Visitor from Mpumalanga

This week Janice Cole, a nurse from the United States who is doing missions work in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, is here in Rustenburg to teach an AIDS workshop for caregivers who have little or no medical background. I will be attending the workshop all day Saturday. Janice first came to South Africa back in 2002-2003 to volunteer at Lighthouse for 2 years, so she still comes here often to visit the kids and the staff.

It has been really interesting to talk with her and hear about the work she is doing in the villages in Mpumalanga. I learned this week that the percentage of the population that is HIV positive in this province is higher than any other province in South Africa. And just like in the North West province (where Lighthouse is located), there is a large number of children being abandoned or losing their parents to AIDS.

Today Janice and I took the 3 girls from the Main House to McDonald's for a special treat. Annah, age 8, Dineo, age 7, and Mary, age 4, all got Happy Meals with Orange Fanta, their very favorite "cool drink" (soft drink). Then they got to spend a little time on the outdoor playground while Janice and I talked and tried to avoid all the bees. It was a fun afternoon!

When we arrived back at Lighthouse, a team from a church in Georgia was there playing with the kids. They are coming back again tomorrow to help with the toddlers and the babies. It's always nice to have extra people to love on the kids!