School and creche kids galore

Our second day in Embo was similar to the first, with a visit to a different school to start off the day.  Matt and Clay sat in the "boot" of the van, and as we approached the school, they opened the door and sang songs and picked kids up as they went along.

 Naomi gave her testimony to a rapt audience.

We met with the principal of the school after talking to and singing with the kids, and we got to hear about his dreams for the school. We prayed over him and invited him to church on Sunday.

Jenna attempted to fill the principal's role.

This day, while others went into the community to pray for people, I got to go to the Creche and hang out with the kids, which made me really happy. I helped them with their snacks and then we went out to the playground, where we spent most of the time I was there. All the kids wanted their pictures taken, and had fun taking turns posing and being placed in rows with their heads together. 

Several little girls were doing my hair and sitting on me, and I felt right at home. I am happiest surrounded by kids.

After I got picked up from the creche, we went back to the orphanage we were staying in and while some of the team made dinner, Jenna and I went and ironed clothes for the orphans.

After dinner, we went out again to a mourning family to pray with them and give testimonies.

They keep us on our toes in Embo.  There's a lot of work to do there, and we were happy to help, although at the end of each day we were ready to rest.

Schools, Village walks, and vans, oh my!

Going from each having our own room at the conference center to sleeping squished together on the floor like sardines at the orphanage was quite a change, but by the time we got to Embo, our team had done a bit of bonding and we were ready for more.  We were also on our own for meals, which was actually kind of nice, because we got to go shopping and cook for each other.

We started out our Thursday in Embo with a visit to a school just as the kids were arriving. We talked to the kids a bit and they all loved my camera. Everyone wanted their picture taken!

They lined up by class and we went up on stage and led them in some fun songs, and then Jenny gave her testimony. The kids were so well behaved, and listened politely. They ended with a few songs of their own, and it was the most beautiful thing to be in the midst of a sea of voices singing in Zulu. It gave me the chills.

 Once we were done singing and telling stories, we left as the kids went into class, but they didn't want to let us go.  They swarmed around us and gave us so many hugs!

After the school, we broke up into a couple teams so that we could cover more ground.  Dawnielle and Julie stayed at the orphanage all day and ironed clothes for the children, we dropped some girls off at a Creche (a day care), and the guys, Phumelo (she speaks Zulu so she was there to interpret) and I (for documentarian purposes) walked around Embo, praying for the sick and inviting people to church.

When it was time to pick the girls up from the Creche, we all piled into one van, just to make sure our bonding was going well.  There was lap sitting, trunk sitting, and foot holding.  All in all, very cozy.

In the evening after we had shopped for and made dinner, we all headed out to a funeral to give our condolences and a testimony, and to pray for the family. 

These are all things that Pastor Leonard does in his community on a daily basis and he is just exhausted.  He needs a helper.  Please pray for him and for Embo as often as they come across your mind.