south africa.

I made it!! So sorry that I haven't been able to update...I haven't had access to the internet until now. In South Africa, they pay by bandwith instead of paying for something more like WiFi, so it's really tricky trying to buy it...

But enough about technology (though those who know me well know I could talk about it for a long time...)-I'M IN SOUTH AFRICA!! The South Africans I work with tell me that about 20 times a day-"Emily is in South Africa!" and I just kindof laugh in disbelief. I arrived a little ahead of schedule, and Russell (the general manager here) was there waiting for me in the airport. I know that some were worried about me being attacked/captured/stolen from/killed in the Jo-burg (everyone here says that) airport, and I am happy to report that I only have a few scratches and bruises. No, kidding, I got out of there alive, safely, and everything still in my luggage and backpack.

My flat is so cute! I haven't thought about how to upload pictures of it yet, since this isn't my personal laptop, but I'll find a way. I am living with four other people-Beth, Rachel, Kat, and Leigh. Beth took me grocery shopping as soon as I unpacked everything (yeah, okay, WAY too much stuff. Somehow I fit it all into my three drawers. That's right, three drawers.). It was a little bit like a marathon trip, but I warned her that I would need LOTS of help because I don't know how to cook anything. I got some good things (I even got CHICKEN. No idea how to cook it, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.). Here's a good example of my incompetency in the kitchen: we walked past the eggs, and Beth asked me if I wanted any. I looked at her with a sheepish look, then dropped my head to my chest and said, "I don't even know how to cook EGGS!!" We both laughed, and she's promised to help me become more domestic. I'll update you on how that goes, or if I burn anything down (I just knocked on the wooden desk). Leigh is Beth's friend that has been here for a few weeks, but actually leaves tomorrow. Kat and Rachel are both from the UK and have wonderful accents. They say "petrol" instead of "gas" and "the loo" instead of the "bathroom." It's awesome. Before I went to bed last night, we all watched about five episodes of Friends (LOVE THAT SHOW) and one episode of Grey's Anatomy. It was so nice to be able to chill with all of the girls!

My first day of work is TODAY (the babies are napping from 10-12, so right now is "tea time" and some free time). I'm working with six beautiful babies (two boys, four girls) that have special needs. I got here at 8:00 and bathed four children first off. It reminded me of bathing my little brother David back in the day! My shirt got very wet. One of the babies is really into splashing...haha. We played all morning, fed them some milk in bottles, and then a therapist came over to do some gross motor exercises. After learning about a lot of those exercises in my Early Childhood Education classes, it was really cool for me to actually see them done, learn them, and help two children with them! Think a lot of bouncing on balls, feeling different textures, and helping them move their hands and feet across their midline. It was pretty cool.

The only sad thing is the privacy law here. Because of that, I am not allowed to mention any child by name, post any pictures publicly of their faces, or tell any stories that can directly be linked to one particular child. I will do the best I can to update you on the children, but because of that privacy law, I can't be too specific. However, I can talk about it in person all I want, show pictures in chapel or to my friends, etc., I just can't publicly post anything over the internet.

Tonight, I think Kat, Rachel, Russell, and Stephanie (the baby manager) are going out for karaoke. My only real experience with that is being embarrassed on vacation with my family (I sang a song by Britney Spears, and from then on the staff called me Britney...yeah) and a little bit in Italy (I was a failure at trying to sing a song I didn't know in the first place, not even counting the different language haha). We'll see how that goes. We're just trying to leave the flat for a little while since Leigh is leaving tomorrow (we're giving Leigh and Beth a little time alone before she leaves).

Thank you all for your encouraging emails and comments!! I so appreciate all of them. I will try to answer as many as I can, but if I don't get back to yours as soon as you would like, please know that it is not from a lack of wanting to talk to you! :) I am loving taking care of these beautiful children. One little boy is so cuddly, and it just melts my heart when he toddles over and flops onto my chest. Another girl always gets really jealous when she sees that, though, so she'll crawl over and try to push him aside. In about two minutes, I end up having that first boy in my lap, her on my knee, and another little boy on my other knee. It is so fun being covered in children! Yes, I get drool and remnants of milk and snot all over me, but I don't really care anymore-I just want to be Jesus. If this is what it means to have His love in me, then I never want it to leave.

I love you all.

All to Him,
Emily