The Last Post

Well guys this is potentially the last time I'll get on to the internet before I leave on Tuesday. The last few days have -as has always been these past 3 weeks- awesome. Have had many more special times with the kids. On Friday we had some music on in the creche and I danced with all the toddlers. It was such a special time, I didn't take any pictures as it didn't want the kids to feel like the had to perform, I just wanted them to be themselves. We were dancing and prancing about having so much fun. I seriously didn't want the mom's to come and pick the kids up at 10, I would have happily danced all day with them. The look of absolute happiness on their faces was so amazing to see. They all have such big, warm smiles- they truly melt my heart. Even though some of them have endured such hardship, they are still happy and smiley. Simple things like dancing together gives them so much pleasure.
Whilst still visiting my kids, I've been spending more time with friends making it even more awesome. Thursday night was at cell where we had a wee birthday party. There was much merriment mainly in the form of laughing at our attempts on the singstar. It's been a while since I've totally let my hair down and "chillaxed" so all good for Lindsay. Then last night went out to the re-0pening of a bike shop just down the road. Was again a really nice evening spent with some amazing people. Now I'm just about to head off for the weekend with more friends to a nice house by the beach (shame it's tipping it down outside- at least it's not snowing!!!). I'll upload all the pictures from my last few days likely when I'm back in England so keep looking- they'll appear soon!
L
xx

Good times

Since I last blogged I've had so many more special moments with my kids. German measles is sweeping across the village (they don't get the MMR jab here for free- it would cost 10 pounds per child) so we've had a few kids off school. I've been spending time with them chatting and watching DVD's in the hope that I can distract them from the discomfort they're feeling. I'm still rather shocked that in a country where so many kids who are already so sick with HIV, TB or both won't receive the MMR immunisation. Crazy, huh?Anyhoo, I spent a lovely morning with the babies and toddlers in the creche. We actually had to hold it in one of the houses as the weekend storms caused flooding in the creche building. It seemed so much more relaxed and informal, I don't know why it just did. Another "wave" of toddlers are just on the verge of walking so we're keeping a close eye out so we can get it on camera when it does happen! It's such a joy andf priveledge to be able to see a child walk for the first time.

We've had 3 more arrivals this week and last and one on the way meaning that with 55 children placed at Rehoboth we are officially full. With 5 children in each house it's sometimes not an easy job for the mom's- especially if all their children are under 5!!! Not sure how well I would cope with that! I'm sure my own mum could sympathise with these women as she had 4 children under 4!! The older children however really do look after themselves, they're taught from a young age to help the mom's wherever possible, like doing a bit of wahing up, helping with the washing and cleaning. They do it so willingly, without fuss as they know how much their "aunties" do for them. It's so nice to see.

I babysat 15 children yesterday for a few hours as the mom's went for IT classes. It was an absolute breeze I have to say. Some of the kids watched "surfs up", some played soccer outside, others read books. I had two babies with me, but the kids were so good at looking after them I actually probably didn't really need to be there. When they started to get a bit restless I would take the babies, but otherwise I had to "wait my turn" before I could get some hugs in!! The older kids know how to work my camera so I let them loose with it and they took some rather good pictures:

I'm now not sleeping at Rehoboth, I'm staying with my amazing friend Reece who is my rock. She's just such an awesome friend and I absolutely adore her family. I'll still be driving through to Rehoboth most days, I just wanted to spend time with her as well. I'm actually going to visit her place of work as well as she works somewhere called "Place of Restoration". It's a foster home, housing 60 kids from all different backgrounds. Black, white, coloured, HIV positive, HIV negative it doesn't matter. If there is a need to place a child, it is placed while fostering or adoption is arranged. It's a completely different set up to Rehoboth, but I've fallen in love with the kids already. For the protection of these kids, some of which have been through horrendous hardships already in their little lives, I'll not be posting any pictures or writing about any specific children. I'll just be handing out hugs and kisses to them for free as always and trying to give them as much love as I can in a week.
I can't believe that I only actually have a week left in South Africa. I fly at midnight a week today. I knew that time would fly, but it's still a bummer to know that I'm going home in 7 days. Gonna try not to think about that one........