending Rainbow Educare, she has someone like Naaz looking out for her. Now Robin has an advocate in Naaz and her teacher at Rainbow.

In the last blog I mentioned that Living Hope was having a “Get Tested” day at the local mall. We set up a booth with lots of HIV/AIDS educational info, brochures, etc. And there was HIV testing—12 minutes to know your status. Many people don’t even want to know their status because they don’t want to change their behaviors or admit that they may be living a risky lifestyle. So to even get tested is a big step…

A great story happened that day…On the way back from lunch, Natalie ran into one of the groundskeepers at our flat—Martin. He had seen us at the mall and asked her what we were doing. Natalie explained and asked him if he’d been tested. Martin said no, and that he was afraid!! Nat tried to convince him that no matter what the outcome, it was a good idea to find out his status. He asked if she’d be at the booth that afternoon, she assured him that she would, so he said he’d come at 2:00. After 2:00, he came by…but still said “I’m afraid!!” He had to go do some shopping, then would come back, he said, all we could do was hope. Anyway, hours later he finally came back and had the courage to do it!! He just walked right up and got in line (or the queue, as they say in SA). I guess he just needed some time to convince himself. How amazing…this really shows that Living Hope is doing wonderful community work. People who would never in a million years find out their HIV status are doing it!! This is a huge step to fight the ignorance that keeps the disease from taking lives.

It was fun to be able to support and encourage Martin that day in his very courageous choice to get tested!! Zana, Nat and I were kind of like his cheerleaders…we jumped up and down when we saw him come to the table then got so excited when he came out—knowing his status!! He kept saying thank you to us…and when we saw him a couple of days later he thanked us again “for all the we did for him that day.” He later admitted to walking by the booth 4 or 5 times before he actually stopped by. This is a disease that thrives in an environment of ignorance, denial, secrecy, and stigma…and it’s exciting to be a part of a ministry that is pro actively seeking to erase all of these things---not just in the name of good health but in the name of Jesus.

Next week, me and my wives and a few other friends will be heading up to Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls (one of the 7 natural wonders of the world). I am SOOOOO excited!! Please pray for our trip- our safety, that all the details will come together perfectly, and that we’d have a fun time!! Pretty sure that we are going to raft down the Zambezi River---yikes!! If you don’t know about what is going on in Zimbabwe, I’d encourage you to research the current situation in that country. It’s a very sad and desperate situation that we hear about all the time here- I’m not sure if it is in the news in the US at all, but you need to be aware…so find out, then PRAY!!