Can't believe it!

It's here! 1 day til kick off! What???? I'm here in South Africa! Been freaking out! I was up early this morning and haven't been able to pull myself away from laptop just looking at so much not to miss out on, created pool for World Cup, trying to pull together players for some up coming 7aside and 5 aside matches. Even have some downtown. I haven't been really training well or even with soccer ball but it's ok, it's going ot be ok. I didn't feel well last night so crashed early. I think it's because I haven't been playing much I've been so paranoid as usual about getting fat sitting around so I eat mostly veggies and fruit. I got some protein in me now. But we had that Male Sex Tourism trainig last night in the church just off Long Street. It was incredible. These men, all Americans who have been called and stationed in Thailand doing ministry to men in the red light districts. Just loving. They are here, no clue how, why, what to do, how to do it, but they know God has called them. Even they say, if it's just to change our perspectives. Not to hate the man, but to love him. It's not His desire to just have wild sex and use women, but they're lacking something deeper. It's the heart we're after. It's the change within that we desire. To show and see what God sees the potential in the men. The users. It was totally inspiring. Random group together, all really powered up with the Trafficking etc., but to change our precepts and get us to see what it's really about because we go to the source, (just as i thought with ABSTAIN2010 the cause of the problems) and then you change communities and issues. So go to the men. We go again tonight, which I will be going early downtown with brochures and just check iout all that's going on. THere' suppose to be a parade etc., and so I don't want to miss a thing! We have training from 6-8, we are going to see how we can DO MST, and then head out on the streets for a few hours to actually start surveying men. It was just hilarious to hear the brutal honesty of these 3 men who are here, not sure what to do, not even sure if Long Street is the place, but to be so obedient to come to exactly Cape Town like God asked, is impressive. The 24 prayer house is right there at that Baptist church and it's just already buzzing! So stoked for this all! Tonya was super excited from Justice ACts (who was recently interviewed by ESPN) to hear about the brochures and 10,000 and even that we're in dire need of more beer mats to get distributed to ear businesses!
I don't know if I mentioned it already but there was a church that randomly emailed me and said they had printed a few hundred brochures and already handed them out! I have been freaking out! Like WOW God you're amazing! I just couldn't believe it! So excited to see fruit. It's truly God coming through. This makes me even more excited about the World CUp. However then I read articles like how FIFA has been making sure to show tourists that SA is still high HIV and providing TONS of condoms for tourists. Jeez...
Anyways, been good, other than feeling tired here and there, but it's ok. I helped feed the homeless at the shelter yesterday with Zach's team again and my lovely feeding friends like Kathy were eager to have me and she even bought me this lil soccer ball key chain. Oh she just stole my heart. I was thinking of things to buy her and there this poor woman goes and gets me something for her soccer girl :) WOW!
I had my hair trimmed since it's been months, and then took a nap cause again i felt so tired/sick. But energy should be back!
The Taylor University had showed up while we were at the homeless shelter and it was cool to see those girls again, and they were seeing my Concordia sweatshirt and like WOW what are you doing here? Really cool to connect. Even the coach, after we played them on Tuesday was like I know you're coach Grant Landy real well! He was blown away to see one of his players across the world. Oh I don't know if I had mentioned that I had played them this friendly with my Fish Hoek team against Taylor Uni who's here volunteering for WC with Living Hope. They will be playing 7 aside this weekend I hope to get on, and also doing soccer camps next week. anyways, I had showed up like Amy asked when she set up friendly and I see like our girls/women show up unaware of who we're playing. When they saw these 22 players in uniform come off the bus, they freaked out! WHAT we're not playing them! Lydia our smoking goal keeper was swearing at us asking if we really had to play. I was shocked that we only lost 3-0 with our scraped 12 players. It rained and was freezing and I was laughing at the girls saying, you wouldn't have expected this in Africa eh? :)
I was so annoyed though with our 'coach' just tearing players down again, even me giving horrible advice, and trying ot referee all at one time. I almost walked off the field. Amy was completely torn down and honestly, if I have to play for him again, I think I'm going to have to talk to him.i I"m not here to coach, I"m not here to change his team, I'm here to enjoy myself as well as the girls so I play for them. But it's just terrible how critizing he is!
Anyways, one other thing that's going rough is the funds. I don't know what to do. I don't know who to ask, but I know I don't have much right now. I'm more than blessed by my family consistently pulling me outta th egutter. But it's super hard to be here, and not 'working' and needing to be financially supported. It's like I don't want to have to go to my parents for financial help all my life, and especially now when I felt God asking me to stay for this project. I don't want to doubt I should be here and with finally seeing miracles come through with the project and then some (because remember even if just 1 life changed it's all worth it) but it's hard. It's really hard for me.
Ah I can't speak too much more but it's cold here, but sunny today so pleased about that. Some opening ceremonies and parade today with AIS involved as well hope to catch them. Next week full of long days of soccer camps, yikes!
A short story on entering one of these hostels/lodges with brochures. The sweet lady I forget her name, who comes all the way from the townships to manage lodge, was completely interested in learning more about trafficking, HIV etc. She was so pleased to have brochures and even was saying how it's a great thing to interact with tourists and have conversation starter on issues. She even pushed me to go to their backyard back packers and do the same with house manager there. She and I chatted for about half an hour. Just completely lovely! It was so inspiring and cool to even have the reaction to God about the solution to the issues! Ah thank you!
I love you all,
Andie, congrats on being done!
Kale, I really really miss you!
Mum, lonely? I'm sorry I was going to ring you last night but felt so sick I crashed at 10
Dad, amen on the doc's visit!
Jeff, update me on 5 aside! Tell me we won! :)