The front seat is better!

Hello family and friends… what an amazing couple of days.  We are having the best time, finally things feel like the ball is rolling and i can see God’s efforts and goals being accomplished and how blessed am i to have a front row seat?!

 

We visited the little girl (homebound girl with aids) on Friday and she is about the same as earlier in the week.  I dropped off some more supplement and she seems to be taking it in pretty well. 

 

Then we went to the lion park yesterday and had another amazing time.  The lion jumped up on the back of our truck and one came up and bit the door handle and it pulled up!! Guess whose door it was?  Yep, mine!  It didn’t open but you would have thought that not only did it open but that it took a chunk out of my body… i was ready to get going after that…  Then we had lunch up on a hill overlooking the valley and the boys got to get into a pin with lion cubs.  They were 5 months old.  To get all of this recorded, of course someone needed to get in there also and take pictures… i looked around for the boys’ mother, didn’t see her so…. I volunteered.  It was actually very fun.  I thought it would be completely safe since they have people all the time in there and often children… so i was surprised when one of the workers ran behind me and had to smack one of the cubs on the nose because he was sneaking up behind me… you know that crouch that your cat does when they are coming around the furniture?  That is what this guy was doing…. That happened twice and then joseph had to jerk his arm out of the cats mouth and we decided we were done…

 

One of my favorite relationships here has been the one with sister.  We often have to take mama or sister up to a corner where a bus comes by or a taxi.  She asked if i would take her to see her son, who traveled all the way from motherwell (approx. 45 min.) to get money from her (it was payday).  It is not uncommon for families to be separated while at least one of the family members is away working.  In this case it is sister.  Whenever sister rides in a car she always sits in the backseat.  It was just me and her this time so i asked if she would please sit up front with me because i can’t talk to her as well and friends sit next to each other.  She said she has never ridden in the front seat of a car before, so she made herself comfortable in the back as usual.  So i took her to the corner and she saw her son there on the street.  We pulled over and then we got out and walked to a corner store.  I told her son (19 y.o.) that i really like his mom and i thought she was funny.  The usual son reply ‘i don’t know her to be funny’.   Haha.  Anyway, as we walked through the store, sister and i laughed and talked and her son ‘loly’ (she calls him) just watched us.  Then before he left, sister said, he is watching us because he has never seen me with a friend before… i have never had a friend.    Then as they hugged goodbye and she gave him money… i started the car and was waiting… then ‘boom, boom, boom’ i startled and looked over at the passenger side of the car and there was sister.  She had a huge grin on her face (even funnier because she doesn’t have any teeth) and she was waiting for me to unlock the front door.  I let out a squeal and she climbed in the FRONT SEAT.  We drove off next to each other just like friends do, laughing at how she has never been in a front seat before!!  I loved it.   She will always be close to my heart.  Funny how despite language barriers, despite cultural barriers, economic barriers, race and so many more, we are able to find harmony and love each other anyway. 

Phumlani is still working.  He just applied for an I.D.  and is going next week to open an account.  I noticed this morning that he even tithed with his new income… way to go phumster!!  (he laughs when i call him that).   As far as the NF dx., the doctor was pretty sure he has it but not willing to put a ‘stamp’ on it until another dr. confirms.  So, trying to get him in still.

 

The boys, they are doing great.  They have really gained new siblings here.  Today in church, the 2 y.o. sat on James’ lap the entire time and wouldn’t let anyone else hold her.  He did great with her and his spirit never tires… he amazes me.  What a true gift from God.  Joseph has grown so much and just is a ton of fun everywhere he goes.  He is great friends with all the kids here and he makes sister and mama laugh all the time.  They both just jump right in and you would never know that they haven’t been here for years.  Their hearts are now open to all that is here.  I can see it.  I am so proud of them.  They are angels at work…

 

We love you all and even though our hearts are full here, we miss you all there… wbh, We will see you soon, 

Xxoo sm

 

Much love,

Jennifer, Joseph and James