Refreshing weekend, LONG MONDAY

This weekend was so lovely because I was able to relax and re-gain energy for this coming week. On Saturday morning, I slept in which felt amazing because we are usually starting our days at 7:30 am and then had quiet time which I am learning to love here. I have made it a task to reflect in my journal as often as possible because I know I will love to look back after this semester is over to see my thoughts on paper. I find that I learn a lot when I write it down on paper, surprising huh? At 9 am, 10 of us girls ran/walked to this adorable cafe and ordered a fluffy drink! Getting a fruit smoothie or a cappuccino was our motivation and in the process, we treated our bodies right by moving them =] The rest of the day I relaxed and layed out by the waterfall, which is one of my favorite places on campus. I usually bring my ipod and journal and spend a few hours down there. It is beyond refreshing because there is a light mist that surrounds you the entire time. And Saturday night a few of us attempted to see the movie, "Shutter Island," with the famous Leonardo DiCaprio, but it was sold out unfortanately : / I was very upset! But hopefully I'll get a chance to see it soon!

Sunday was also a very relaxing day! It was a rainy weekend and is supposed to be throughout the week! I spent the majority of the day working on an art project that I did a fine job with procrastinating on. So I finished up majority of my project on Sunday, which was great. On Sunday night, my team from Ethembeni went out to dinner at this delicious italian restaurant. I love spending time with them and we had an opportunity to discuss our goals for the week and also get to know each other on deeper levels... just talking and laughing! It was a grand 'ol time!!

All day Monday, today, we had class! But before class we had chapel, which we have on mondays and fridays. I really look forward to chapels here. I love the worship songs we sing and how it is run by my peers. Today, we brought leaves to the foot of a mini cross in the room to signify bringing our shame and burdens to the cross and reflecting on how amazing and exalted our God is and should be. It definitely helped to set my mood for the rest of the day.

The days when we have classes from 8am to 8pm are pretty brutal, not going to lie.. However, the thing that gets me through is knowing that I have service sites for the rest of the week! Tomorrow my group is heading to Ethembeni again and we are all so excited for the week to come. Please pray for Alex, one of the girls in my group, who is sick. She's been resting up these past two day in hopes of feeling healthy by tomorrow morning. Please also pray for our group to be productive with the goals we have set for the week and also for our group to be able to represent and show to the community that God is our Rock and firm foundation, and that through him all things are possible.

A sad thing happened this past week also...
Our professor for our Community Engagement Class, Francis, had a death in the family two days ago. His brother died and it seemed rather sudden and he was contemplating not attending the funeral in Kenya because he wanted to stay here with us during this week to help with our service sites and said it was a critical time for us. After some persuasion, he decided to go and leaves tomorrow. Please pray for him and his family (He has 18 other siblings I believe). He is such a wonderful man who is always so positive and a light wherever he goes.

Alright, well expect a new entry tomorrow after our third day at Ethembeni! I cannot wait to see those little munchkins! I cannot believe that I am missing them so much! I find myself talking about them whenever I am around the others in my group just to laugh and bring up stories about them!!

<3 Jamiee Lee