Well, seeing that it is almost 2am, and my friends just recently left my house, I'd say that the dessert/coffee night was a success! I am loving having friends. We had a nice mix of American and South African goodies, and a wonderful array of American coffees and flavored coffee creamers (they don't have those here). Much fun was had by all. :) We also played Cranium... my team won. Then we all sat around and chatted for a while. During part of the time, they discussed important political matters... during which I felt lost and confused. Ahh... it's nice to have friends. God's really blessed me, that is for sure!!! Next week I am going to see Jars of Clay with these crazy people! Very exciting. :) Well, I do think it's bed time. T'was nice of you to check in on me!

Cheers!

I know, I know... long time no update. Sorry, again. But here I am once again. :) Life has been quite hectic lately. I don't know where the month of July has gone.  Man, I have to send out another newsletter soon.  That doesn't seem possible!  Yikes, I'll be going home before I know it... scary thought.   It seemed like I was waiting for July for so long, and now it's almost gone already!!  It was a wonderful month though.  My birthday parties, a trip to Swaziland, and most importantly, the visit from the Summit Church.  It was such an indescribable blessing to have 8 people from my home church spend 10 days ministering alongside the team here.  It was really hard to see them off, but God's been very gracious to me in helping me deal.  Thankfully, the day after the team left, Kerryn, a South African friend of mine, called and invited me to a "stir-fry" night at her flat (apartment).  It was a small gathering of about 6 of us.  It was really cool... they had put a table top on bricks and put thin mattresses on the floor for us to sit on.  The room was all lit with tea light candles, and they had even bought fortune (more like "proverb") cookies.  After dinner we all played a game and then just sat around and chilled for a few hours.  Man, that was wonderful... exactly what I needed to get my mind refocused on being in South Africa!  I am so fortunate to have some friends here.  I seriously thank God for blessing me with a couple girl friends, Kerryn and Heather.  I need them so much here!  It's cool to know people my age, who I don't feel like I have to minister to!  I can just relax and be myself!!  This past Monday and Tuesday night I had to sing at church.  The juniors team was scheduled to sing for a week of  MARRIAGE seminars!  Well, actually we just had to sing for the first 2 nights, but I just think it was funny that we, the single people, had to sing for the married people.  We had fun both nights retreating to a room in the church to listen to music and chill while the married folks learned stuff about being married. haha :)    Wednesday night, last night, I went to Heather's flat for dinner.  Can I just say again how great it is to have a friend like that!?  Someone I can just go hang out with, for no real reason at all.  God is so good.  Well, now it's Thursday (which is like a Friday for me since I don't teach on Fridays).  Pay day is tomorrow - halleluia!  Tomorrow evening we are having a desert and coffee night here for a few friends.  We were blessed with about 12 bags of chocolate chips from the Summit, and once I told some of my South African friends about it, they insisted that they be put to good use. haha  Most of my SA friends have either spent some time in the USA or are good friends with an American (other than me), so it's cool to hear what they like or miss from the US.  Anyway, my internet minutes are ticking away... and therefore my paycheck is slowly diminishing as well.  Thanks for checking in on me!!
Cheers,
Bonnie B.

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Hello out there to all who check this web-log! I know I have not updated recently, but that it because I have been insanely busy! As I type this now, the Summit ladies are waiting on me. I did try to update it earlier, but the internet went wacko on me. The team leaves tomorrow (expect a sadder side of Bonnie 24 hours from now!). I'll take time to write a good update during my greiving proccess. ;) Love you!
Cheers,

Bonnie


Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Hey! Not much time to update right now, but the team from The Summit all got in safely yesterday morning. It was more than wonderful to see their faces and hug them! They brough many MANY goodies for me from my Sunday School class back at The Summit, and wow... I have been so spoiled by them! I also got lots of cool birthday presents from family, so that was fun as well. Today we prayer walked an area that has a new Mormon chapel there and then another area called Mofolo South. Both areas are in Soweto. Tomorrow (Thursday) we're going to a place I've never been to... I can't remember the name, and then back to Mofolo South to lead a Bible Study. Pray that all goes well. I'm having a great time with ALL my friends (old AND new!). Cheers!

BonnieB.

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Hey out there! I know it’s been a while… sorry!! But here are some highlights of things that have happened since I last wrote.

*My birthday!! My actual birthday was on the 1st, which was a Thursday. That night I went to worship practice, where I was introduce to a South African tradition… kissing the birthday girl! It was definitely a shock to me at first, but I got used to it. At least they were guys from church, and not some strangers! haha
The next night, Friday, I had a small braai with some of my new friends. Most of my friends from church do not have cars, and when the one guy with a car couldn’t come, none of them could come, which was sad, but I had a good time with my other friends! It rained like crazy, which is not normal for a South African winter… maybe God just wanted me to feel at home, since it IS normal for it to rain in NC in July! Thankfully the rain slowed enough for Sean to get the charcoal lit, and we were able to have a successful braai. My friends gave me some cool gifts, and Melissa made an awesome cake for me! It was really fun hanging out with them in the comfort of my own home.
That following Sunday, some of my friends came home with Melissa and I from church to help us finish the birthday cake. So, really I got to hang out with all the friends I wanted to, just at different times! I’ve got pictures of both events in my webshots photo albums.

*Swaziland! Monday, the 5th of July, Melissa and I headed up to Swaziland, a country north of South Africa. There are some missionaries up there, and they had a July 4th get together, and invited the journeymen in the area to come. It was so much fun, and Swaziland is so beautiful!! We also went to some fun shops and I got some Christmas shopping for my family done. I’m sending it all home with The Summit team, which will be here in about 14 hours!!!!

*The Worship Team – The team I am on, the “Junior” team, is in a rebuilding process. We lost a few people, one of the being the only other girl on the team. She sang melody, so it’s been important for us to find and train some new folks who can sing her part. We had a training/practice with one of the girls on Saturday, and she’s good! I’m so excited to be working with her. There’s another girl too, who hasn’t been able to meet with us, but I should get to meet with her tomorrow night.

This has been a fun, but long weekend. I’ve been so excited about the team coming, that I can’t think about much else. I’ve been trying to stay busy. Saturday, after practice, I hung out with my friends in Eldorado Park, then went to the young adults meeting that night. Yesterday (Sunday) I sang at church during both services, and helped Melissa cook a Mexican dinner for some of her youth that came home with us after church. Oh, and I’ve also been baking a little lately…mostly to kill time. Today I took Ruth Anne (one of the missionary kids) to see Spider Man 2. Mostly, I just wanted to see it, and I wanted to do something fun today to take my mind off of counting down the hours until the team gets here.

The team is scheduled to arrive at 10:15am, South African time. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep tonight or not! I just want them to get here now! Please keep the whole team in your prayers for the next couple of weeks. Also, please pray that I will have time to enjoy their presence, and not be so hurried that I don’t get to spend any quality time with them. Thanks!!

I’ll be in touch!

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81