GREAT weekend

Best non-ministry weekend since being in South Africa happened this past weekend:

Friday (usually Life Skills Training day) was interrupted by a team from America (Rolling Hills Church). They took the entire Life Skills Team to Kirstenbosh Gardens; we broke up into teams for devotions, walking the gardens, lunch and team-building games. We even did a 'relay' with our small group and we all got so competitive… MY TEAM WON! Each of us got a chocolate bar as first prize!  The rest of the group went to the Team House for a Braai (BBQ), but Kendra and I had to lead the Capricorn Youth Night. Shagmie (Youth Pastor) was absent this night because he was getting married the next day. We set up a projector and showed a movie (17 Again). Again, the theme of my time here with any of the local South Africans has been 'testing' and yet again, the youth tested us because Shagmie was not there. I held my ground and got some respect after awhile.

Then… some of our friends (local South Africans)that were at the Braai wanted to hangout some more. Meagan and Melissa drove all the way to Capricorn to meet up with us, helped us clean up and then came back to the house to play cards till midnight.

Fun fact: I was Shagmie and Lauren's wedding photographer. They really must have been desperate. I went to Lauren's house at 7am to take photos of she and her sisters getting ready for the wedding. It was SO great being able to be part of their big day and intimately involved in the details of the ceremony. The wedding was at 9am on Fish Hoek Beach. The wind was ridiculous; it was so wild that it lifted the sand and as the grains hit exposed skin, it BURNED. I've never experienced wind and sand like that. The reception was at John and Avril's house in the garden; there were huge pillows and coffee tables all over the grass. There was a buffet line and lots of relaxing. There were only around 100 people invited. It was such an honor to be there and celebrate with them!

I was so sticky with sunscreen and a thin layer of sand and sweat all over my body, that I immediately went home and took a shower. Meagan and Melissa wanted to hangout some more, so they came over and we played more cards. They were loving the new games we taught them: Phase 10, Nertz, Dutch Blitz. Meagan and Melissa really opened up, gave us lots of laughs and built memories with time-spent.

Sunday morning church in Capricorn was AMAZING. Pastor Severo preached on spiritual gifts and how each had a part in the church. There was a baby dedication (grandmother with custody of her 2 grandchildren) and lots of honest prayers given by the congregation. I was so emotional the whole time. God was moving!

Sunday afternoon, Danielle and Elizabeth (American Volunteers from TN) and I went to a movie (for 25 Rand- about $3). We saw Valentines Day. Not my favorite movie, but a really fun way to spend an afternoon.

Life is becoming a little more settled and as normal as it can be. Spending time with the girls this weekend was exactly what I needed.