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Hi guys!
Sad to say I only have 3 more days here and it makes me sick to think about it.  I am leaving South Africa a different person than I came, a better one.  I don't think anyone can expect a group of children to change your life, but these kids have changed mine.  Their joy for life is so admirable knowing what they all have gone through.  We had a girl over the other night who had been raped so badly at 6 she was put in the hospital for 2 years and she is now at Agape at age 10.  She is the smartest girl I've known and she wrote me the cutest note  saying hwo she will never forget me and I will be her friend forever.  I love these as if they were my own. 

So,
I haven't left a message in awhile becasue I've been out on Safari!

So I'm at the computer again and I guess it's only fair to you guys if I tell you what's happened since last night. haha. Last night we celebrated a birthday again at our house.  Pasta and chocolate cake is very popular among the Agape children.  When they left Britt, Lisa LAura and I watched a movie and went to bed.  This morning we had a meeting with Pamela, Agape director, about how things were going and a thorough introduction to Agape.  This woman is a true inspiration.  Not only has she worked so hard for years to change the lives of the children at Agape but she recently started a program for street children which is becoming very succesful.  SHe is taking us on Thursday to this new project, which I am thrilled about.

I figured it out!! here abunch of pictures!

Hi

Hi

Hi

So I've been at Agape a couple days now and I've already taken about 200 pictures. I can only imagine how many pictures I will come home with.  We celebrated a birthday last night at our house.  Nabu turned 10 and she brought over her brother, Boy, and two friends from Agape Nahseesee and Mbalani.  We took them to the grocery store to pick out what they wanted for dinner.  They were so excited to be out in public it was hysterical!  It was so fun seeing them outside of Agape and how differently they acted.  They settled on pasta for dinner and a big chocolate cake for dessert.  We got them back to our house and they wanted to go swimming right away and it was sooooo cold.  They jumped right in anyways.  They swam for awhile and then went into the bath to warm up.  I have great pictures of this that I will try and post.  We ate dinner and they ate A LOT! Boy was so funny all night.  After dinner we cleaned while they watched Mr.

So, for my first message from Agape, it will be short.  I got here yesterday at about noon South African time.  We got picked up from the airport after 19 hours of flying adn went straight to our volunteer house.  The house is NOTHING like what I pictured, it's HUGE.  3 bedrooms.

So,

So, I am leaving in exactly 3 weeks from today for Agape.  I am SO excited I can't even begin to explain it! I think I have everything I need to go but suggestions on some helpful things to bring along would be greatly appreciated.  I've been looking at previous volunteers Weeblogs and their pictures from Agape and it makes me so anxious to get there.  I'm not nervous at all, which I thought I would be, the only part I'm hesitant about it flying alone.  Luckily though I'll be meeting up with a fellow volunteer on the last leg of my flight so that makes me more relaxed.  I just  can't wait to actually experience it, I feel like I've been talking about it so much to people that it's about time I actually do it.  I guess that's all for now, agian any suggestions on some helpful items to bring along just let me know!!!!



Alyssa

Hi everyone!
  Thanks to all the great ideas on fundraising, I will have raised enough money after my next fundraising event. Which, if you were wondering, is a St. Patty's Day Stitch-A-Thon!!!  Their is only 74 days until I leave for my trip and it sounds like a lot but it will fly by and before I know it I will be at Agape.  I can NOT wait and thanks to everyone for the fundrasiing ideas!!!! Keep up the great work!

Alyssa

Hey
So I get more and more excited about  this trip everyday.  I just need a little help.  I need soem good fundraising ideas.  I've had a yard sale and I am currently selling candy boxes.  Also, in the spring my school is hosting a talent show and all the money rasied will go towards my trip.  If anyone has any good ideas that will really get people interested in my tip let me know. 

alyssa.ciesla@wilkes.edu

thanks soooo much

alyssa

Hey everyone!
So, my trip was confirmed and I am THRILLED! I started fundraising this weekend ang things are going slow but steady.  Persistence is key!!! I will be sending out sponsorship letters and ifo cards this weekend to local businesses.  If anyone has any ideas for fundraising ideas, I'm all ears!!!!