It has been incredible for me to continue my ministry with the women here. I absolutely love them like I did not know that I could. The Lord has blessed me so much by giving me His heart of compassion for the people here. Many of the women I have been able to spend significant time with over the past few days. This is so special to me, however, I was not prepared for how difficult it would be. What I mean by this is that in getting to really know these women, I also get exposure to their hard lives. It has been really overwhelming to me lately. Life is just so diificult for them.

       An example of this happened last Thursday. My good friend, Thulie, called me from the police station and asked that I would meet her in town. She met me with tears in her eyes and extremely upset. What happened was that morning one of her children's aunts showed up to her oldest son's school and took him. She practically stole him, and told Thulie that she was going to raise him now. The lady is a sister to Thulie's husband who passed away a few years ago. All of his family hate Thulie because she would not marry his brother after his death, which is culturally what she was supposed to do. She did not do so because he is an alcoholic and a horrble man. So, Thulie thought she might never see her son again because the aunt has money and normally the courts favor those with money. In the end, after a court hearing with the magistrate, Thulie won her case, and her son is with her now. Praise God for this outcome! Its just so hard, with my American mentality, to even imagine this situation occurring. I also went with Thulie to a clinc last week so that she could get the medicine she takes for AIDS, and I was once again not prepared for the heartache I would experience. The clinic is for women who are HIV positive and who also are pregnant or have young chidlren. I was brought to tears as I entered it and saw a waiting room full of young women and little babies, even the hallways were full with people waiting. I could not grasp that all of those women are HIV positive and the majority of the precious little innocent babies are too. It was a hard experience. The pain and loss and hurt is overwhelming. Only through God's strength can I minister to these people and not totally break down.

    Please continue in your prayers for these women and the hardships here. Specifically remember Thulie, and another friend of mine, Thembi. Thembie is this awesome spunky lady in her early thirties; she is so much fun. I love being around her. I was shocked to just recently find out that she also has AIDS. So pray for her health as she raises her two children by herself.