Hello one and all!

Thought I’d send out a quick “Hello” …to let you all know that I am still alive here! Well I am still having enormous problems with technology and cannot send out a newsletter, though will continue to keep trying!

However, just to briefly update you all …

Life at Vale: was going well, until 4 weeks ago! Have been off sick since then with an infected foot/ankle that blew up for 2 and 1/2 weeks to the size of an elephant’s foot! Have taken two different types of strong antibiotics, 2 injections of antibiotics and in the end a vascular doctor took off the top crusty, dead skin! I now just have a hole in my ankle that is not healing! Yesterday I went to a dermatologist who prescribed a cream to pass on the wound for 20 days to see if this improves it! We’ll see! Has been very painful, but it a little less sore these days!

Life at the Roda: my small group has grown! Usually had between 6-8 regulars, now have between 10-13! Am thinking that we’ll have to move back to meeting at the church building, cos my lounge is a little squashed with 13 teenagers! BUT this a great “problem” to have! 🙂

Church is going well too! I don’t know IF I informed you that from May I was made the “temporary” worship leader, which was extended until August while our Pastor was on holiday. On his return it was made “permanent”! So I now am responsible for all things musical! Leading and organising music practices, music for Sunday’s, rotas etc! It’s something I really love doing and my desire is that we as a band lead our church into God’s presence!

The other biggest news is that my life as I knew it no longer exists!

I have for the past 5 weeks become “Mum” to a 13 year old girl from Vale! She came to stay with me as a result of a very traumatic, horrendous situation, that basically resulted in that she cannot return to Dois Unidos as its too dangerous! Her family (aunties and grandma) didn’t want her! Her Mum (drug addict) has disappeared again as she’s done throughout her life, so it was go and live at a shelter (which no-one deserves to experience!)  or come and live with me, as I am the only person at Vale who doesn’t live in Dois Unidos! It’s a challenge!!! Suddenly being thrown into parenthood and with a teenage girl with 13 years of baggage and trauma is interesting to say the least! After 3 weeks of trying to sort out transferring her schooling to here, since last week she’s now started studying at a school here, which is good!

So there in a nutshell is what’s happening here right now!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1) For wisdom, guidance, patience and understanding with my new charge! And to know what is God’s will for her and me! Whether its to stay with me permanently or not?

2) For healing of my ankle wound!

3) For finances for me, as school fees, books, uniforms, food and everything is very expensive and quite simply my outgoings have increased by 100%! I am trusting God for provision for this!

Thank you for your continued support!

Love

Ali