Goodbye Theres!!!

Theres!! I miss this girl a lot!!! She always had a smile and hug for me when I saw her. She has a huge heart for kids. When she first got here, she taught life skills to the 6th graders at Vissershok Primary School. Then in February, after Youth Week and Training, she joined the team going to Karl Bremer Hospital, serving the Kangaroo Moms and the pediatric ward. She also was part of the team going to the SOS Children's Village. I think she grew a lot in her time in Cape Town. She seems much more comfortable with who she is and what she wants to do in life. She came here thinking she wanted to be a teacher, but I believe now she is thinking more about social work or child advocacy! I think she would be great at either! Here's a pic, Theres is the one in the middle, one of our other vols, Christi, is on the left and then hopefully y'all still recognize me!!! Theres you will be much missed!!!

Goodbye Christi & Kirsten!!

Ok, so I didn't get to know these two real well because they lived at the Kylemore house and they were only here for 2 months. However, I know that it was a meaningful time for them and am certain they had a big impact on the kids they served in Kylemore! They both volunteered at the creche (think day care/preschool) and kindergarten in Kylemore. And I believe Kirsten assisted with coaching the high school girl's soccer team. They were always a lot of fun to be around; great sense of humor and I think quite adventurous!! Here is a pic of them with one of the other vols, Josh - don't ask me what they're doing!!! =:)

Goodbye Debby!!

Ok, so the goodbyes are hot and heavy now, we've said goodbye to 10 vols in the span of 2 weeks, so bear with me....there will be a lot of posts!!! So Debby got here last year in Sept and was my roommate for all of a week I think before I moved out to my first apt, but I remember thinking she was the sweetest thing! And after 7 months, my feelings haven't changed! She is so sweet! And passionate about God and the kids of Africa! She spent her first 3 months in Cape Town at the Blouberg house, then in January went to Youth Week and Training in Magaliesburg (close to Joburg) and when she came back to Cape Town she moved to the Kylemore house, about an hour from Cape Town. So I didn't see her a lot the last 3 months, but still she made me smile every time I did see her! Our talks were always serious and deep, which I loved! She really has great depth for only being 20 years old!! She wants to be a teacher and from what I can see, I think she will make an incredible teacher....her kids will be lucky to have a teacher like her! Here's a pic of her with just a couple of the kids she impacted!

Joanen to be released from the hospital!!

Praise God my friends! Today they told me the miraculous news that Joanen will probably be released from the hospital today!! He has apparently recovered; they said they knew he was ready to come home when the nurses complained that he was answering their phone!! This is so amazing to me my friends! The doctors have still not discovered what was wrong with him and yet he is recovered enough to be released to go home! God has intervened, I have to think in large part to the many prayers going out on behalf of Joanen! I can't thank God or you, my friends, enough! I'll be sure give Joanen big hugs on your behalf when I see him and tell him about all the people who said prayers for him all over the world while he was sick!

Love and blessings!
Bobbi

Update on Joanen...

Thank you to everyone for their prayers for Joanen! I was gone all weekend on a retreat (Walk to Emmaus if any of you have heard of it, it apparently started and is most represented in the States) but I managed to get a little of an update from the Principal at the SOS Village, and well, there's not really any change, he's still very critical and they still don't have a clue what's wrong with him...BUT they moved him to a different hospital, which the one teacher says she thinks is not good news...she thought the one he was at was the best hospital in town for kids, so no idea why they would move him!! Hopefully there will be more news tomorrow and I will let you know....I hope to go with one of the teachers to visit him tomorrow or Tuesday....Anyway, thanks again for your continued prayers, its so good to be the body of Christ!

Love and blessings,
Bobbi

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FOR JOANEN!!!

I have an urgent prayer request for one of the little guys from the SOS Children's Village, Joanen. He has fallen very ill and has been in the hospital since last Saturday. The doctors do not know what is wrong with him, and I really haven't gotten a very clear picture. I just know he slept all of last Friday, they took him to the doctor on Saturday and they immediately admitted him and began running tests and so far have not come to any conclusions. He is in critical condition and apparently doesn't recognize anyone, he just lays there almost lifeless. They have done CT scans and everything, but have come up empty. Please pray for him!

I've talked about him before in one of my prayer letters. He was found wandering the streets last year as his families shack had burnt down and his mother was no where to be found. He came to the village last May I believe. He is 8 years old, but is still in the Kindergarten class! The teachers suspect he has suffered from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. He has very little attention span, but has tons of energy, a ready smile and always a big hug for "Auntie Bobbi" every time I come to the KG! I love this little guy so much and it breaks my heart to think of him lying sick in the hospital! Here are a couple pics of him so you can put a face to your prayers.

I will keep you informed of his condition.....