This is Africa and I wouldn't have it any other way

I'm sitting writing this blog in the middle of a typical African thunderstorm. After enjoying a morning and afternoon of glorious sunshine, with very little warning I'm now sitting looking out across the sky as bolts of lightning strike the ground all around me. Rain is pouring down and it's blowing a gale to say the least. I find it quite hard to believe that I was in the swimming pool with the kids only an hour again. This as they say is Africa and I wouldn't change it for the world. Speaking with Rob we both agree that while South Africa is enduring many hardships such as the AIDS crisis, poverty, a corrupt government etc that's what makes this country what it is. It's because of these things that make the people like they are- friendly, warm, inviting and so loving. I come across countless people everyday who have very little, yet what little they have they would willingly share with me even though they don't know me. Then I come across the gas station pump attendant who will allow us to put 5 litres of diesel into our car which has run out of diesel even though we have no money so we can get home.That was a funny moment. Rob and I went to pick some bread from the supermarket, we knew we had very little fuel but we thought we would get there but nope as we came out of the supermarket the car just died. Neither of us had any money, but we managed to persude the petrol guy to give us 5 litres and then we would go back later with the money. Not convinced that would happen in England.

Anyhoo have had more exciting times with the kids these past few days. On Wednesday I took more of the kids shopping for new clothes. One of the boys I took was the little boy that I mentioned in my last post- the one who I thought would die before I got back out to South Africa. He has no idea what we were doing, he looked so worried in the car, I think he thought that I was taking him back to the hospital. But once we got past the hospital he perked up a bit. When we got to the shopping centre he was still rather confused (his english is still quite bad, I don't think he understood what I was saying) so I plonked him in a trolley (he literally walks like less than 1 mile an hour) and we headed off to the shops. I kept picking out clothes and showing them to him and he again just looked confused. It was quite comical bless him. This child is nearly 5 and he wears clothes size 18-24 months!!! Eventually when I had picked out lots of clothes for him to try we went into the fitting room and then he realised what we were doing. As soon as I told him to take off his t shirt and try a new one he started grinning from ear to ear, the penny finally dropped. We tried on lots of clothes (t shirts are like less than £1) and then went to find him some shoes. As we were walking around he was clutching onto his piles of new clothes for dear life. When we finally went to pay I saw relief in his face- he knew they were now his. By this time we had only been shopping for about an hour but he was finished. He looked so tired bless him. So I got him some ice cream and we went home. By the time I got back to Rehoboth he was fast asleep and looked as though he was in absolute bliss without a care in the world. Good times. Speaking of good times, here are a few more pics of the kids- you wouldn't believe how much some of them have grown and developed in only 8 months!

We had a few birthday's this week. The boy below only arrived at the village a week ago and he's already had his first every birthday party. He looked so happy the whole time.

This little beauty is the "premie" baby that arrived shortly before I left in March (picture of me with her in one of my older posts in Feb/March). At only 2.5kg at 4 months, she was very small, but look at her now celebrating her first birthday! Also huge news in that she is actually also HIV negative- praise God!

On Wednesday night I got to see the kids dance in a show. The school children get hip hop dance lessons once a week. Every single child has such an amazing sense of rhythm, but they are all so unique in the way they dance. I was so proud of them when they were dancing. After the performance there was a presentation as all of the children in the show did dance exams this week. All of our children passed and one even got a trophy for "best hip hop grade 1". He didn't know he was getting the trophy so he was so shocked when they called his name. Again the feeling of pride was overflowing inside.

On Thursday night I met up with more friends at my old cell group. I've missed those guys so much. They're all just so chilled and relaxed, they have a great effect on me. Even though we had no power because of the storm we just sat and chatted. It didn't feel like I had been away from these guys for 8 months. It felt so normal. Made me realise that I really don't make it a big enough priority to stay in contact with these guys. Who can guess what my new year's resolution will be....