Wow, sorry for such delays

Yeah I know it's been some time. I can only I guess, backtrack to try.
I can barely walk, my calves are cramping, but it's great because you know why? Yes I played soccer today. Not well, but there were very minimal glimpses of football. I was suppose to play last night with the Fishoek girls team, but my registration wasn't in on time. Turns out the other team didn't show anyways. So just my luck. SO, I played pick up today like they do every Saturday morning at the American academy near the US embassy. Was pick up, but so good to be there. I however sadly didn't get to put shoes on kids like I wanted. Yes, the Samaritan Feet trainig was yesterday, which is an incredible organization. They're here to donate 30,000 shoes to children here. I guess they're based in the states and have some goal of like 30 million in 10 years or something crazy like that. Well the head man who created it all is this great man Manny, who is from Nigeria, but when he was young he was given a pair of shoes from an American missionary, and those shoes meant the world of hope to him. He went on to get a scholarship to play BB in the states, and there he still is today with his wonderful family. WHen he had returned back to Nigeria years later, he was reminded of the hope he was given, and wanted to do the same. That's how this all began. So, they were going to actually give lik 80,000 in SA for and around the world cup, but with problems in Haiti they sent thousands there. Anyways, there was training on the history and the actual ministry of it. Really incredible actually because it's not just handing out shoes. So, you'll like rock up with a team to a township, and basically set up camp where you can. WIth the greeters, who take sizes and information. The next station is story telling, so telling of Manny's story or any personal stories of hope. Then the kids go to the play station who are waiting in line to get their feet washed by the washers. Then once they get their feet washed just like Jesus washed the disciples feet, which is the most moving part of the whole process, (hitting 3 times of sharing the gospel in 1 setting) THEN the kids go to the shoe store, (small set up) and get their sneakers. I love it! Met Manny and even talked about what I was trying to do here, or at least getting involved with the soccer and townships and what AIS is doing, he was asking if I thought there was a need fo rsoccer cleats. I was like what? Are you serious? Like how could you even ask that in AFRICA, for township kids, especially at a time like this? CRAZY. I was like heck yes! He was talking about looking into it. I was curious what kind of shoes then they were giving out. Sneakers, I think others like crocks too.
Anyways, the interesting factor is, it's not even JUST the ministry. In so many places, having a pair of shoes means opportunity but also prevents diseases! Yes shoes can prevent HIV. How? Well there's an instance Manny was telling us about this woman who was just crushed to find this large group of children with HIV in Kenya. THe reason didn't have anything to do with sex or being abused etc. No. It was that the kids contracted worms from running around barefoot, then their mothers were using infected needles to get the worms out. CRAZY I know! What a concept though. You'd think, just for a pair of boots. I remember my first pair of brand new soccer cleats. yes the Beckhams! Jeff bought them for me and I slept in them. I'm not afraid to admit, I was 19.
So I was going to go to this township today and do the distribution, however, yes Africa, the comvy was broken. So, they couldn't even take all the people who wanted to go, then some who could go, they were having trouble finding someone who even knew where to go. I was like, well I'll go another time, so I let others go ahead and that's how I got to play football today.
So, yesterday, yes the training in the morning then was going over our awesome brochure that Cristian's made and with the help of Lydia and Susan, as well as a few others touches. I think it looks great! So excited to get this thing published! I'll try and send it out for a few corrections etc. But I'm ready to be done! Then I can send it out with Elrico and ask his Cyrus for funding, and any others. Hopefully also the printing company guy, Marc. Gotta get all that done by Monday so we're rolling to get the next rpocess of printing and funding out! I also went over corrections of the power point which I think also looks great! I was then going to meet up with Jeff to go see Alain to get access to put the updated website online. Jeff got a job at Knead, the bakery, which is great because he had no money, however he worked overtime and couldn't go see Alain.
Last night Lydia and a few of us went over to our dear friend Aibe's place for a braai. So funny. We're holding what meat we had, and fish, over the bbq, and our friend Kuda is holding a lamp outside just to see it! Ha! What great times. It was nice to hang.
Before, that, uh, oh Thursday. I spent the morning contacting people, emailing, preparing info for our brochure, etc., and then sending stuff to Jeff to put on web. I then went out to the big township Khelitsha again for our National Youth Day meeting. Stefan drove us out there, and was so lovely to pick up Pastor Templeton on the way because that man is so sincere. I mean for being Africa, he still had the decency to call me Wednesday night and ask if I was going ot be at the meeting. I couldn't believe he even remembered me! Stefan had laid out his frustrations though ont he way about the meeting on Wednesday night he had with the committee they'd elected to really plan, (youht) and said there was 4 people there. Don't know how this thing is going to kick off, but, things just always end up working out here. So it shall be interesting. Needless to say, there wasn't much to discuss at the meeting except trying to change a time so more youth might come, complainings of this and that, and hardly any of it was in English. Frustrating because they speak in Zulu and Khosa and change like 3 words in English all in 1 sentence. It's like teasing Stefan and I, we think we're getting to hear finally what they're saying and then nope, that's not English. But the support and even showing face you could tell, meant a lot. I have ideas, and connections and trying to work with Musa to get Santos out there that that and more. I'll keep going for sure.
Thursday night was base worship and it was again a beautiful reminder of just being in God's presence. Just being there. Worshipping him. Ah God is so good! Our base leader Edwin had spoken and he's always just so good at encouragement. Seriously he can inspire and usually it's always the same story of how he came from literally the poorest of the poorest places. What's truly inspiring, and you could see his tears coming, was that where he's from, lil township near Mossel Bay, is that there's not a scholarship. Yes there's this huge fund created by some business that gives 5% of their income to this fund. Why? Because they know what has become of Edwin and through YWAM, and now the fund is clearly just to send kids to YWAM, and YWAM camps. I guess it's not even money that's a problem at all anymore it's the problem of always going and picking up these 250,000R checks! Unreal! I guess there was a YWAM camp in Jeffrey's Bay last week, and there were 30 youth from this lil township! Ahhh love it!
What else has been going on? Oh I finished another book. Strangely. I read Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis. I only started because of my many trips on the train this week to downtown to get my visa stuff turned in. I loved it. It just reinspired me with my relationship with Jesus and this earth. Being here and loving everything about it. Having dinner parties for no reason than to be with people and eat and drink and enjoy one another. So serve not out of turning someone to Christianity, but just because that's what Jesus did. He served. People ask why are you serving me? Just like the washing of feet. Why are you doing this? What makes you so different? It's like pay it forward. Have youever heard of that starbucks story, where someone in line paid for a coffee for the person behind them in line, then the next car did the same, and it went on for like 14 cars! It touches people! Rob Bell talked about marrying this couple, who were asking him to do that spiritual thing he does but not do a Jesus wedding. The couple married way out in the woods near some cliff and Rob was saying that it was one of the most breath taking places and he asked why they wanted to be married there? They said it was where they both grew up in that area and they just loved the serenity and beauty and something that is just not of this world. So they too, in their own ways, were telling Rob they believed in something larger than themselves, they just wanted to be a part of it and call it something else than God in a church. It's all connected and people are searching. People can hear and feel and know that there's something more. It's not scientific. I remember Rob talking about studying Jesus back in that time and the comparison so similar to the other 'Gods' back then. It wasn't uncommon to have God's rise from the dead, or said so, even Ceasar was said to have rose. However what made the difference was the time that the disciples and people took with others to serve, talk about this Jesus, minister, share, converse, eat together and more. It was this intimate time, not just facts of oh did your God rise from the dead? Did you see an empty tomb? I mean Rob has just as many questions if not more than I do. But knowing we can't and don't have the answers, he assures me, is ok. In fact it's what unites us. We come together and ask questions and even in that provoking what we all want to ask and learn more, is what makes us feel more a part of one another. We feel it's safer. We feel more connected and not so alone. We're all in this similar journey together of searching, and that's what makes life. Beautiful eh?
Wednesday? Oh yes the day I was quite sick. I think I mentioned I was sick for almost week, but it's been a sickness I've never experienced. Yes, it was either a worm or worms, or parasite, just something not right in my stomach! UGH! So bad! I lounged around and got my prescription from the pharmacy in the morning. The doc on tuesday, said this is stomach bug season. She said I should take de worm, (which in America, is for cats!!!!) and also pro biotics. SHe said this should clean things up and if you're not getting better in a few days come back. So, basically I was a lil scared to take cat medicine and possibly find worms in my you know what, but luckily I am feeling much better, never saw anything of the sort, but able to run again. Ha! So much information. Honestly though that's why I didn't go to training on Tuesday I felt so dang sick and couldn't even run. So, wednesday I took the meds and felt really sick so stayed mostly inside, watched some movies, slept, did a lil work on base with the brochure and emailing when I could, and then it was planned that Musa's wife Joanna wanted to come and tell us about the product Herbal Life which Musa takes and she takes and is selling. So, Daneeka had agreed to us hearing this out on Wednesday at my house, luckily it was there and I could attend, but this pleasant guy came and just spoke about this product and yada yada and mostly was friendly and talked of life but still, not so sure about this vitamin and things. I mean I couldn't even think to begin to spend my money on such things. However it sounds like it works for people, whatever needs you have if sports, and nutrition, lose weight, etc., it's sounds great. I had a nice time and even phoned Musa while we were there to catch up a lil bit. SUCH wonderful people Joanna and Musa and those Kenyan's altogether, are lovely lovely people!
So, Tuesday, yikes, this is the day I went to home affairs for the send time because on Monday I went, thinking i had everything I needed. Yes got up bright and early, and was on teh train with Collins also, needing to go, by 7:30am. Was crowded! Holy Cow I can't believe thos epeople do that every morning. Yet I think I mentioned before it was sucha unique experience. I loved it! Yet, it would probably get old. I love Cape Town though. Even just seeing the mountains and the sun coming in, oh how precious. Yet even from the open windows and stop to stop on the train, seeing even children/women picking through trash in fields, and then mansions next, it's so crazy of a world here! However Monday, it fell through because right when I got there to be in line, Collins said, now you have everything right? I said I think so, I have all that Sharon had on the check list, when really it turns out I didn't. I didn't have money, didn't know it's 450R and didn't know that I had to have this form. Ah so frustrating so I immediatly went back on the train.
Oh I forgot to mention that I was going to see this academy that Mike Bardsley filmed, some guy turned Christian in this township area has some academy and I've been trying to meet him and see this since I've been here. Mario and I finally got a time down and I was going to go Wednesday. I was going to take the train to Mowbray, then he was going to have someone come and pick me up. Well, I woke up feeling terrible, and I felt so so bad calling him in the morning and saying I felt sick, but it was even more embaressing trying to tell him what kind of sickness just so he'd believe me. I mean I couldn't imagine needing a toiliet and being in some township or even on the train and not having access to one, or a good one let's put it that way. OR, I was around children and if I really had a bug, getting them sick too. I felt so terrible but that's how it went.
So, Tuesday, yeah, I went back to home affairs, couldn't even go early this time because I had to wait for Sharon to be int he office fo this paperwork, and so was in town by 10:30. The Home Affairs was packed of course, and yet it was crazy, being white must stand out more or I just got lucky. Honestly walked in, and this guy immediately puts me in the front of some line, well didn't look like a proper line. Then the lady calls, NEXT, and I looked around and no one responded so I walked right there and said I guess no one else. Finally she looked up and said I had to go to the back of this line with these chairs. So I went. However, it really took 15 miniutes and I was up at the counter again. This big black woman took all my papers and then as I prayed and prayed expecting trouble or needing this or that, she just took everything, asked for the money, and said come back in 3 weeks. I couldn't believe it! i heard endless horror stories. I mean Collins was thrown on this crazy train of going about 6 different times and they're just being silly to him! I feel bad because it really seems there is racism completely involved. Poor guy. So, I said, well my visa expires on teh 20th is that a problem? She said no. Oh Africa!!!
I spent a lil time downtown, buy fruit and checking out a few stores just because I'd never even seen in before! Green market square! Finally! I then took the train back, feeling my stomach just still so uneasy, and finally said you know what, it's been a week I need to go see the doc. So I got home and immediately walked to Fish Hoek. Oh I forgot to say that I had a this guy Wayne call me while I was out. I received his name and # from my friend Donovan in teh states. D is from here but met him in Mississippi where he's been such a blessing in connections, inspirations, and so much! Gosh, he said this guy maybe able to help me. I had no idea how. So he phones me. FIrst he thought I was a man, with the name Noel. Ha! So we chat and he's the Ajax PSL team's marketing man. He said he's leaving for Joberg, but will connect when he comes back. He asked how he could help. I said well there's many kids camps during the world cup and even possibly big youth day, wanted to know what the local pro teams were doing. I mean it would mean the world to see a celebrity ya know? Well, he caught my drift and even mentioned that they already had an email from Andre at AIS, and I said yes that's also people i Know who I maybe touring with during the world cup. So, let's keep linking this altogether! So cool!
Well, my fingers hurt. Not as much as my legs, but they hurt. Hope this helps you all know what's been going on in Noel's world. :) Remind me next time to catch you up on the possibilities of championing this girls Kick Off Aids here in the future. Total pioneer something and yet having it be more and beyond just the game. Which is my walking testimony ya know? I just need God to speak more on this for me in possible futures. I right now am getting excited even to return, but need passion without a doubt to want to deal with the african way and be back here for a longer period of time in teh future. We'll see what keep brewing. :) Even Stefan suggested and asked if that's something I'd be interesting in, especially since there's so much funding to be given for it, and even his German government wants to support something like htis here. This also is why I've been networking like crazy. See what's already happening here. Especially for girls and soccer. Because soccer's not big, but even learning that Mario has something specifically for girls, and Elrico from the government didn't know anything about it. It's linking and connecting. See what's already happening. At least I"m out kicking a ball a bit, so there ya go!
Tonight? What will I do? Well, unless of course I get a ride somewhere, I'll be here in my lovely home with my lovely Lydia and Elise. Kimberly is back, but already out the door. Oh to have a car. :)
Love you all, I really hope you're well, don't be mad I've been distant.
Love you Love you!