as i write this blog, i cant belive how much my heart is filled with so much joy. i am blessed beyond belief being here in africa. i absolutly love what i am doing. my heart is filled with so much joy because of the blessings that the children i work with at ithemba bring me. as i walked back into the church yesterday afternoon, i couldnt believe how much i missed them after not seeing them for the weekend. they have such gentle hearts. most of them anyways, you have the occasional boy obsessed w/ john cena, wwf wrestler. im not kidding. they perform wrestling moves on me. however, their hearts are all so gentle, and innocent. it tears me apart to think that about the things that some of these children have had done to them. or the things that these children have seen. i absolutly love having children so eager to have a hug, and so eager for attention that they plow you over when you walk into the door.

one girl in particular has my heart. her name is leyamma. she is three years old and she just lost her mother and father to aids. she lives with her grandma but she is an orphan. this little girl used to sit in the corner of the room, by herself... watching the other children play. she was afraid of the other kids. she never got in line to eat. she would just sit by herself. from the very first day i saw her, i was drawn to her. i went and sat with her in the corner and just held her. now every single day i go and i sit with her, and she holds my hand and follows me around. when i first met her she wouldnt say a single word. now she sits and babbles on and on and on. i hug her and tell her i love her and i kiss her. everytime i do this her eyes get huge and she acts like she is so surprised. i dont think anyone has ever showed her love the way i do. if i could adopt her and take her home with me i would. in a heartbeat.