camp sonshine kids!

days 3 and 4 in Capetown. kids! they can be so much fun and a great way to burn energy and end up very sleepy at the end of the day. so sleepy that you cant blog! sorry! Monday we went to Camp Sonshine for the first time officially. we were under the guidance of Allison, the organization's director, and "teacher Liz" as the kids call her. they are the two permanent fixtures at Camp Sonshine, with interns and student teachers who help up to 6 months of the year. it's amazing to think that Allison had once run all this on  her own. there were 9 of us helping and we could barely keep up! but she really has a passion for it, and we can tell she loves it. Matt said "it's great, Allison can get warm and fuzzies any time." and it's true. the kids are so full of love. they all want to hug and love on you and take pictures. we taught them American games, like red rover, kickball, freeze tag, and a few other games that really don't have a name, but everyone knows. they had so much energy! Allison officiates over 45 kids on Tuesdays, and they are all so spunky. they love pictures, but are so polite about waiting to pose and see what they look like on the screens. they taught us some of their slang, which we will be implementing when we get back to the states, and we taught them "whats up bro!" and "hey yall!"

in addition to being with the kids, we walked the village and visited some of Allison's sponsored kids' families. Amy, one of the grandmothers, was so sweet. she believes in the power of prayer and it shows. she remembers the day she was converted and the things the team from last year, which includes Shawnie and Dana,  prayed for her. Dana and Amy have become especially close in the past year, writing and praying for each other. Dana sent Amy a care package, which included a dishtowel that Dana got from the dollar store, and Amy keeps it in such pristine condition. she takes such beautiful care of her home! she reminded me of my grandmother in a way i cant describe. but their faith is so similar. she prayed Jeremiah 29:11 for us.

we also visited Brian and Patricia, whose children are sponsored as well. their families are so proud and loving to their children. Patricia lived in and added to the home she'd grew up in, and knowing what it was like to grow up with 7 brothers and sisters, she wanted her daughter Chelsea to have her own space. it's so funny, the parallels of between a parent wanting better for their children here and in the US.

yesterday and today have the most tiring days so far, but it is so worth it. to play  with these kids, keep up with them, and love them unconditionally, and to know i can do it again the next day... it's unbelievable. all the kids have a favorite, i know it. the boys hanging with Brad and Matt, Tracey and Karen doing the "dead bug" and "superman" poses, Kayce doing her gymnastics, Shawnie and Dana have their gentle spirits with the kids, and Melissa showing the kids you can take pictures and look at them at the same time! they remember what we said and promised from the day before, they hang on our words and stories. i just like to hope that the happiness they feel right now is just the beginning of what's to come, and that they see God's love for them through us. i kept making sure to say "we came from America for you!" because that's just what we did.


"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer. 29:11-13