Kylemore

My dear friends,



Words cant express how much i miss you. I've learned many things over the past couple weeks one of which is that i am not much of a writer proper spelling is too much of a hassle. Even my journal consists of only short prayers of thanksgiving. Over the past couple weeks we have been in training. Part of our training was spent in the Hottentots Holland Mountain Reserve, there we grew closer to God and to one another. Without a doubt i reached a new level of intimacy with God even though i almost passed out on our 11 km hike up the mountain. I experienced what David meant when he wrote about 'being led to still waters' and have been exposed to an inner peace that i will keep with me for the rest of my life. Anywho, there are three volunteer houses. One in Blouberg by the beautiful beach, and another in the city called Pine lands. I have been blessed to live in a village called Kylemore in the mountains. I live with 7 other girls 5 germans and 2 English women. They have become my comrads and my sisters. Even though we have been in training for the past couple weeks doesn't mean we haven't been working; we live in the village that we'll be working in. I often wake up at 8 am (if not earlier) to joyful 6 year old children screaming, "IRMELAA!!!!! come here." The older kids come over later in the afternoon. People who live here come could be categorized as middle class to extremly poor. There is a really cool yellow house down the road that Corne lives in, but Stephanie lives in a metal shack on the other side of the village. For the most part things have been running smoothly. The few unsettling things that have occured have truly been unsettling but my fellow volunteers and i are unharmed and healthy besides a few scratches we got when we were in the mountains.

Here's a few unsettling things that happened so that you can have a better understanding

• we got into a car accident.
• theft in this country is INSANE ben's laptop got stolen and he lives in Blouberg which is in the upper class neighborhood.
• a few of my roomies went hiking in our mountain with a couple of the kylmore kids. Eban fell 18 meters into the river below. He went into shock and lossed a lot of blood. The doctors simply patched him up and sent him home. He's having surgery on his face today.

i didnt find the need to mention everything but please continue to lift us up in prayer. I love you and i want to hear from you. Dont be shy. Talk to me on facebook or shoot me an email at arrnwodu@yahoo.com