Ubombo

Hello everyone!We made it safely to Ubombo late Friday night. Since we arrived we've been kept very busy with work projects....and our favorite: playing with the orphans. Here's a day to day of what we've been up to....
Friday night: arrived @ dark....lots of bugs...yum.
Saturday: all day was spent playing with the children.....so beautiful!
Sunday: Ran kids church for the children who live here. We did a noah's ark theme in which Suzi, Bunmi, and Lisa wrote an original song. :)
Monday: We get to meet our Ubombo contact Dawn. She started the Ubombo Children's Village and runs several other outreaches here.....in addition to the Inn that she and her husband run. There is much to do on the grounds of the care village. Dawn started us off on the first of what will be MANY work days ahead of us!!! -Gutted rooms of the house we're staying at.-prepped for painting.
Tuesday: Work day #2....-cleaned an organized all of the donated toys, clothes, kitchen utensils, etc. -Matt and Mia drafted the mural for the children's home.-Matt implements a team work out plan....we're going to come back fit and in shape.:)
Wednesday: Work day #3....-Began painting outside of house-Started painting mural-go on hike with the kids....so beautiful.
There are approx. 18 children that live in the home. About 75% have AIDS/HIV. We are learning about each of their individual stories....and they're pretty intense. But despite all that they've been through they are filled with joy and smiles.We are trying to learn the children's names, but we've found it to be pretty difficult. Though we have a hard time with their names, we have come to recognize their personalities. Some team members have come up with their own names for the kids...it's pretty funny. So far we have:Johnathan David.....who's real name is Musa.FranklinCruiser....who's real name is Pume.
Dawn and her husband David are incredible people. They have lived here for over 40 years and genuinely love the people of Ubombo. Dawn just got back from a conference so that she can teach the women of Ubombo trades in order for them to earn money. Everything they do is outreach oriented....what an incredible example for us to follow.
We are in the mountains, four hours away from Durban. It is extremely rural here. Dawn has introduced us to some of the workers here as "American students"....to which they politely smile. Dawn later told us they don't know what America is. The world of the people of Ubombo is small.....as a team we are still just focusing on trying to show love in all that we do. We know that the love of Jesus can transcend any and all cultural barriers.
Finally, the team is doing great. Everyone is safe, well, and learning lots about the people here. We're excited about what the Lord is doing here with the people of Ubombo.
Thank you for all your prayers! We appreciate them.
Love....Team South Africa

SHOUT OUTS FROM THE TEAM:Lisa: Loves you, but she's not coming home! :)Matt: Doesn't have anything to say.....he's taken a vow of silence....Literally.Bunmi: Happy birthday Davie!!!Dalenna: Much love.....know what I mean?!?Suzi: Hi to the family....can't wait to see you!Christine: Hello to her father....thinks about him a lot and says I love you.Austin: Hello to his family. I love you guys!Mia: Hello to family and friends....contemplating not returning.... :)....but miss you lots.