I'll Stand For You

Well Robbie and I are half way through our time here at Rehoboth- can you believe it? We’ve been here for 3 months and it only feels like 3 weeks! So much has happened in such a short space of time sometimes it’s difficult to take everything in. Christmas is getting ever closer but for me it didn’t really feel like Christmas until yesterday. Yesterday I received a nice surprise in the post from my mum and dad. It was an advent calendar. Yes, I am aware that I’m 24, but I’ve ALWAYS had an advent calendar so not having one was just weird. So, my little surprise made my day and my week! Mum and Dad you’re so good to me- love you both lots! What was also good was that I could eat 13 chocolates straight away! Yum! And it was English chocolate- not rubbish South Africa chocolate which in my opinion is pretty rubbish (but I still seem to eat it!!).
More and more Christmas presents keep arriving from so many generous people. We’re getting lots of parcels through the post from English sponsors- thanks guys for your generosity- all the gifts look amazing! I’m still not finished wrapping all the gifts (I don’t think I’ll ever be finished) but hey it’s not too bad a job wrapping lovely presents all day!
Rehoboth is having a big celebration day in the New Year to give thanks for 6 brilliant years so we’ve all been busy organising invitations and flyers and posters this week. Robbie and I were given the task of hand delivering all the invitations to the 40 or so farms and other dwellings on the dirt road Rehoboth is situated on. So, off we went in our little Citi Golf after lunch. 2 hours later we returned home thanking God that we were still alive. Every single place we went to there were at least 2 or 3 big dogs so Robbie bless him had to be a very brave boy! We ended up at chicken farms, car garages, general farms, haunted houses, diesel suppliers, parrot farms etc! It was quite a fun afternoon! I’m developing my off roading and manoeuvring skills quite well as some of the roads leading up to the farms were rather battering and uneven. I as quite impressed with my driving- I think I definitely have now adjusted to life in South Africa!
We had a big even in baby crèche this week- one of the toddlers stood all by himself for the first time! Ah it was such a lovely moment! He’s been standing aided for a long time but this was the first time he was able to stand by himself for at least 30 seconds! He was so pleased with himself (as you can see in the picture!)- we were obviously please too! What made it even more special was when one of the other boys noticed he shouted at some of the other kids and they all came and stood next to him and gave him a big clap! They were so sweet! It really was a special time for us. It’s always nice to see a child reach an important milestone like that given what they have been through and are still going through. Ah special times.

One of our workers gave his life to the Lord this week, which was so amazing. He’s been on the verge for so long so we’re so happy he’s now made that commitment to God. The children all adore him so much so hopefully now God will use him even more in their lives! Praise the Lord.
It really has been a good week now that I think back over everything. On Thursday night we all went out for a meal as it’ll be our last meal altogether as one of the other volunteers is going home until the end of March and we’ll be gone when she comes back. We had a wonderful evening- we all get one so well and are so comfortable around each other- I feel like I’ve known these people my whole life- not just 3 months. Doesn’t time fly when your having fun…..