my host family

i got in saturday morning to meet uncle desmond, my host dad. he was a bit quiet at first but very nice. he showed me my room which is really big and then said, "well, i'll let you get unpacked and settled in, you must be exhuasted" and then he shut me in my room, hahaha. that made me a little nervous cuz i thought i wouldn't get to talk with anyone in the family! but all is well... after unpacking i nervously went out and uncle desmond was SO easy to talk to... a little bit hard to understand because of his accent but so warm and friendly. we talked for a long time and he made a great lunch of meat, potatoes and veggies (which is very much a south african meal). his wife was on a retreat for church so i didnt get to meet her until sunday evening. they have three children. his oldest son is a stockbroker, 32, and lives in south africa close to our house here. i met him on saturday and is GREAT! we talked for awhile and it was so easy to talk with him, i hope i get to hang out with him more. then there is their daughter who is in her late 20's, she lives in america in PA and has done so much with missions. i wish i could've met her! then there is sherenice who is 16 and lives in the house with us. this girl ROCKS, oh my gosh we get a long so well. it is such a blessing to have her in the house. sherenice, desmond and his wife sandra all came back from a month long holiday in america just a day after i arrived in south africa (they were visiting their daughter there). so a funny thing, they didn't even know i was coming to stay with them until a day before i arrived!!!! and they had no idea i was staying for 4 months! luckily, desmond was telling me that their ministry is taking people in and letting them stay in their home. there is so much to tell you about this family, i wish i had more time to write! saturday evening me and three other girls from bethel went to the waterfront which was beautiful but very touristy. LOL and the host mom who drove us was hilarious... this woman seriously drives like a maniac, we probably could've killed like 10 kids who were walking down the road but she just sped up and drove right through them telling us "you can let people push you around down here, you gotta show em who's in control" she is quite the interesting lady but so sweet. on sunday i went to church with desmond, sherenice and her friend stephanie (who is over a lot and is practically like another sister). church was a wonderful time but reminded me a lot of church back at home (which i was a little bummed about because i wanted a different and new experience) but it was still very good. i also found out that it is a tradition in our house that we wake up every morning at 5:30am for devotions! i thought this was fantastic but holy cow is that early! i think it'll be a good way to start the morning though so i feel blessed that God has given me such a Godly host family! today we had school for just a bit and then went on a historical walking tour to the dutch settlement (which was quite boring if you ask me) and then the slave trade building (which was so powerful and amazing! highly reccommend it mom and sharon!). i have six minutes left before my time is up on the computers so i better type fast! one last thing, mac and linda this is for you. so i was talking to desmond and guess what, he is related to graham and dorkus!!!! can you believe it?! graham is sandra's (my host mom) brother and he actually grew up in the house i am living in now! desmond also knows cleve mcintosh but i cant remember how he knows him. dorkus and graham are no longer doing the broken walls ministry but instead are working at the hospital. i'm sure i'll see them since they are related to my family so i will tell them about you. how is it that you know them? also, for anyone at church that talks to sandra, will you tell her to email me because she wanted me to call her before i left but i just didnt have time. tell her i'm sorry i didnt get to her in time. thanks so much and blessings to everyone! i love you!
love from lansdowne (the city in which my college resides), melissa