This week was so much fun at Ithemba. We started off the week with a free day on Monday. Then Tuesday we talked about health, specifically drugs and alcohol. And we did a skit to explain to the kids why drugs and alcohol are bad. Then we had fun doing a lesson and my class sang songs and colored. Then, on Wednesday we had so much fun dancing and singing. We taught them dances like the chacha slide, the macarena, and the Cupid Shuffle. They had so much fun, we always have a blast when we turn on any kind of music.
       Then, Thursday was Lusanda's birthday!!! Lusanda is one of the ladies that works at Ithemba. Yesterday was her birthday and she has never had an actual birthday party before! So we went ALL OUT! Raelynn and Christina surprised her by taking her out to lunch. While they were out we snuck into Ithemba and set up a birthday party for her. It was so much fun. We made a huge "Happy Birthday" banner; we blew up balloons and put them up all over the church (Ithemba is a church); we baked about 80 cupcakes; we did a water balloon toss; we did pin the tail on the donkey (well our version was a kite with a skydiver on it, so we did pin the heart on the skydiver); we also did the limbo. We all finished the day with some fun dancing and eating the cupcakes we baked. It was such an awesome day!!! Lusanda had a great time and she didn't stop smiling. It was really cool to be able to bless her and let her take it easy and just have a silly fun time with no worries. Lusanda's birthday party was one of the most fun birthday parties i've been to in a while.
     
      Please be in prayer for a family that our team knows. A few of the girls on our team visit Marta who lives in Tokyo Sexwale (pronounced sek.wall'.ay) one of the townships. I think Marta has two sons and one daughter, but I'm not quite sure of that. Anyways, Marta's 3 year old daughter, Mina, was admitted into the hospital on Monday evening because she was not feeling well and she was bleeding excessively. It is suspected that she has been raped, but the police are still investigating. Please be in prayer for this family. Mina seems to be acting and feeling a lot better, however the investigation is still not finished. We need to pray that Mina will be restored completely to her normal health and pray that this will not divide their family, but make them stronger. My heart breaks so much for little Mina. I feel so many emotions: sadness, anger, confusion.... and I could go on. Thank you for your prayers. Here is a verse that encouraged me when I first found out about all this.