Well, I don't know how THAT happened... I swear, the computer screen showed me a big error message that said my post didn't post, so I spend more time and money typing it again, only to discover later that it DID post. Have I mentioned I love computer? Aye... You know though, reading through the two messages, I have a better understanding of how the different gospels all sound a little different. I mean, both my messages were written within 30 minutes of each other, by the person who it was about, on the same day of the things I was writing about, and still they both say things a little differently. The Gospels were written by 4 different people about something that happened a few years ago! No wonder they each sound a little different. :)

Anyway, I'm feeling better than I was yesterday when I wrote. Later in the evening yesterday my teammate, Angie, called me just to check in on me. How sweet! Then I went and had dinner with Kerryn. It was good to get out of my flat. Today I spent many hours sanding and painting (talk about making a mess - but it was fun!). Now I'm at the Holiday's house, about to play some games with the missionary women on my team. Their husbands are all leading a pastor's conference somewhere nearby, so we're having fun without the men tonight. Woohoo!! :) Tomorrow I'm having a small braai at my flat for the first time... don't know who's coming yet, but I'm sure it'll be fun no matter what. I'm gonna make some brownies here at the Holiday's house since Janna Kay has all the right ingredients! mmm mm good :) Alright, I'd better go join my fellow females! Hooray for game nights!! :-D
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Hey All... Today is a strange day. Way too many emotions wrapped up in way too few hours. Today was my last day at Diepsloot Combined School. I played a game with the kids to review our past lessons, and we just had a lot of fun. A lot of the kids (mostly girls, but a few guys too!) wrote me good-bye letter. Man, I wish I could show them to everyone- you'd laugh for sure. My favorite note: "I love you Ms. Bonny (yeah, they all spell my name wrong). You are my favorite teacher. You are beautiful. You look like a fish swimming in the water." WHAT? A fish? Um, is that a good thing? I can't decide... Anyway, so the saying of goodbyes was bitter sweet. I'm excited to have some more free time, and somewhat relieved to be done with Diepsloot, but saying goodbye to some of my kids was a little hard! But another goodbye has been harder and much weirder today. Melissa left this afternoon to go to the States. She's only going for 2 weeks, but when she comes back, everything will be different. She won't be on my team. She won't be my roommate. We won't be teaching together. The list goes on and on. In all honesty, I'm not sure what I'm feeling. I'm definitely having a down moment right now... It's just strange, really strange. I've never lived by myself before, so do to so in another country is a bit new and confusing (though exciting too!). I've also been walking around the mall and seeing lots of Christmas decorations being put up. That makes me sad beyond note because I am not looking forward to spending Christmas away from my family (although it looks like I may spend Christmas with a friend's family here, so that may be cool...). Anyway... I feel like my mind is spinning. I ask you to please pray for me to deal with these wacked out emotions SOON! I need to get back to being myself again and not so down. I don't like being sad!! Thanks for praying. I'm so glad to know people out there are thinking about me even though I am so far from home.

Thanks for checking in on me!
Cheers,
Bonnie
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

I just want to say... life is good. No, I don't have a phone line yet (life's not THAT good yet!), but really, life is pretty daggum wonderful. I had a great day at school today with my kids, and an even more fantastic time with my girls' club after school. I didn't really "teach" per se today... we watch a movie about Jesus. Turned out to be a good thing I hadn't planned a ton though because there was some lady at the school talking about breast cancer awareness, and she totally messed up the schedule. (I've never seen so many pink ribbons in all my life.) I did talk to the teacher (Mrs. Shabalala) but she told me that she's going to see ALL the teachers from the area on Saturday, and she's going to talk to them then and give them my number if they're interested in me teaching there next year. Please keep praying for this opportunity! I need some more schools to work in next year, and I really want them to all be concentrated in one area of Soweto so I can really get to know people in ONE area (as opposed to 3 different areas this year). Anyway... while the kids watched the video, I pretty much stayed engrossed in my alltime favorite book by my alltime favorite person... "Passion and Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot. I'm tellin' ya, every time read that book I am so encouraged!! She's got to be the coolest lady ever. Well... I'm using a missionary's internet, so I'd better stop spending their money. Cheers!!
Bonnie

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

Hi! I just have a moment, and I wanted to first ask you to please pray with me about something (that is, if you're reading this pretty soon!)... When I went to lilydale for Girls' Club today a teacher (a sweet Christian lady) came to me and said, "the teachers at the other schools ask me when you are coming to their schools." I replied, "I haven't been invited! Who wants me?!" And she said that a junior primary and a higher primary school asked about me teaching there. I'm
not so keen on the junior primary because many of them aren't very good at English yet, but the other school might be a possible ministry for next year. Right now is when I need to be looking into this, and God just dropped this in my lap without me even looking! Both schools are very
close to Dhlamini, where we are working to plant a church. The teacher said that when I come back tomorrow, we would phone the schools together. PLEASE be praying for God's guidance in what to do. I don't want to just take the jobs to be busy. I want to teach there only if God wants me to be there! Pray that HE will make it very clear what I am to do next year. Thank you for praying!!!

Now, quickly... I STILL don't have a phone line at my flat (apartment) and yes, it is killing me. November 5th is when I'm supposed to get one, and I can NOT wait. I don't know what to tell you about because I don't know where to start! I can't remember the last time I wrote, and I've no clue what I wrote about. Life's pretty great at the moment. Changes abound, however... could be good! On a sad note, Melissa is leaving on Thursday to go back to the States for 2 weeks. She'll be finished with the IMB as of Thursday, but not finished with South Africa (really, who could ever be finished with this place? :)). When she comes back she'll be teaching at the school where the missionary kids go.... she's have a "real job!" But I'm sad that she won't be living with me anymore. I'll have a big flat all to myself. Part of me looks forward to it, but I know me, and I know I'll get lonely. Yay for South African friends to come visit!

Ok, I'm spending a fortune at this stupid internet cafe. I could use some donations... haha I'll write more when I can. Thanks for checking in on me!!

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

Hey Guys!!
I have no time to write, but I wanted to let everyone know that I am doing VERY well here in Jo'burg. I have moved into a new flat, and I absolutely LOVE it. BUT we have no phone line yet, and so I have no internet! I'll update as soon as I can. but please know that I am loving life at the moment. Hooray! Oh, and Melissa and I got two kittens, brother and sister, Wallace and Oreo. :) Love you!!
Cheers
Bonnie B


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