Doing Daily Devotion with kids at Heron Bridge

Heron Bridge Sports Fields, Our Host School

Dianna & Kellie in Madam Queen's Class

Madam Queen's Students wth Kellie, Diepsloot, Section 5

Sinah, the teacher getting the keys to the new school

Community of Diepsloot

Old Schools Site in Diepsloot

Painting at Diepsloot

Madiva's Birthday

Went and painted a new school today in a settlement called Diepslot. To describe Diepslot to you think of the ghettos you see in the movie Slumdog Millionair, corrogated metal stuctures stand as one room homes. The "school" for children ages 3-6 was also made the same way a one room metal building with a dirt floor no bigger than a Ford F-350 extendedcab that 30 sweet babies were taught in every... day. Their new school is now three small seperate rooms, still smaller than my current classroom, with carpet on the floor, window that open and close and door that lock. A yard with a new play swingset and fence around all of this to keep people out at night. You should of seen the looks on the faces of these babies when they walked down to their new school. It was a very humbeling experinece to be able to help participate in creating this school and to see the joy it brought to these children today on Mandela Day, Nelson Mandela's Birthday.  We cried a lot today and it was a day that really showed me how much our students truly have to be thankful for.

PS. Madiva means father of the nation and is a term of endearment for Nelson Mandela here. 

Arriving in Joberg

Landed in Joberg on Tuesday, July 17 at 9:30 in the morning.  Thank you Jesus!!! After 10 hours of flying, of which we slept about 3, we were very glad to be off of the plane.  Flight was not comfortable, but movie selection was nice.  (Am trying to take a when life gives you lemon make lemonade stance) After leaving the plane you must clear customs which took about 45 min., and was uneventful just long and boring.  Then onto claim our baggage and out to the main part of the airport termail where Kellie's friend Angelique was waiting for us.  We them went through the process of exchanging our American money into South African rand which was quite an experience in and of itself.  After that it was on to Ange's house to drop off the luggage and then to Herron Bridge, her sons school, and the school that is sponosering our visit, to pick Adam up.  The rest of the day was spent at home.  Hope everyone is well

Pat down at the Tulsa Airport

2012 Olympics

Metro

Fish and Chips

Eye of London

Big Ben

Buckingham

Yummy dinner on the Plane

Our seats Chicago to London

Dianna Leaving Tulsa

Day 1 London

After a complicated check-in to the hotel we set out on the public transportation to the Metro system where we got off at Green Park and walked to Buckingham Palace. From there we walked to Big Ben then the Eye of London taking in all the sites along the way.  London is a great city, and with London getting ready for the 2012 Olympics it is quite busy.  London is the first City in the modern era to host the Olympics 3 times. We then boarded our Tour Bus and rode it to Harrods and many other stores to look at all the amazing items. We had dinner in Soho, at the Shakespeare Head, for our Fish & Chips experience. We concluded the evening with a walk around Piccadilly Circus. Amazing day 1….ready for day 2!