Tuesday 26th, Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th February

Tuesday

So after yesterday's interesting, stupidly late start, the boys decided to turn up early this morning - it didn't last long at all, they are loving the whole "African Time" business. Chloe, Esther and I spent the morning at the care centre with two of the student nurses, Jess and Steph. We were sorting out, and pricing clothes for the Ethembeni jumble sale. Once that was done, Jess and Steph taught us how to take blood pressure and we had a lovely morning chatting to them about everything and anything! Eli, Chloe, Esther and I then drove down to the family centre for lunch and stayed there all afternoon. Vernon, Jill and the band from HCC came down to the family centre to run an afternoon of worship and dancing with the kids, which was great fun. Once again, we were overwhelmed with the hospitality of Jill as she offered us her home anytime we wanted to chill, her washine machine and she was just so lovely! Chloe, Esther and I were dropped home about 5, and all the kids were in the street waiting to play with us. We introduced Esther to the kids and vice versa and they loved her, we had a great evening. Esther was picked up a couple of hours later, and then we had dinner, watched Generation's (our fave SA soap) and just relaxed.

Wednesday

The boys had returned to being late this morning! No surprises there.. Chloe and I got dropped at the care centre where we showered (you can honestly not understand how amazing this was!!!!) and then waited for Shelley. We headed down to the classroom for just before 10 with Shelley for anti-natal class! We watched an 1 1/2 video of how a baby develops from 1 day - birth, and I think it's fair to say that watching a rathe graphic labour - Call the Midwife had not fully prepared me for this - I am so put off having children for a while! We headed down to the family centre for lunch and played with the kids in the afternoon. When we were dropped home last night, one of kids told me he had a box of frogs - which I laughed at as I didn't really think SA would have a large supply of frogs - but I opened the kid, and he was right, he had a box of frogs.... Chloe and I watched the kids play last night, and then we taught the kids to stargaze! Chloe and I headed to bed at 8:30 last night, and didn't wake up 8 this morning - crazy sleeping!!

Thursday

This morning was home visits. This means that we go out with a volunteer from HCC and a care worker from Ethembeni and we deliever food to their patients. All their patients are HIV+ which is quite difficult to cope with as they are all such lovely people. We drop the food off and then Linda does a bible study. They love the bible studies, and today they told us what hope they get from them, and how they feel that they are born again each week and are excited for the week ahead. It's so great to see them so encouraged! We were all dropped at the family centre after our various home visits and we managed to have some team time which was so lovely. We are here all afternoon and then heading home later on, Esther is currently making lasagne for 12 people!! The weekend looks excitig as we are heading to a Zulu wedding on Saturday!!

Overall the weather this week has ranged from 34-38C which is crazy! But it's getting stormy now, so it will probably rain tonight, so tomorrow will be cooler!

Hope you're all well,
Sending lots and lots of African lovin' xxxxxxxxx