Cape Town!

I finally had time to write and update you all on all the happenings of Africa!  We have been here a little less than 2 weeks and I have already fallen in love with this place and these people.  We have done so much ministry already.  We have visited a couple of village/townships and served food and rice to the people in the area.  We have played a lot of soccer with the kids in these areas which has been awesome to connect with them first through sports and then after they have warmed up to us then we were able to go into their homes and talk with their families.  I connected really well with a girl named Caylin and after going into her home, we talked with her family for an hour.  There were around 20 people living in one small apartment room.  They were so excited to have us there and even when they had so little, they tried to offer what they did have for us!  It was really great to talk with the family and build the relationship with them.  It is really heart breaking in some of these community because of the hopelessness in some of the hearts of these people.  One girl was 10 years old and was talking about the only form of entertainment they can afford is to have sex, and she said if the statistics are correct then she will have AIDS by the time she is 15 and be dead by the time she is 20, and that is what she has to hope for in her life.  It is great to be able to go into these communities and offer the message of Hope and speak truth into their lives.  The people are so receptive to the gospel.  It has been great to watch as they hear that some one loves them unconditionally.  I talked with one girl in one of the youth groups we were helping with and she started crying as I was telling her that God is a father that loves her and created her and has a plan for her life, because her father was killed in a gang fight and her mother has different guys over and they have abused her.  Watching her cry over the gospel reminded me how powerful the Gospel actually is and what an amazing message we carry!  Besides working in townships and food shelters, we have worked with youth groups, done dramas and talks at local high schools, worked with orphans, and went to an AIDS hospital.  In the AIDS Hospital,  the people in these places are the people who have around 2 or 3 weeks left to live.  We were able to talk and pray for these people, but it is very hard to stomach some of there stories of children who are innocent and infected with AIDS or young girls who are raped and didn't do anything to deserve this situation.  I am still trying to process it all, but I know my life will never be the same after I leave this place.  I am excited about the ministry opportunities coming up, because we are going to be helping with Samaritan's feet and giving 30,000 new shoes away to children who don't even own one pair of shoes!! I am really excited about this and also, the world cup starts in 18 days!! The excitement in Cape Town is unbelievable!! The ministry opportunity is going to be crazy and I'm pumped! AHHHH USA for the win!! probably not USA, but FOR SURE BRAZIL! GOOOOOO BRAZIL!  I have already gotten my yellow jersey and face paint, so I'm ready!