SOO cold last night at the Game reserve, but really fun with all the girls. Came to church this morning and what a blessing it has been to be encouraged by such a great cloud of witnesses.
We got to go to Rehoboth Village, or the orphanage, yesterday after an awesome lunch at Leopard rock overlooking the Oribi Gorge. It was Gorge-ous..pah. We finally got to see the kids I've been praying for for months and my heart was leaping in my chest. I couldn't stop smiling the entire time. All 24 or so of the children are HIV+, but you really wouldn't know it just by looking. Most of them were happy, active, and real children. They were not charity to the couple who ran it, (Alfons and Yvonne, a white couple from denmark) or to the house mothers. This orphanage is so unique because it gives the children a family. There are 11 houses in the village and each one if self sufficient with washers kitchen bathroom everything. There are 4 kids to a house with a mum to look after them. And she is their real mother. It is no job to them. The kids aren't just loved 4 hours a day when someone sees them, they are loved 24/7 and are taught how much God loves them as well. Because of the undeniable presence of God there, Alfons showed us many examples of children who came in emaciated and dying, and now are healthy and lead normal lives thanks to love, prayers, proper medication and nourishment, and the power of God. It was incredible to see just the vision streaming from these people. They want to start villages like this all over africa, and are actually working on it! They had story after story of how their faith in God to provide had paid off at the last minute. He kept saying over and over "You just have to walk on water. You can only stand in the boat so long."
I'm at the church now watching and listening to a sermon form a man so full of God's blessing and spirit I can almost see Him standing next to him. Pastor Trevor. Man. Such a wonderful start to the day...
We get to watch a Rugby match after church!!! (the entire team is sitting behind us and lemme tell ya. like 30 very handsome burly men all in one place about to slam into each other running full speed. OH my.) Then, we're going to Merchison Hospital to minister to the kids and women there and have a lil party.
Very excited, but sad we only have 4 days here..
Katy
