Hi My name is Tracy, who speaks English?

Day 11 - On this day we went to assit a pastor's wife in Soutpan. Her name is Salome. She has 14 children that she keeps from 8-4 everyday and does preschool type work with them. We expected that she would tell us what to do, but instead she said, "the day is yours," and left. This would've been ok because we were prepared, however, the kids didnt speak any english. We struggled through the day, learned from them, and had fun. During the course of the day a puff adder slithered its little self across the street from the preschool. It was a village event to kill the snake. Reb wanted the great footage so she, camera in hand, ran to the site. She asked if the snake was poisonous and thought the people said no, so she got up real close and captured the whole draging out, bashing and killing of the snake. (This and another video were later lost in the transfer from camera to computer, to all of our dismay). After lunch, Mr. Zak picked us up and took us and the loaded full combie (what they call a van over here) to Stinkwater to drop off all of the free clothes for another orphange. We also bought honey made there and saw the witchdoctor's house. Its interesting how all the people live in shacks and the witchdoctors (yes, plural), live in castles. On the way home Reb and Rebe stopped to get their picture taken next to the fresh fish (no, US history class, not new POWs, real fresh fish). Hungry anyone? When we got home it was a mad dash to get the gormet supper finished before Erin Will (now Debrain) and her husband and baby came over. The meal was beautiful and a success. One of my favortie pasttimes while I have been here is to relax with some Roibos tea and watch the world cup with Ben.

Day 12 - This day was very tiring, but very rewarding. Mr. and Mrs. Harding are a retired couple that used to work with Bethesda. Later they felt burdened to help HIV infected babies be cared for and find homes. Bethesda is unable to do this at this time, so the Harding started their own orphanage type ministry. Many times they get calls from hospitals and get sent babies who were abandoned, found in long drops (like outhouses), or in other ways neglected. Then the Hardings nurture the babies back to health and try to adopt them out. South Africa does not allow Americans to adopt because they believe we are war mongers and we have not signed the habeus corpus bill against kids in the military.What they dont understand is that our ROTC program is not a military full of kids. Anyway, off of the political "box." We had a great time playing with the kids and loving them up! The little boy pictured with Reb, Fetsi, has cerebral palsey. She is so good with kids with diabilities! On the way home we stopped at the mall and drove home through a smoke filled night. Its winter here so there is a lot of preventive burning being done. The plentiful amounts of long grass make for a sky filled with fire and smoke.