Goodbye Service Week, Hello Adventure Week!

So, last time I posted we were in the middle of service week..service week wrapped up on Friday and I was so sad to leave the township. The bus home was filled with tears but also smiles as we saw the kids blowing us kisses as we pulled away- and their contagious smiles were still in tact.

The week was incredible- an experience that everyone should have.
You realize that we take the littlest things for granted!
These kids running around barefoot and in the same clothes that they were wearing on Monday- have the most positive attitudes that I have ever seen.
On Thursday, we brought the kids in our "family" chocolate bars and I compared their excitement to the same as an American who just got their first iPhone. It is insane to see the joy that they have and how little they have, and it is just as insane to think how much we have and how we aren't always even happy with that.
I left Sir Lowry's Pass with so much more than I could have even thought- these families and kids taught me so much about life!

So.. I saw Amanda and Chanderise again on Thursday and Friday- they immediately ran up to me and grabbed my hands, and wanted me to sit so they could get back to playing with my hair- Amanda is quieter but warmed up a lot by the end of the week! It was sad to hug these girls goodbye and know that I may never see them again.... these girls who made such an impact on me.

Another thing- there was a boy named Reagan who was 15 and I would see him during the week but never really had a chance to speak to him, on Wednesday he asked one of my friends to take a picture of him and I together... On Friday we all printed out a bunch of pictures to take to our kids and families and a picture of Reagan and I was one of them. He came up to me with the picture and was so happy and said that he was going to keep it forever. It really touched me that though I didn't even spend much time with him, I somehow still made an impression, and I was very happy at that!

Bradley and I continued to hangout every day, and would always ask about my Bradley- on Friday, I asked him for his address so that I could send him some clothes and treats when I'm back home but he didn't know it- I'm hoping that somehow I will be able to get ahold of it!

So... Volunteer week was amazing and though I am sad it is over, tomorrow we embark on Adventure week... at 5 am
We hop on "garden route vehicles" and depart for a hostel about 6 hours away from Cape Town.
On the way to the hostel we stop to dive with Great White Sharks... I still haven't mentally prepared myself that I will be doing that tomorrow...... like I said, I usually don't get in the ocean much past my waist.
The hostel is our home base for the week, but everyday we get on the vehicles and travel 2 or 3 hours away to safaris, game drives, caves, ride elephants, pet cheetahs..... the whole shebang.

Well.. on that note I need to get to sleep- 5 am is going to come fast, but who am I kidding I'm sure I won't sleep much with the thought of meeting these new teethy friends face to face tomorrow

Wish me luck!
I see the underwater camera bringing a lot of entertainment y'alls way!

xoxo
Liv

Bradley in the red