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

Hey! I must be quick tonight because I don't know how long the internet will let me stay connected... but things are going very well. I didn't have school this week... oh, Africa. :) But Melissa and I did get our keys to our flat on Monday, and we spent all week moving in. I love it! It's such a cool place. This weekend Laura (a journeyman in Nelspruit, SA) brought her youth council to Jo'burg for a retreat, so I'll be hanging out with them. We're going to Gold Reef City tomorrow, which is a South African amusement park... I'm a little nervous, but it'll be fun I'm sure! I have next week off of school as well since the kids are on break, but then we go back at the beginning of October for the last term of the year. I can't believe I've made it this far! ok, I'd better go... don't want to push my luck. :) Love you!!
Cheers,
Bonnie

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

Here are some Monday morning prayer requests!
*Pray that though the school schedule may be crazy (the teachers being on strike), I will not waste the time, and instead use it to plan ahead and get ready for the next school term.
*Pray that if I get to go to school on Tuesday, I will have a chance to speak with Meme (“may-may”) about a one on one discipleship.
*Pray for Melissa and I to finally get the chance to move! We’ve had the lease since the first of September, but the IMB people still have the keys and our furniture, so we’re just waiting on them.

Thanks for your prayers! I’ll keep you posted on the week!

Cheers,
Bonnie

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

Hey! I'm back from Zimbabwe. I had SUCH a great time!! It was so refreshing to be with other Christians who are serious about God and His mission. It was also nice to be with other Americans my age. It was so much fun to hang out with them for a week. The camp we were at was nice and quiet, and besides the big (I mean BIG) wall spiders in our rooms, all was well. (They're not dangerous spiders... they're actually beneficial because they eat mosquitoes, but for a Joburg girl, they're a bit freaky!) I can't really put into words very well what happened at the retreat... It was a chance for me to retreat from the business of Joburg and work and all the drama of my friends lately! It was nice to not be able to check email or receive calls on my cell phone. It amazed me to hear from other missionaries and learn that they go through the same things I do! God really used this time to refresh my spirit and reset my focus on the number one priority: Him. I put some pictures from the past week online, so check them out. :)

I was all ready to come back and really pour my heart out to my students this week, but when we got back to Joburg, Melissa and I found out that the teachers went on strike while we were gone, and when they're on strike, we can't go! Welcome to South Africa!

BIG NEWS!!! I got a new car!!!! Ok, so it's not new, but it's better than my last junker car. :) I now have a Toyota Corolla. It has air conditioning and a radio. I couldn't be happier! Melissa and I should be moving into our new home soon. I'm so excited. I have so much excitement in my life right now. Hooray!

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

Well, it's morning here in Jo'burg, and I'm about to head to Zimbabwe for the whole week! I'm going to a journeyman retreat, and I'm very excited!! I'm really looking forward to getting away for 5 days and just relaxing. Please pray that God will grant us all rest and a fresh renewing spirit! I know that most of us journeymen are pretty tired, and are in dire need of this break! I'll write when I come home. Thanks for checking in on me!
Cheers,
Bonnie

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

Howzit! Well, I said last week that this past week looked like a fairly normal one. I think I was a bit wrong, but I'm glad I was! Monday night I got a random invite to go to a cooking course with a friend of mine. Very random, but very fun! My partner and I cooked smoked trout (we smoked it ourselves), smoked trout pate, and seed bread. mmm mmm good! It was a really cool set up... lots of different groups had things to make (all seafood) and then when everyone was finished, we all ate together. What a cool thing to do! So yeah, that was Tuesday. Both Monday and Wednesday night I spent the night at the Holiday's house, and got to hang out with them, which is always cool. Thursday evening and all day Friday I spent, for the majority of the time, relaxing and enjoying the house to myself. By Saturday I was ready to get out of the house, so I randomly (random things are quite common here!) went to a friend of a friend's 21st birthday party (21 is a big thing here... but not for the same reasons as in the States!!). It was a "barn dance" and everything was decorated like a farm. Talk about crazy! Heather and I laughed more Saturday night that in quite some time! They even had these people there to teach us line dances and some partner dances. Yes, I participated. For some strange reason, people here seem to think that all Americans like country music and line dancing. Whenever someone found out I was from the States, they'd almost always say, "oh, so you're used to this, eh?" Geez... But I did have fun. It was cheesy, but since we had to be there, we made the most of it. Then Saturday night I spent the night with Heather and we went to the Anglican church Sunday morning. Sean's band was playing in the youth service and Sean was preaching, so I went to hear them. I was also hoping to experience an Anglican church, but it seems the youth service is not your typical Anglican service, so I plan on going to a regular service sometime with my friend Roger, who actually goes to the church. Anyway, I came home after that and made some chocolate chip cookies for my friend, Faithlynn, who just turned 21 this past week. And after that it was time to go to Nancefield! Sean was preaching there as well, so I got a double-dose of Sean... Lucky me! haha And after that I went to have supper with some friends. Classic week if you ask me. I'm loving life lately! One more week of teaching, then it's off to Zimbabwe where there's no email, no cell-phones, and no drama of regular life! Hooray!! Have a great week!
Cheers,
Bonnie

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

Melissa is on a plane right now on her way to the States. Please keep her in your prayers!! She's going there for her sister's wedding. It's a short trip... she'll be back home on Tuesday, September 7th. This will be the longest time I've stayed by myself since I got here, so please keep me in your prayers too! It's cool, in a way, but it's quiet! And I don't want to get lonely! This coming week looks to be a fairly normal one (although, anything would be normal after this past week ... some of you know what I mean by that... haha). Girls club on Monday, teaching on Tuesday and girls club on Tuesday after school. *insert fun event - Survivor night with friends, woohoo!* Teaching at Lawley on Wednesday. And teaching Thursday at Diepsloot. I only have 2 more teaching weeks left until Zimbabwe. I can't wait!!
Good night, and thanks for checking in on me!!
Cheers!
Bonnie

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

Wow, has is really been a week since I last wrote? I guess so... Not much has changed. School is still going about the same, and I'm still leading the girls clubs after school on Mondays and Tuesdays. I can't believe I only have TWO more teaching weeks until more time off! Woohoo! There are actually more weels of schools, but on September 12th I am going to a journeyman retreat in Zimbabwe! Very exciting. :) I am helping to plan and lead praise and worship at the retreat, so you know I'm happy about that! I'm also looking forward to seeing my two roommates from back at the Missionary Learning Center in Virginia. I'll also get to meet lots of other journeymen from other regions and countries in Southern Africa. Tomorrow, Sunday, Melissa flies to the States for a little over a week. She comes back the following Tuesday. This will be the longest time I've had to myself since I got here. I'm looking forward to it, but I also think I might get longely!! Please pray that my South African friends will be there for me this week so I don't feel too alone. :) We've just started watching Survivor: Allstars here, so we have a weekly Survivor night that I can look forward too. We'll see what else happens this week. Well, I'm off to some kind of event tonight at church. I have no idea how to say it, let alone spell it, and I really don't know what it is... But it is something cultural, and so they say I must be there! I'll have to let you know what happens!! Thanks for checking in on me!
Cheers,
Bonnie B.

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

The weekend! Hooray! I'm writing this Saturday night after I just got back from a very cool event. The BYSA (Baptist Youth of South Africa) Young Adults planned a big "hang out" event tonight in Jo'burg. It was cool... very chill... some bands played, and the Nancefield worship band was scheduled to play for a little while. Their style is way different than the rest of the folks there, since just about everyone else there was white (not everyone, just MOST!). Well, as they were going up to play I wished them well, and then they started saying I should sing with them! I had not practiced at all with them, and was nervous about singing in front of people I didn't know. But Sean encouraged me to join them too, so I finally agreed. I'll be honest, I felt really cool. hehe I was the only girl singing with them. It was very chill and free flowing... I felt honored that Sean felt I could handle that and do well enough to not make them look bad! Seriously, I feel weird saying that I felt cool, but it was this dimly lit area, the band was playing really cool rhythms, and I had this mic on a stand all to myself. I felt like a chic in a boy band... what the heck? It was cool though. I'm glad they convinced me to sing! Anyway, I also met up with some other young adults that I'd met occasionally before, and maybe I'll get to see them again in the future. I really like knowing people. I never realized that in the States, but being here makes me grateful for the people I do know and can call friends!! So yeah, a fun Saturday night! I need more of these!!

Cheers!
Bonnie

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

BIG NEWS!! Melissa and I found our flat today! We are so excited. It's a big, two bedroom apartment... it has an awesome kitchen, and big living room (lounge) area, a small (but nice!) back yard area, and a patio with a BUILT IN braai (bbq) pit ... oh yeah, lots of parties at our place! It has a cool bar area connecting the kitchen with the living room. Both of the rooms are big, and there are 2 bathroom... a definite plus when there are TWO girls in one apartment. :) They will let us have Laura's cat when she goes home. It's in a safe area, and there is a 2 car garage, so our cars will be safe from theft (big plus in Jo'burg!). I can't think of anything else. But we love it! I'm so excited about knowing where I'm going to be living soon. I can't wait to finally have our own place, and be out of other people's houses. HOORAY!!!! Praise God for such a great place!
Cheers~
Bonnie B.

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

Good afternoon friends! I just wanted to share some exciting news. Melissa and I are finally getting to SEE possible flats (apartments) that we'll be moving into soon. We went to see one today that we really really liked. It was nice and spacious, in a great area, safe, AND they'll let us have a pet! We may be inheriting another journeyman's cat, Macy, when she goes back home in November. You know that makes ME happy!! Anyway, just wanted to share my excitement. :) Love ya!
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Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Howzit!? I hope everyone's doing well. I'm doing alright around here... I've got my good days, and my bad days... just like you, I'm sure! Today was actually a good day. My kids were not as evil as they were last week - praise Jesus! Life's been pretty crazy lately. After the team left, one of the girls, Esther, stayed for a couple extra weeks to work with us. She left on Friday. On Saturday my friends and I went to a Jars of Clay concert here in South Africa. It's really cool to see a Christian band like them... in AFRICA! It was awesome, and we had some rockin' seats. On Monday, another volunteer, Ariane, arrived. She's staying and working with us until next Thursday, August 19th. She's really cool. Well, I'd write more but I am really tired. I definitely took some medicine to make me sleep tonight! Allergies are kicking in with the changing of the seasons again, so breathing is an issue sometimes... no worries, nothing some benedryl can't handle. :) I'll try to update again SOON! Thanks for checking in on me!!
Cheers!

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

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

Rain rain go away!!!

I don't know what's come over the weather here in Jo'burg as of late. Jo'burg is notorious for VERY dry winters (hence the no snow winters). But lately we've had rain! Today we had one heck of a thunderstorm and dust-storm simultaneously. Talk about nasty weather. Ooooh... if it rains out my braai on Friday I'm gonna be a very unhappy young lady! And of course, when we do have wetness in winter, is it cold enough to snow? No way! I couldn't be so lucky. I keep hoping that by some flook of nature, it'll get really cold tonight and it'll snow JUST a little. Now THAT would be a cool birthday present from God. :) Hope you're all having a wonderful Wednesday!


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

Hey guys... I haven't updated this in the past few days because really, not much has happened! I am taking this whole "break" concept very seriously. ;) I got to spend some time with the Holidays today, which was quite fun, and very much needed. I'm getting to know them better. Even though we're from the same church, we really don't know each other very well, so we're working on that. Besides that, I've been relaxing and trying to go to the gym as much as possible. Friday's still a go for the braai, and I've got confirmation that my friends are coming, so I'm really looking forward to it! Other than that, I don't have much to tell you. Thanks for checking in on me though!!

CHEERS!

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

Good evening! Well, actually it's morning here now... just barely after midnight, so it's technically Saturday morning. I just got back from celebrating Heather's 22nd birthday. It was a lot of fun. I just enjoyed being able to hang out with them. And every time I hang out with them, I become more and more comfortable and more myself. Most all of them have said they can come to the Braai next Friday, so it looks pretty positive for a great birthday for Bonnie. Hooray!

I also got a wonderful package from my family today. The best thing in it was a video that they had made for me at a lot of different family functions. I miss my family so much, but being able to "see" their faces really helped!!

Alright, that's all your getting from me tonight. Blessings!!!

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

PRAYER REQUEST!!

PLEASE pray for Melissa. She's pretty sick... fluish stuff. Pray for speedy healing! THANKS!

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

Hmm… what to say, what to say… Honestly, I can’t remember what I said in my last update, so I’ll try to cover what I think haven’t yet. Well, it’s Wednesday night. Tonight Melissa said she'd make my birthday cake! I wasn't even talking about cake and she said she'd do it! Hooray for Melissa coming through for me. Now I just have to pray that my friends come. I'm inviting anyone I can think of... even if I hardly know them because this is the perfect excuse to invite them over! Melissa and I agree that if Sean thinks I have to have a bring and braai, then SEAN needs to do the braaing! Neither of us feels confident to do it, and when I went to the braai at his apartment complex, he said that the men do the braaing anyway. He seemed to enjoy himself that time, so hopefully he won't mind. That can be his birthday present to me. haha

My friend, Heather, sent me an sms about Friday. We're meeting at the mall at 6:30 ("half past 6" as they would say here) for coffee and then the movie is at 8:00 I believe. We're going to see Shrek 2 - it opens on Friday! I know I like these people - they're coffee people just like me! It's taken me 5 months, but I think I might finally be making friends that I can really call my friends... and not just people who I know from church... but NON-Nancefield people! Don’t get me wrong, I love Nancefield people!! But it’s nice to branch out some too. Hopefully after hanging out with them on Friday, I'll be confident enough to invite them to my place the following Friday for “Bonnie’s Birthday Bring-n-Braai.” (Wow, that’s a lot of B’s!)

Hmm... what else haven't I told you? Melissa and I didn't go to school today because one of the guys who works at the school said that the kids haven't been coming since it's the last week of school (yeah, this is Africa, remember?). So, I'm not planning on going tomorrow (Thursday) either. It's a 45 minute drive both ways, and I hate going when things are not normal (which at that school, is just about always). Did you read in my journal about why we didn't go last week? There was taxi-violence, and they closed the major street that we take to get there. So, I haven't seen my kids at Diepsloot in a while, but in all honesty, I'm not all that sad about it. All my attention is on Lilydale right now. Oh, Chantal DID come with me on Monday and Tuesday. I picked her up Monday before club. Club went very well. We had snack (as always) then played a get to know you game. Then I talked for a while about how easily it is for us girls to let what guys think about us determine what we think about us. I sang the song "Plain"... the one I originally was going to do for the musical. I hadn't planned to, but the CD was in the car, so I did it. Then I read an excerpt from a book I have. It's a love story, written about falling in love with this wonderful man named Jesus. It's really cool because it never says His name or blatantly says who it's about. So the girls were all into it because it's wonderfully written. Then I asked them, "who would like to fall in love with a man like that?" And most of them raised their hands. They were somewhat surprised when I said who the story was about. It was a great way to talk about really growing closer to God in a personal way.

After club, Chantal and I quickly came home, I changed clothes, and then we were off to the East side of Joburg for Mexican Night at BIMS!! Did I ever mention that to you? I can't remember. Close to BIMS there is a "Mexican" restaurant, and many of the missionaries go there. The owners are really cool, and often take suggestions that we offer. So... the BIMS people planned a night for the missionaries to all cook some Mexican food (the way we eat it in America!) and 5 of the Banditos people came to taste our recipes! It was awesome... and SOOOO delicious! Earlier on Monday, Melissa and I went to the Holidays' house to help cook. I made a soup that was quite delicious. At the dinner, we had a discussion time, and someone asked the owners if they tasted anything that they thought they might incorporate into their menus, and they said my soup!! YAY! Go me. That was also Chantal's first taste of Mexican food. Boy did she get a treat! After we ate, we stayed at BIMS to talk to a friend of mine. Remember the LSU team? Well, 3 of them stayed in Pretoria, SA for 3 extra weeks. They were all at BIMS Monday night because their plane was leaving on Tuesday. So after we ate, Chantal and I went to Brandi's room and we all talked until about 10:30pm. It was so nice! After that, we came back to the house and crashed! Tuesday Chantal and I went to school at Lilydale. They took an exam I had made for them and Chantal and I attempted to grade them... wow, that's going to take me forever!! Then we had club again, and it went about the same as on Monday - very well. After that I took Chantal home. Then I came home and crashed on the couch for a while. I finally convinced myself that I really needed to work out, but I was too tired to take the energy to go to the gym. So I did some Tae Bo in the living room. I've not done too much today. Slept in, and then watched a movie while I lounged in my pjs. Then I did go to the gym today for a total work out (weights and cardio). Then Melissa and I FINALLY went to the grocery store, so we have food now. Then we got dinner at KFC and brought it home to eat while we watched some TV. I'm getting used to this whole idea of break!!

And now, here I am… enjoying some time on the internet. I promise that I DO work, but hey, when you get a break, you enjoy it, right?? :) Right. Goodnight everyone!





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

Monday Morning… LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!! Yeah, I’m just a little excited about that. hehe I’ve finished writing the exam for my Lilydale kids. All I have left to do for this week is prepare the story for Lawley on Wednesday and write an exam for my kids at Diepsloot. After Thursday I am on break and schools don’t start back until July 19th. The volunteer team from the Summit (my church) gets here July 13th and I can’t wait!! In the time between the end of this school term and the 13th, I plan to rest, and recoup! I’ll get some planning done for next term as well, but mostly I just want to rest and work on building some of the friendships with people I’ve met lately. God has been so good in helping me to meet some people who might actually become my friends! That’s been a real challenge for me since I don’t really do much with people my own age. Thank God for my friend Sean at church. Since he goes to the Baptist college, he has friends our age, and he’s been a blessing me helping me to meet people! And just in time for me to be able to have a lekke birthday next month – hooray! Well, today I’m going to girls’ club at Lilydale. Then I am going to the East side of Jo’burg (to BIMS) to enjoy some “Mexican” food! There’s a Mexican restaurant close to BIMS, and every time IMB workers go there, they give them pointers on how to really make Mexican food… since we live closer to Mexico than South Africans do!! So… they’re closed on Mondays, and missionaries are getting together and cooking Mexican dishes to show the restaurant employees what Mexican really is! I’m really looking forward to that. But now I must go make myself look decent for the day before I go. I hope you have a wonderful week!

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

Happy Father's Day! I got to talk to my Dad this evening (along with other family memebers too). Yay for talking to family on the phone. :)

The youth weekend went SO well this past weekend at Nancefield. God really rocked the house last night at the concert, and the youth pulled off a nice musical tonight. I think the highlights of this weekend were a bit different for me than for the rest of the church though. Both Friday and Saturday I got to go out afterwards with some new friends. Saturday night I went out to this cool coffee place with some people from Sean's band (also people from the Baptist college). My friend, Heather, was also there and we got to catch up. I already have plans with her and some friends to see Shrek 2 (it's just opening here now) since it will be her birthday. Then the next weekend, they are helping me have a "South African" birthday party! Wow... I have plans for Fridays already! Now, this is what I've been wanting. God is so good!

Tomorrow I have girl's club again. Please pray that all goes well. I'm not sure yet if Chantal is coming again, but I hope she is!

That's it for now. Check back later for more! :) Cheers!!

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

I must be quick. But tonight was a fabulous night! The youth service rocked. Worship was intense and quite lekke (really cool). Sean brought the Word like nobody's business... spoke on our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit... good stuff. Sean also brought a friend of his with him, Ralph. We hit it off right away and I knew we'd be friends because we were teasing each other within 5 minutes of an introduction. Then after the service, some young adults (some from Nancefield and some from visiting churches) went to hang out at McDonald's. Oh, the sweet fellowship around McDonalds' tables! hehe Good times... good times... I met lots of new people! But now it is late, and I'm freezing my fingers off typing this. So it's bed time for Bonnie! Goodnight!!

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

Howzit?! I am in a really good mood right now. Any guesses as to why? Here's a hint... it's Thursday night... I just got back from sangin' practice at Nancefield Baptist. This weekend is "youth weekend" so the young team is singing Friday and Sunday (and maybe Saturday too, I'm not sure). We had a grand time tonight getting ready for this weekend, and I'm so excited to have things to do every night this weekend! Hooray! We realized tonight that the next time we practice, two weeks from tonight, it'll be a special day! Anybody know why? Well, you should... it's my birthday!! Where better to celebrate than in God's house singing' His praises with some cool friends? :)

Well, today I didn't go to school/work. You'll never guess why... taxi-violence! Two taxi companies were fighting (like with burning vehicles and shootings... serious stuff) and they closed down a major highway, which meant I couldn't get to school! So... I got another holiday today. Only one more week of teaching and then I am really on holiday! I truly canNOT wait. I'm looking forward to the break and to my friends coming to visit! I have so much to look forward to.

Ok, time to be going. I'll write when I can!

Love you all!!

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

Hello from the Lechner house! Once again, I am back to “pay-by-the-minute” internet. I got so spoiled while staying at the Moran household! So I’m trying to type my updates in word and then copy and paste it as fast as possible once I am online!

Well, today was a very good, but tiring day! I went to Lilydale this morning and taught 10 classes about the story of Joseph. I think 10 classes just makes for a long day in itself! But today was also the 1st day of the Tuesday girls’ club. It went very well. We hung out, had snack and then decorated our name cards like yesterday. Then I gave my testimony and told them (like I did yesterday) that if they doubted whether they were Christians or not, that they could come talk to me at ANY point and I’d love to talk to them. Well, yesterday no one came up to me, but today a girl was waiting for me. It broke my heart when she said, “I don’t know if I am a Christian because I keep praying for my mother to get better and she is still sick.” That really challenged me and I had to think fast! I talked to her for a while about God answering prayers in His own time and His own way. Then we talked about what it really means to be a Christian. I asked whether or not she had ever asked Jesus to personally come into her life, and her answer was very vague. I’m not into pushing for an immediate decision, so I left her with that to think about. She said to me, “I will do what you said to do,” which referred to admitting sin to God and asking Jesus to take it away. Please be in prayer for Nomvula as she prays and thinks about the things we have talked about!! After that, another girl was still waiting to talk to me. She said, “my mother and my father are both dead. I prayed for them to live and they didn’t.” I already knew this girl was in this situation before she was in club. I explained to her that we do not live in a fair world and that bad things happen to good people, even God’s people. I admitted that I can’t say that I know how she feels, but that God does because He watched His only Son die. I said that she can continue to pray for peace and that God will take care of her. She seemed pretty bitter, and it breaks my heart to see a 12 year old girl already bitter with God! Please pray for Lebo!! Pray that God will comfort her in her loss as she is still grieving long after the loss of her parents.

Needless to say, after club (I was there for 2 hours today!) I was exhausted enough. Then I had to go the house and pack up all my stuff to move to the Lechner’s house. I’ve been moving and rearranging things since. I’m trying to make my room feel like “home” as quickly as possible! I will be here a little over 3 months, so I should enjoy it while I can. I’m so tired now. I am going to bed early!! Tomorrow is a public Holiday in South Africa… Youth Day, celebrating the day that began the Soweto uprisings against Apartheid. I get a day off! Praise the Lord!!

Love you all! Thanks for checking in on me. :)


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

What a wonderful Monday!

This morning I got to chat online with some of my good friends back home. Then I went to the gym, where I actually ventured out and tried some new weight machines. Go me! haha Then I ran some errands and got ready for girls' club. I went to pick up Chantal, but she was really late! So I was nervous that we'd get there too late and the girls would leave. But thank God, we got there RIGHT as the gate was opening to let the kids out. We had 11 girls there today, and I really think they had a good time. We did a craft and had snack and listened to music. Then I shared my testimony with all of them. They actually listened to me! What a concept... I LOVE having a small group! Also, Chantal was such a blessing. The kids really like her, and she loved helping. Hopefully she'll be doing more with me in the very near future. We also had fun just talking, so please pray that we can maintain a friendship! Club went so well today, and I pray that tomorrow will go wonderfully as well!

Tomorrow (Tuesday) the Lechners are leaving. :( That means I will be moving to their house. I will be losing this excellent internet service, and I won't be able to update this web-log as often, but I will do my best! Pray that our move will go smoothly and that I will feel somewhat at home in their house for the next 3 1/2 months!

Ok, time for this tired girl to go to sleep! Goodnight world!
Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Exciting Sunday!

Today (Sunday) God just got me really excited about something. I went to visit a different church this morning... the one I went to with the LSU team. Well, I didn't enjoy the service very much. They spoke a lot of Afrikaans and I didn't enjoy their music when they WERE singing in English! (You know music is a big thing for me!) It wasn't really terrible, but I was thinking when I left, "I probably won't be visiting here very much." Well, after church I was standing around talking to a few of the people that I met a couple weeks ago and I met a new girl. She was very blunt, and said I should give her my number because she's been praying for a friend and someone to do things with. She also is not working right now. She's been volunteering at an orphanage in Soweto, but is taking a break for a little while. I mentioned what I do, and she wants to come with me! She was so excited that she wants to come with me tomorrow already. This is a great thing for multiple reasons... 1)she's turning 22 soon, so she's close to my age, and maybe she'll be the friend I've been praying for (and maybe I'LL be the friend SHE'S been praying for!) 2)it's always good to involve people from here in the ministry, that way when I go home there's more of a chance that it will continue. Isn't this cool? Her name is Chantal. I'll let you know how it goes with her tomorrow! I think it will be nice too, to have her with me in the girls' clubs. It'll be nice to have someone from the same culture as the girls. Even when I wasn't thrilled about my choice of churches this morning, God knew exactly what He was doing!

Tomorrow (5 months in SA!) Chantal and I will be going to Lilydale to meet with the first group of girls for club. It will be fairly informal... very "get to know you." We're gonna have some fun for once! I want them to know that this is NOT classtime, and they can be real with me. I plan on sharing my testimony with them too. I think it's important for them to know where I came from. On their applications, all of them said they were Christians. Most of their answers to the question, "tell me the story of how you became a Christian" includes something about their mothers or grandmothers taking them to church, or going to church all the time. I hate to tell them (well, I look forward to it, actually) but when I was their age, my family took me to church whenever possible, and I enjoyed going, but I wasn't saved yet. I hope they can see from my testimony, that going to church doesn't make you a Christian! Please pray that the story of my own life will get through to them... even if it doesn't happen right away! Also, please pray that I will have discernment to know which of the girls really are Christians, and which are not. Pray that they have fun and want to come back next week! Also, pray for Chantal - that God will use her in great ways as she works with me this coming week!!

Ok, that's it for now. Oh! The gym was back open today, so I went and did my usual... the circuit weights and the treadmill. Today I walk/jogged 6.2 kilometers! Which is almost 4 miles! Woohoo! I can do it! Pray that I can keep this up!


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

Happy Saturday!

It's only the middle of the day, and it's already been fun. :) This morning Frank and Sherri cooked Melissa and I omelets for breakfast... nice, huh? Then I headed out to Irene Market with Frank and Sherri. I've never been to this market, but it was really nice! I've seen most of the same kinds of things before, but this one was set up very nicely and all outdoors. I've started buying Christmas presents already (yep, Christmas presents!). I figure, if I start now and send some home with the Summit team (they leave the US a month from today!!!!) then I won't be going crazy and mailing stuff home in December. Look at that, sometimes I really do use my head. :) After the market, we came home and I took a nice nap. That's pretty exciting for me, you have no idea! And now after I finish typing this blog, I must get ready for dinner. Chris Walker (the volunteer here) is taking Melissa and I out to dinner as a thank you for letting him work with us these past few months (as if he needs to thank us!). So I'm pretty excited 'bout that! Tomorrow morning I am going to visit a church that I went to when the LSU team was here. It's called New West, and it's in the neighborhood of Westbury. I am interested in seeing what it's like when they don't know that a bunch of white people are going to be there! So, lots going on this weekend - that's the way I like it!

Next week Melissa and I are moving into the Lechners' house. I can't believe it's already the middle of June!! Monday afterschool I will have my first girls' club meeting at Lilydale. Please pray that all goes smoothly!! I'm really excited about it, but I'm also a little nervous. Pray for my nerves to produce positive energy with the girls. They seem really excited about coming, so I hope they will be committed to the group!

Alright, I'd better go make myself look decent. Thanks for checking in on me!

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

Hello world... What to say... what to say... I'm having a strange night. I'm sleepy, but at the same time I have had too much coffee (in an attempt to stay warm) so I'm also NOT sleepy. I know, I told you it was strange. And in case you're wondering, YES... it IS cold here in Africa. Really, it snowed down in Cape Town last night. Crazy, huh? I wish it would snow here, but I'm told that the last time it snowed even a sprinkle was back in 1981 (a good year, if you ask me!). I dare say it's time for another sprinkle of snow!

Well, the last time I wrote was Monday, and I said I was in a "funk." To be honest, I still feel like I'm in it, but I'm sure it will pass. I'm just not teaching as well lately as I was for a while there. I'll probably get my skills back just in time for school break (which is coming later this month *insert Halleluia praise chorus*)! Tuesday wasn't a bad teaching day, I just didn't feel as good as I used to about teaching. We learned the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They acted out the story and then I talked about it for a while. Actually, the more I think about it, parts of the day went very well. I had lots of chances to be serious with the kids and let them know that even though they're young, they can stand strong in something they believe in. In one class I told them that I'm 22 and still a virgin. Good golly! You should have heard their gasps!! I said, "see? People don't expect young people to stand for what they say they believe in, but it IS possible!!" Plus in some classes I shared other parts of my testimony. So... Wow, maybe it wasn't a bad day! I should update this wobbles more often - it helps me process. Don't you just love being a part of my processing? Haha

Today we went to teach at Lawley. We finished up teaching about Moses today, and I must say, hooray! I am grateful for Moses, but I feel like I've been teaching about his for a really long time. Next time (2 weeks from today) we move on to the birth of Jesus. Tonight Melissa and I went to the Lechner house to hang out with Angie and the kids (and Chris). They're leaving soon for stateside assignment. :( We ordered pizza and watched Cheaper by the Dozen and then the basketball game (which is still going on now as I speak - we're a little behind, but at least we can watch it!). And now, here I sit... at my usual nighttime spot, the computer. What would I do without it? Sometimes I really wonder... but enough wondering. I think I should try to sleep, since I do have to teach tomorrow. Goodnight!

Thanks for checking in on me!

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

Have you ever been in a funk? I think I'm in one now... pray for me to get out of this so-called funk, and get back to real life! I don't have time for funks. :) Time for Bonnie B. to go to sleep!!! Sweet dreams, world...

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

Monday Monday...

Life is slowly getting back to normal (if that even exists!). I had a nice, relaxing weekend... I think the after-math of having the team here finally hit - I wanted to be alone all the time! But hey, that's normal for me. =) Saturday night Melissa and I went to a movie "Win a Date with Tad Hammond." That was fun, and a bit normalizing for me! Sunday I went to church at Nancefield. It was once again, my turn to sing on the praise and worship team. I'd only been gone for 2 weeks, but it seemed like I'd been gone forever. After church I stayed to help with the youth musical, and when it turned out that no one had done anything with one song... I got appointed to sing it! It's a cool song, and I really think God wants me to sing it. The words of it are so much a part of my life (past AND present!) I'll share them with you:

"Plain" by ZoeGirl"

It made you feel plain,
when he forgot your name,
Let me tell you something,
I have felt the same.
I know you're in pain,
but there'll be another boy along the way,
God, He made you beautiful and,
There's nothing about you that's plain.

You are a jewel, you are a treasure,
You are one of a kind,
And you shine just as bright as,
The stars in the sky,
You're a rare kind of wonder,
Created just right.
So keep your head up no matter the pain,
There's nothing about you that's plain.

You tell me you're not the type,
The kind of girl that they like,
And you're a little insecure,
About how you look in their eyes,
Well fashion will change,
And trends come and go everyday,
But God only made one of you and,
There's nothing about you that's plain.

You are a jewel, you are a treasure,
You are one of a kind,
And you shine just as bright as,
The stars in the sky,
You're a rare kind of wonder,
Created just right.
So keep your head up no matter the pain,
There's nothing about you that's plain.

See your mind is precious,
Though your heart may be restless,
And your eyes they will see,
All that you're meant to be,
'Cause your spirit is strong,
And your soul carries on,
You'll keep your head up no matter the pain,
There's nothing about you that's plain,

Ya know I have my days when,
I feel out of place, yeah,
I look at how I am, cover what I can,
I wish it all would change but,
Take the make-up away,
You'll see the same girl still remains and,
She may not feel that beautiful but,
There's nothing about her that's plain,

You are a jewel, you are a treasure,
You are one of a kind,
And you shine just as bright as,
The stars in the sky,
You're a rare kind of wonder,
Created just right.
So keep your head up no matter the pain,
And I'll keep my head up no matter the pain,
We'll keep our heads up no matter the pain,
There's nothing about you that's plain,

You may have felt pain,
God, He knows your name,
Let me tell you something, yeah,
There's nothing about you that's plain.

I just love that song. It's almost as if God knew what was going on in my own heart, and is using this song to minister to me first, and then to others. I love the way He works sometimes!!

Today has been nice. I got lost of errands run - Mondays are good for that. *I also finally went back to the gym! Yay! I got someone to teach me how to use the circuit too, which is basically using lots of different weight machines. Now, if I can only KEEP going I'll be in shape. =)

Tomorrow Chris is going with me to Lilydale. It's so weird now, going there without Melissa. It's more stressful!! Tomorrow we're learning the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The plan is for the kids to act out the story - pray that all goes well. Tomorrow I also must tell the girls who is in the after-school Bible clubs. I actually haven't decided yet who is in the clubs. I've got it narrowed down some, but I need to do some more narrowing! This is NOT the fun part. I just pray that God gives me wisdom to know who should be in the clubs! Please pray that none of the girls will feel hurt that they are not in the clubs. I don't want them to be angry with me!

So, that's Monday for ya... nothing all that interesting, but good stuff. I learn to enjoy the mundane here in South Africa. :)

Until next time...


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

Another cool new feature on my weblog is that you can leave comments! If you ever have any thoughts to share, please do! I would be really excited to know that you're keeping up with me. :)

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

WOW! I am loving the new additions for blogger... I can do all kinds of things. Hooray! Now I can put a picture or two on my weblog every once in a while. What fun. :) If you don't know already, this girlie's name is Cleolynn. She is the cutest little girl I've ever held in South Africa. I want to go back to these apartments and find her!! And don't think I'm kidding... I just might do it someday soon. :) This picture was taken while the LSU team was prayer walking in Westbury last Saturday. 

If you haven't looked lately, there are lots of new pictures on my webshots albums. Just thought I'd let ya know. =)

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

Sad day in the life of Bonnie. The team is on a plane as I type this, headed back to America. I'm sure it's a happy day for all of them, but I am quite sad!! (As was expected.) Today Melissa and I went to Diepsloot to teach, but when we found out that Melissa's students were taking exams, we made the decision to leave and go meet the LSU people at Bruma Market (a really cool market here in Jo'burg). So we showed up there and surprised them. Yay! 'Twas much fun. I bought way too much there, which is pretty typical, but I had fun hanging out with my friends too! I rode the bus back to BIMS with the team and then hung out until it was time to say my goodbyes... *sigh* Goodbyes are never fun, but I know they are inevitable. Such is the transient life of a missionary. I thank God for the new friends He gives me, and I pray that some of us will be able to successfully keep in touch (perhaps better than others from my own home town...) After taking lots of photos and saying lots of goodbyes, the team finally left for real this time. Then I hung out for a while with Steve and Monica Allen, a couple missionaries who are staying at BIMS for a while. After that, some of us missionaries went to eat at a MEXICAN restaurant!! It was nowhere near as good as in the States, but hey, we take what we can get. :) It was a fun blessing to get to spend some time with the missionary family! So, all in all, it's been a long, FUN, but tiring day. LSU folks... if you read this, know that I miss you already!

Much love,
Bonnie B.

**Oh! Newsflash!*** I forgot to announce that my very best friend in the whole world is a new Mommy! My bestfriend, Shannon Godfrey, gave birth to Savannah Currie Godfrey this past Monday. Congrats, Shannon!!!

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

Howzit...

It's Wednesday night right now, and I don't have a clue why I am online! I should be going to bed, but I want to take advantage of this unlimited time online while I can. :) I am really sleepy... I think this is just a hard week for me. I don't generally handle transitions well, and this week has been FULL of them!! Tuesday night I went to a restaurant called Carnivor. The LSU team went there and they paid for us South African missionaries to eat there too! Hooray! I got to sit with my friends, and all was wonderful. I'll get pictures online as soon as I learn how to on this computer! I thought I'd be saying my goodbyes then, but it turns out that I get to see them one last time tomorrow afternoon before they leave. I can count on some tears. These people have grown very dear to me, and I will miss them a lot. I've been kinda in a "funk" this week in class. I am doing my best, but I still don't feel very motivated. I need to just readjust to being quiet and alone rather than constantly surrounded by people like I have been the past 2 weeks!

Lately God has been opening my eyes to SO MUCH. It's been cool. I got to learn just about as much as the LSU team did. We went into some areas where I'd never been before, and I definitely want to go back.

Well, I guess I do need to get some sleep. I don't want my last impression on the LSU folks to be one of a Bonnie with bags under her eyes! It's bad enough that they'll all remember me with lots of tears!! Goodnight world!



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

HEY! Life in insane right now. ALL 13 of us girls moved out of the Holiday's house this morning. Melissa and I moved out in boxes and suitcases and the other 11 girls moved out their luggage and other things they had acquired since they got here. It's sad, really. I miss them already! I've gotten to know some of the team pretty well, and I will certainly miss the fellowship of these Godly women (and men, don't worry guys, I didn't forget you.) I still get to see them one more time before they leave later this week. I am NOT looking forward to the real goodbyes! I almost cried today just moving them to another place and saying goodbye for the day! Wow... I am going to miss them so much. But I thank God for allowing me to work with them for the time I did! Please pray that God will sustain me in the coming days! Transitions are difficult for me, and saying goodbye to special people makes it ten times harder! I also won't have the same internet luxuries that I've had. I'm living with another missionary couple for about 15 days, so I will be online when I can be, and will check email whenever possible. I will update this as often as I can!! Love you guys!

Thanks for checking in on me! :)


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

God is soooo good! I know that most of you know that already, but I am just overflowing with excitement about how He has just been blessing me in many large and small ways in the past few days. I’ll try to be brief about what’s been happening… here’s a day by day…

>Thursday:
In the morning, all the missionaries here went and picked up 15 volunteer missionaries from Louisiana. There were supposed to be 16 of them, but one poor guy didn’t know that your passport can’t expires within 30 days of the return flight… his expired about a week or so after he was scheduled to fly back to the States. Poor guy. His name is Zane. So… we got them and brought them home. It was a crazy day because they all had to exchange money, figure out lodging, and eat (yeah, we almost forgot to let them eat – oops!). They ended up changing the girls’ sleeping arrangements, and instead of 7 girls sleeping in out house, all 11 (yes ELEVEN) girls are now staying here. It’s awesome – a huge slumber party! hehe Thursday afternoon I received an SMS (like a text message) and it was from a girl named Heather, a girl that I met a couple months ago. I hadn’t heard from her in a while, so I was excited to get something from her. She was inviting me to a braai (a South African cookout) and movie night at her apartment complex. She goes to the Baptist College, and it was all people from the college. I was so happy to be invited to something fun and completely unrelated to my work here. I had to ask Charlie (my boss) if it was ok for me to leave the LSU team for the evening, and he said I could! Hooray! Thursday night I went to music practice at church, and as always, I had a blast! I love singing with these guys.

>Friday:
Zane arrived! He got all of his passport stuff worked out (after a flight to DC and talking to certain people), and he ended up being able to get on a flight to SA just a day after his team. I know he was happy to get here! We took the team on a historical tour of SOWETO, which stands for Southwestern Townships. That was fun… I continue to learn more every time we take someone on a tour! There were some men from a Baptist Church there that served as our tour guides. That afternoon we went to lunch at Wandie’s Place, a restaurant in SOWETO known for authentic South African’ cuisine. As always, it was delicious! By now I have learned what I like, and what to stay away from. :) After lunch, we went to Jabavu Baptist Church (in SOWETO) to have a little orientation with the pastor there. He told the team some thing to do and not to do. He informed us that all the girls had to wear skirt during the prayer walking and street evangelism, which was the next day… well, many of the girls had not brought fitting skirts, so after that we went to the mall!! My carload was more than excited when we saw Brenda (remember her, my car washer friend?). We all talked to her in the parking lot for a while before shopping quickly for a khaki skirt. The girls really blessed Brenda, and I know God ordained that meeting. Praise Him! That night the team had a meeting at the Lechners house while the Lechners left and went on a date! This team has been awesome. They’re paying for everything for us missionaries so we don’t have to pay out of our pockets… and they took up money to send Charlie and Angie on a date and enough money to spend the night somewhere! The guy on the team all stayed with the kids (since they are sleeping at their house). What a blessing that was to Charlie and Angie!

>Saturday:
Grrrreat day! We did prayer walking and street evangelism around Jabavu Baptist Church. We also invited people to come to church Sunday morning. For once, I felt like I knew what I was doing. I knew how to greet people, and communicate with (most) people. I hadn’t even realized how much I have been learning since I got here, but I saw it come out on Saturday! I think about 9 people on the streets of SOWETO came to know the Lord on Saturday. Isn’t God GOOD?!? I got to pray with various people and just spend some time talking to them. It was awesome. After that, the team went to Bruma Market for some souvenir shopping. I separated from them at that point and came home to get ready for the braai! I was so nervous. I only knew Heather and Sean (Sean goes to my church), but they had purposely invited me because they’re trying to help me make friends (aren’t they sweet?). Well, once I got there I wasn’t very nervous at all, and by the end of the night I wasn’t nervous at all! It was a cool event. People had brought out their couches from their flats (apartments) and put them in the parking lot. They set up a screen with a movie projector. We watched Christian music videos for a while and just talked to people and hung out. Then when the braai (grill) was ready, we took our meat (oh yeah, a braai is “bring your own meat”) to the guys since the men to the cooking at a braai. Once we finally all had our food (which was well after this function began) we started the movie. It was cold outside! So we were all on these couches, bundled up in blankets and coats to keep warm. It was SO much fun. I enjoyed being able to hang out with people my age and not worry or even think about work except when people asked what I was doing here. Now I just pray that I will have a chance to se these people again sometime! After the braai, I came home, and of course the girls were all still awake. The ones I’ve gotten closer with all wanted to know how it was and who I met. They were as excited for me as I was! Then, a little later, all but 2 of us sat in the living room having some serious girl/God talk. It was amazing, and I know God was present in the room. We were all sharing testimonies of how God has working in our lives, and discussing girl issues. We even finished off the discussion by praying. Wow… I do NOT want these girls to leave! God has blessed me an incredible amount through them already.

Well, now it’s Sunday afternoon. I went to my church this morning because I was scheduled to sing. The team all went to Jabavu. They’re not back yet, but I want them to come home so I can ask them how it went! I’ll keep you posted on what’s going on whenever I can.

Thanks for checking in on me!


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

Wow, it’s been a really really long time since I’ve updated this web-log!! Shame on me… once again. Well, my life is about to get VERY hectic. Tomorrow morning (Thursday, 20 May), our team is going to the airport to pick up 16 volunteers from LSU. They will be working here until the 30th of May. I’m really excited about having some new people around! I am quite naïve still… I am told by other team members that having volunteers here is not as “fun” as I would think, but rather it gets stressful. I’m sure it will be stressful at times, but I hope it will be a great time too! The crazy thing is that 7, yes SEVEN girls will be staying with Melissa and I in the Holidays’ house. That makes a total of nine girls in one house for 10 days. PRAY HARD! haha J Pray that Melissa and I can maintain our sanity!! Really though, pray that everything goes well for this team. God moves in awesome ways when volunteers come. Pray that God will use them to reach people in Jo’burg, and that they will help to open doors into the communities. Also, pray that God will work in their hearts. He may be working on them to call them into full time missions, or just to give them a fire for working alongside missionaries. Keep them lifted up. As soon as the team leaves, literally, Melissa and I will be temporarily moving to another missionary couple’s house. We’re moving in the Morans for about 2 weeks. Then, when the Lechners leave South Africa to go Stateside for 3 months, Mel and I will be living in their house. So we have a lot of moving coming up!
Me? I’m doing pretty well. I am very excited about a new door that God has opened up for me in the past month. Beginning in June, I will be leading a couple after school “Girls Only!” clubs at Lilydale. To be honest, I don’t have much of a clue what I am going to do with them, but I am beyond excited! My first goal is just to get to know them and help them get to know me as a fellow girl and not their teacher! I want to get girly with them… talk about girl stuff and how God made us special. I get giddy just thinking about it. God has already blessed me by giving me this idea. He’s making the vision grow, and Melissa will have a couple groups at one of her schools too!! How exciting!
Well, I must get back to cleaning my room… I don’t want these LSU girls to think I am a slob now do I? Thanks for checking in on me…. <>< Bonnie B.

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

What an awesome day today! We started back at Lilydale Higher Primary School, and as Melissa and I both put it, “we’ve found our groove!” Since during the first term we began talking about being an example (based off of 1 Timothy 4:12) we decided to begin telling stories from the Bible about people who were examples. Today we began with the story of David and Goliath. We narrated the story, but gave the kids the job of acting the story out. It was great! We usually ended up with 5-10 minutes after the drama to explain just how David was an example that we can follow. I really like this way of teaching! The kids who usually are trouble, were either part of the drama, or at least paid attention this time because their friends were up in front of everyone. It was great. I think they will remember more of the lessons this way because they are actually being a part of the teaching. Yay! Chris was a huge help, as he is wonderful with the kids!!! I wish he could stay the whole time! Tomorrow (Wednesday) we go back to Lawley for the after school J-CLUB. This school has a tendency to be someone unorganized when it comes to us, so PLEASE pray that all goes smoothly and that we are able to have CLUB with the kids! Thursday we go back to Diepsloot. Since there are a total of 10 weeks of teaching before the next school break, I’ve decided to teach about the 10 commandments. I’m using a preplanned curriculum called “Safari Club.” I think this will be good for me because I need to learn some structure! Hopefully by using this curriculum during this term, I will learn techniques that I can apply in following terms when I don’t have the luxury of a real curriculum.

Here’s something cool to pray for… the other day I met a lady named Brenda. She is a car washer at Westgate (the local mall). She washed my car, and when I came back afterwards, she was so happy and friendly that we started talking. She is 21 years old, and trying to save enough money to go to nursing school. She says she goes to a “born-again” church, but she also called it a “Universal” church, so I’m not exactly sure what that means. Please pray for Brenda, that she will be learning the truth in church, and that she will be able to save enough money to go to nursing school. Also, please pray that I will have a chance to go see her again! She said she’s always at the same spot, but I’ve been back twice to look for her and haven’t seen her. I just think it would be the coolest thing ever if I could really get to know her. She loves in Dobsonville, which is part of Soweto (I’m pretty sure anyway). Pray that I can get to know her and that she can become a “woman of peace” for me!

Also at the mall (I promise I don’t spend ALL my time there!) today I have an opportunity to speak with a couple ladies at a store called “Secrets.” It’s kind of an “earthy, herbal remedy” kind of place. I was there looking for a candle, but ended up talking to this one lady who works there (her name is Glynn) about churches and worship styles. While we were talking, I said that one thing I have learned is that there are different styles of worship, and that though some churches worship the wrong thing, many Christian churches DO worship God (the right thing) but in different ways. Well, this other lady butted in the conversation and was all huffy that I said that some churches worship the “wrong thing.” She said that there is no wrong thing to worship and I was wrong for saying that there is a “right thing” to worship. She was NOT happy with me! She didn’t stick around long enough for me to share any more… But please pray for the unnamed blonde lady from “Secrets,” that she will see the truth!! Also, the other lady who works there said something about “as long as you believe something you are fine, you just need to find your own truth.” Wow… heard all that before! I really didn’t get to talk to her though, and I don’t know her name either. Glynn seemed like she knew what she was talking about, but bits of what she said seemed questionable. Please pray for Glynn, that she will know the truths of scripture, and that she will be convicted to share those truths with her coworker. Also, I have no reason to go back to that store anytime soon since I’m not into herbal stuff, but I do pass by it a lot. Please pray that God will ordain opportunities for me to visit with Glynn in the future!
Thanks for checking in on me!! Pleas pray for these people I’ve mentioned: Brenda, Glynn, and the other ladies from “Secrets.” Praise God for divine appointments!!

Oh, also, if you don’t mind praying… I feel like I am getting sick. I am having some congestion and sometimes I have a little trouble breathing (nothing too bad, don’t worry). Please pray for my health to remain strong!! Thanks!

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

Howzit? Things are well here. I’m still enjoying being on holiday, but don’t worry… next week I get back to the grind! Part of me is ready and excited about going back, but I’m still nervous about teaching. Will that ever go away?? I hope so!

Guys, life has been good the past few days. The past 3 nights, Melissa and I have gone over to the Lechner’s house to fellowship and card playing! It’s been really really fun! OH! I didn’t tell you!! We have a volunteer with us! Well, actually he’s with the Lechner’s, but he’s with us too. :) His name is Chris, and he is 25 years old. He will be here until the beginning of June. He is friends with the Lechners, and he’ll go home when they leave SA for stateside assignment in the US. He’s here to do whatever needs to be done! So yeah, we’re gonna take advantage of that. ;) It’s nice having him here. It’s kind of like having an older brother here! Fun times. :)

Last night was really fun. First of all, we made pizza from scratch – literally! Then, Angie found a recipe online for funnel cakes, and Melissa and I (and Coleson, the eldest Lechner child) decided to make them for dessert. That was quite fun!

Soon we go back to school. Please pray for us as well as the children as we share the Word and Christ’s love with them! Pray also for Chris, that the Lord will use him in mighty ways and that He will give Chris guidance in discerning His plan for Chris’ life! Thanks!


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

Hey Guys! I know… it’s been a while since I’ve last updated this web-log. I guess you’re probably used to that by now. Sorry! Hopefully you’ve gotten (and read!) my April newsletter by now, so I won’t bore you by writing the same stuff here. Well, this is my last week before I start school back. I go back to teaching next Tuesday (April 20th). Part of me is ready to go back, but to be honest, I’ve really enjoyed having time off. Guys, teaching frustrates me so much at times! I really think God is stretching me right now. I really feel like my gifting is with small children, yet for some reason, I am here teaching middle school aged kids. I also struggle a lot with how much scripture to put in my lessons, and what I’m really supposed to teach. I am learning that I am more of a structure person than I ever knew! How I long for a curriculum! haha :) Please pray that God will show me what and how to teach these kids in a way that will help them become closer to the Lord, but will also fit with “life skills” which is what I am supposed to be teaching them! Summit friends… how are you all doing? I haven’t heard from some of you in a long time! I get your mass amounts of listserv emails, so I kind of know some of what you’re up to. I am SO excited to hear about your new commitment to evangelism!! By the time I come home, you’ll be going out everyday! I’m definitely praying for you all in your service to Him!

Did everyone have a good Easter? I certainly did! I was at the Nancefield Baptist Church Easter Camp, which I told you about in my newsletter already. It was so much fun. It seemed very LONG, but it was worth every minute. I have been struggling with whether or not to call this church my “home” lately, for various reasons that would take forever to get into here. When I came here, I did not really look around at churches. For that reason, I feel like I should branch out a little and at least look around and consider other churches. It is hard because I really enjoy being at Nancefield. With the exception of a few silly, middle-school-type rumors, everyone there has accepted me without question and I feel at home. I also love being on the worship team, and that is a ministry I don’t want to give up. But to be sure that this is where God wants me, I am going to be visiting other churches for a little while when I am not needed on the worship team. Please pray that God will continue to give me peace about whatever and wherever He leads me to.

Well, that’s what I am up to right now… not too much. I’m trying to get my life together after being gone for 8 days (AMTM and then camp)! I hope to hear from you soon!


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

Hello again. I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry... But such is the life! I don't have much time to update this second, but I'll share a little. I am on "holiday" or school break right now and will be for a couple more weeks. But trust me when I say I am not any less busy! There have been a few volunteers here from the States, and we've been with them all week. It's been fun to see things afresh through their eyes.

We showed the Jesus Film this past Saturday and Sunday with so much success. God was so obviously working in people's lives. We got to pray with many people. There was much more sanity this time than when we showed it at Lilydale. Many more adults came to this showing also, which is something we were praying for! One story that sticks in my mind is of an older lady... she is a believer, praise God. But she came out crying and as Melissa comforted her, she said, "I've heard this story many times, but I've never seen it." Amazing. God worked in many lives, I know - praise Him! And please pray for those who's hearts He is working on.

Personally I am doing very well. I am definitely enjoying being on break, as teaching has been stressful for me. I am making a few friends too... hooray!! Don't worry, they've not replaced any of you special people back home, but I must say... it is lovely to have friends here!! I've recently met a girl about my age named Heather, and we seem to have a lot in common so far. I pray that God will connect us and that she will become a good friend!!

Ok, I must be going for now. I will write more later!

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

Hey Everybody! Another great night tonight! God is being so good to me!!! No more homesickness here. :) I recently got back from worship practice, where I spent some sweet time worshipping with the team. There's a new set up with 2 separate teams, and now there is "young" team, which I am on. Tonight was our first practice, and it was just so much fun. I can't even explain it here. We were able to have SO much fun, yet have a good practice at the same time (imagine that ... enjoying worship!). Ah... what a night - I really do wish I could put my joy into words on this screen. :)

This coming weekend looks fun. Friday night I'm babysitting the Lechner kids. Fun times I'm sure. Coleson (the eldest) wants to bake - I haven't baked since I got here - I'm excited! Then Saturday we have a Young Adults versus the deacons of the church "amazing race." THAT ought to be a blast. Then on Sunday... church, and a braai (bbq) at Sean's house. Then on Monday (it's some Holiday here) a braai HERE! Whew! I'll need a break on Tuesday. :)

Love you all!! Thanks for checking in on me. :)

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

I MUST tell you about the awesome day I had yesterday (Sunday)!! In the morning, I met with Emily, an old friend from UNC who is here working with the Door of Hope (a place where people can drop their babies if they don't want them). We met and then she took me to her church. It was a black church, but all in English, thank goodness! After church, there just happened to be another white girl visiting for the first time, so we met each other over coffee. She goes to the Baptist College here in Joburg, and she knows a couple people that I know from my church! We exchanged numbers, and may get together sometime. Hooray for a new friend! After church, Emily and she showed me around the 2 baby houses. Wow... what a ministry. I LOVED just holding the babies and letting them know they were cared about!! I might get to volunteer there on a regular basis!! Be lifting that up in prayer. Later than night I went to my church, and afterwards, some of the young adults went to McDonald's and stayed there hanging out for over 2 hours!! Can I just tell you... THAT in itself was a huge answer to prayer. I have been missing hang out times with friends, and finally I got to do that here!! It was so much fun. It was exactly what I've been missing! God is such a faithful provider!!!!

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

Hello everyone! Need I apologize yet AGAIN for not updating this thing sooner? I’m terrible! Oh well… I must admit, not much has changed. If you’ve read my newsletter from March, not much has changed at all. I feel like I’m kind of getting into a routine now – finally! Of course, just as I’m getting into a routine, soon I’ll be going on break because the kids have about 3 weeks of break from school. And since I teach in schools, when they go on break, so do I! Please pray that God will use me in another way during that time. The last thing I want to do is get lazy! I’m pretty excited that during that time, I will be going to AMTM… I wish I could tell you what that stands for, but honestly, I can’t remember. It is a retreat for missionaries in this area though, and I’m really looking forward to it!! There will be some journeypeople there that I have not met, so perhaps I’ll make some new friends. I’ll also be going to an Easter Camp with my church here. Your prayers are needed… we’ll be spending 4 days together with no escape! hahaJ I haven’t heard yet, but I hope the worship team will be involved so that I can help out. So I do have some exciting things coming up soon!

Schools have been pretty much the same. Some days go very well, and some days… well… I call them learning days – day BONNIE learns what to do or NOT to do! haha Hey, I’m still a new teacher. I always make sure to tell them something about Jesus, so even if the lesson doesn’t go quite as planned, at least they hear some good news. I’d appreciate your prayers for my classes as well as for my teaching skills to improve! I think I lack organization in some ways… I’m still learning what works and what doesn’t, and I’m still trying to plan out good lessons for more than one week and a time.

Life has been alright lately. I must admit, I’ve been more homesick lately than before. At least everyone says that this is normal! J I really miss people back home! But I have come to the conclusion that it is good that I miss them because that means that they are special people and they deserve to be missed. God has blessed me with wonderful family and friends back home. I am so grateful for every one of you. Your prayers and your friendships are what keep me going on the good and the bad days! I love you all!


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

Africa - OH! - Africa... Gotta love it. The Jesus Film was tonight. It was insane. We showed it in the "hall" at Lilydale (the size of 2 classrooms). We had no clue what to expect, and were thinking, "we'll be happy if people show up." Well, people came alright! It was almost ALL kids (we were hoping for some adults, but oh well, God had other plans!!) and the place was literally packed! I mean, kids were in the floor, standing in the doorway, peeking in the windows, and still people couldn't come in because there wasn't enough room for them! We're showing it again tomorrow, praise God! It was crazy... kids don't exactly sit quietly during movies, so it was hard for me not to get frustrated with them when they got loud (which was often). Hey, I'm being real with you guys here!! At times I felt like no one even cared what was happening! But many of them were paying attention, and during important parts, almost everyone was quiet. I know that at least some of the kids really did watch the whole thing, so please pray for Jesus to work in their lives as they think about what they have seen and heard tonight!
This was the fist time we've done this, and we've learned some things from it! Tomorrow we will be showing it again, so please pray that we will have more adults show up on Sunday, and that we will have a better chance to talk to people after the movie this time!! It is exciting to know that even if they didn't pay attention the whole time, they definitely saw something about the life of Jesus, and that's always a GREAT thing!! Thanks for your prayers!

Join in prayer! This Saturday and Sunday nights (Feb.28 and 29) we will be showing the Jesus film in Soweto in an area called Dlamini, where Mel and I teach on Tuesdays.

Please pray that God will work out the details with equipment, electricity, and the room where we will show the film.

Please pray that people will come to check out this film and bring their friends back to see it on Sunday.

Pray that the people who see the film will be drawn to God by His Spirit.

Please pray for our team members, that they will be bold and obedient in sharing before and after the film.

Pray for people to be willing to host Bible studies in their homes as a result of showing the Jesus film, and for a church to begin in Dlamini.


Did any of you in America see the report on the CBS evening news Sunday night (Feb. 15) about the Jesus film? It said that even though it was a box office"flop" in the U.S. several years ago, missionaries packed up the movie and took it all over the globe. The report testified to the wonderful way God has used this movie to impact a lost world.

Thank you for your prayers!


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

Here's something to pray for: Tonight Melissa and I are going to the airport to pick up a young lady named Ebony. She is a med student at the University of Michigan and she is choosing to spend her Spring break helping here in Joburg with Mel and I. Please pray that God will use her to the max, and that He will do a work in her life as she is here! Thanks!!

Nothing much has changed for me since a few days ago... one thing you'll find is that I live a pretty typical life here... I tend to do the same things from week to week. But I'll still try to keep you posted on what's going on. Tonight I'm going to church for a Young Adults meeting, so I'm pretty happy about that. One thing I miss most about home is people my age to just hang out with! Please continue to pray that God will help me form real friendships with some of the young adults here.

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

*Big News!*

I finally updated my photo albums. PLEASE take a look! It costs me money to put them online, so look at them! :)

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

Somebody shoot me! You guys are supposed to let me know when I'm slacking off and not updating you! Hmm... I suppose that lets me know that no one's checking this web-log. If you actually check it, please let me know! I don't want to be wasting my time!

So here's what new... I am now involved in 3 schools. Lilydale is still going quite well. I've taught my first lesson there already. I was so nervous, but I did alright, and by the end of the day I pretty much had it down. Let me tell you, teaching grades 4-7 is completely different than teaching pre-school aged kids!!! It has been harder than I'd like, but I am learning through it all. :) Melissa, Angie (a married missionary here) and I all go to a school every other Wednesday to teach an after-school Bible club. Here, we are storying through the Bible chronologically. I have grade 4s for the club. Now, my favorite!! *Every Thursday Melissa and I go to Diepsloot Combined School. I have grades 4-6 and Mel has grades 7-9 (or 10?). I have these kids to myself, and I love it! Right now I am teaching on the theme, "Who are you, and who are you becoming?" I've only been with them 2 weeks, but so far we've talked about what they want to be, and the dreams that they've been given by God. We've also talked about the fact that God made every single one of them to be who they are. I love it there. I have one grade 6 class especially that is my favorite! They're really cool, and they're trying to teach my Zulu! (Yeah, good luck kids!) I am burdened about telling these kids about Jesus. I don't just want to tell them nice things, or good stories, but I want them to KNOW Jesus! Please pray that God will allow me to share His name and truth with them every chance I get!

I have gotten involved with Nancefield Baptist Church finally! I do have the freedom to go around and visit other churches, but everything was just pointing to me getting plugged in here. They have a Young Adults group... it's brand new, so I'm getting involved in a new ministry! But at least that means there are young adults here! I'm already getting to know people there, and they notice when I'm not there. For example, last Sunday I went somewhere else in the morning, then went there are night, and SO many people let me know I was missed that morning! That was nice. Also, I'm now on the Praise and Worship team there!! If you know me at all, you know I'm pretty excited about that!! I'm the only white girl singing, but they seem to be cool with that. :)

Well, that's what keeps me busy lately. I'll try to keep you posted more often! Thanks for checking up on me!

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