So what are all the things that I have taken back from my experience? So much!!!!! Let me take some time and share.

First, I appreciate running water!!!! I understand now what a "need" is and a "want". Here in New York we say things like, "I need a manicure!"or "I need an IPad!". But in South Africa we had to ask God for our daily water. We really had to depend on him to supply the basics of life and really understood how much we needed. It was great to watch Him supply everything when we really needed it! Here is a video of the JOYS of having RUNNING WATER AGAIN!

Wow, I am back in the city that is the center of all sophistication. I am walking around as if I am from another planet, awe-struck at how stylish, beautiful, high-maintenance people are. How much people "need" in order to be "happy" or have a good time. We had to rely on God everyday for enough water to fill our water bottles to wash our dishes and ourselves! I had 3 t-shirts that I wore the whole trip! And the kids owned less!
Wow, I sound like someone's grandmother who had to walk 15 miles to school everyday in the rain and snow. But I understand now how grandmothers feel when they see others live in a whole different perspective.

I am still getting used to standing up for shower with amazing, hot running water!!

These kids came to the airport with me to see me off. It was so great to have them come, they kept me laughing till the bitter end (they are legendary comedians!). But then the tears gushed after the security check point. Of course I had to sit between 2 young guys on my first flight, and was sobbing the whole time. They thought I was out of my mind.

But really, how will I continue on without their jokes!?

Anyway, I am sort of stunned and so have no words to share, no deep thoughts, no nothing. I think they will come later. But I thank God for letting me go back and I see His purposes so much in this trip. I'll write more soon.

LEAVING

How can I even start to describe the last week and coming back to New York. I don't even know where to begin. All I can say is that my heart is completely ripped out of me and it has been a LOT harder to be back this time. I think I really deepened friendships with the kids this time around and so it made it much harder for me. I didn't even hardly remember being on the airplane home, I was completely in another world.



Over my final weekend, the volunteers and kids threw me a surprise going away party (including strange animal costumes) and it was incredibly special!
I was totally surprised too!

Wow, the days are counting down!

Just letting those know who will see me when I get back! Don't be alarmed when you see huge bruises on my elbows and knees. I actually got a mild concussion and massive bruising on my hips, back, arms, and legs. From what! you ask? Car accident? Heroically saving a child from danger??
The answer: a massive slip-n-slide and having too much fun! I of course was being my overly-intense self and running at full speed into a pile of teenagers who were supposed to get out of the way!

Here is one of the cutest little toddlers I have ever seen! His name is Gift and he was enjoying some slip-n-slide time as well (of course in a safe way, unlike me!).

The challenge now is to say goodbye to 120 kids in so short a time. But this time I have a sense that it really not a final good bye.

Less than 2 weeks left!

I am starting to get that strange, sad feeling that I am leaving soon. I am feeling this bittersweet-ness: getting excited to go home and see friends and sleep in my own bed again, compounded with this deep sadness that is coming on stronger everyday that I have to say goodbye to this place and these beautiful faces. I have LOVED being back with the kids in a way I cannot describe, almost as if they were my own kids. I have loved the relationships that I built with the volunteers and the close, close friendships that have come from this time. Oh, I think the next week and a half is going to be hard! But I really feel that this is not the end of me here!