Films, Food, and Finesse

Sunday church was so good. It was one of those services that everything that is said you feel like came straight from the Lord to you. So good. Then we went zip lining! It was so fun to go with a group of friends! Many of the people that went said that it was the highlight of the trip so far. I have been ziplining before, so it wasn't as epic as it was for other people, but it was still SO fun and especially to be with people who were LOVING it.
Monday all of the campus was together for community engagement class all day. We learned how to facilitate change in communities focusing on self-percieved needs of the community and using local resources (materials and people) so that the change will continue once the facilitator is gone. It was really interesting - and when else do you get to make a fire during class? Tuesday I went back to do home visits with two women that I really love. We visited the home where I was proposed to, and they said that the lobola (the cows) still stands :) Thursday was our last day of clinicals and the rest of the groups first day of service sites. I had the opportunity to do home visits with some amazing social workers. There is something so special about healthcare in one's own environment - it seems that the healthcare worker gets a better grasp on the holistic view of health for the patient. That night a few friends and I went to a quiet Thai dinner (with back pillows, candles, and pink napkins folded into roses) which was just what the doctor ordered. The big event on Friday was an adorable Christmas sale at our favorite coffee shop/DIY mecca. There were individual vendors selling everything handmade. I really enjoyed talking with these people, explaining what we

are doing here, and learning about them and their businesses. Saturday the nurses went to a HIV/AIDS support/educational group in a nearby town.
We played with the kids while the gogos (grandmothers) were at the meeting. It was nice to be able to just play. Sunday we went to church and then to Howick (another nearby town). We went shopping and saw the Howick Falls (much bigger than I imagined). This is a picture of me and one of my nurse friends. The theme of this week was procrastination of homework and time filled with chick-flicks, deep talks, soccer, pranking, and celebrating with food. Another great week in Africa!!