Pretoria

we hopped on a bus yesterday at 3pm and arrived here in Pretoria at 8:30am. If i never have to ride another long-distance bus again it will be too soon. 4 hrs i can handle, even 6 is ok, but overnighters and 12+ hrs... ugh! i didn't go to sleep until 2am and even then it was fitful sleep. i have a crink in my neck lol i find people on buses to be very inconsiderate (as Americans would think anyway) and almost brinking on rude. i think it's cultural difference too, but i couldn't help but feel resented by a lot of people on that bus. i haven't felt like that in quite some time.
really really really enjoyed my time in Zim with the Doyles. that family is awesome! i am praying that God rains down blessings on them and also that we get to spend time together again. i enjoyed my talks with both Sean and Kim. Both had plenty of advice and wisdom to hand down to me. i am pretty sure i will be looking into TEAM, the organization they are with, when i return home. they have a 1-2 yr committment and they are very good about placing you where you will work best. excited to see how those things go.
i keep thinking about home and for once i am excited to return. yes i'm missing everyone and i miss routine and my own bed, but more than that i am excited that God has given me something to do when i return. i have been talking through things with Kim and with others about care-packages for the migrant families in Madison. waiting to hear back from some people, but Kim and i were discussing the kinds of things to put in them and how it would work. i am super excited to start this when i return. also i am excited about the widows ministry that i am hoping to create. a ministry where younger widows, or younger people fix supper once a week and go to the home of a widow/widower to share a meal with them. i think one of the greatest hurdles for a widow to cross is loneliness and i don't know that this ever gets better. being able to help over a meal with this once a week, i think would be a very great thing. hoping not to just do this with one race but with many different ones. also, hoping to in some way reach older people who are housebound (either because they can no longer drive or because of illness) eventually but one thing at a time, eh?
God is still working in me, teaching me many things and opening doors for me. every where i go it seems someone has a message for me. i am always looking to see what it is He is trying to tell me. also it seems He is always sending "a Jay" to help us out. this is someone who seemingly comes out of nowhere right when we need it. i am always looking for these too :)
God has been so gracious and kind to us, taking care of our every need. i love Him so much... and His love for me continuely amazes me. looking forward to the future and His plans for me
pray for Iris, she is in bed sick. i don't know what's wrong with her, maybe a bad case of the flu, but pray for her healing.
thanks for all the continuous prayers, thoughts and kind words. love you all! 2 weeks and some change :)