It is well, with my soul.

I apologize for the lack of updates; this past month has been extremely crazy!

 Rewinding to January, my parents arrived on the 1^st of the month. We had a wonderful time together as we traveled all over this beautiful country. We started our trip out in the bush of Kruger National Park with the Big 5. To our surprise, we were able to see all 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, cape buffalo, rhino) on our first safari day. On our second safari day, we were fortunate enough to witness a pride of lion bring down a cape buffalo! It was such an exciting and eventful experience. Our next destination was Cape Town. From Cape Town, we traveled to the rolling Winelands of Stellenbosch. After Stellenbosch, we continued to drive up the Garden Route along the coast making stops at Hermanus, Knysna, and Jeffreys Bay. We then flew from Port Elizabeth to Durban were we spent the last two nights of our trip on the farm of which I live. I was able to show my parents what life is like here and what I experience on a daily basis. I was able to show them to school and they even met some of my students! It was truly a trip I will never forget.

On January 18^th, I returned to school and began teaching the Grade R class again. This was a crazy and exhausting week to say the least. I went from having 9 students in my class last year, to having 17 this year! We nearly doubled in size which is amazing. It’s so great to see all these underprivileged children receiving education! Since most of my students were new to school and weren’t sure how it worked, we had a lot of work to do. Another trial that I stumbled upon was the language barrier; such a challenge! More than half of my students couldn’t even greet me in English or ask how to go to the bathroom. Since then, we have come SO FAR, and I am so excited to see how much they grow until I leave here in June.

Unfortunately, this past Wednesday I received some heartbreaking news. One of my little students would no longer be able to attend school due to financial reasons. Sinokhule was new to my class this year & is only 4 years old. Since she is only 4, she will be too young to move to first grade next year and will need to remain in Grade R for another year. Her mother contacted me Wednesday morning informing me that she could not pay for Sino to attend Grade R for two years. Let me mind you: it cost these students R200 a month to attend HVFS (that's equivalent to approx $13.00/month). Although I wish I could lay the money down and keep this little smile around, it's not that easy. On Friday, we said our last goodbyes & a little piece of my heart left with her as she boarded her taxi to go home. 

For me personally, I feel as if I am JUST NOW, finally, at a spot in this journey where I am content and comfortable. I feel as if I am finally settled and am content in the moment. I’m not looking back to the past or ahead to the future. I am happy and gratified with the present. Each day, my students bring the biggest smile to my face and together, we work through the day.

This Sunday (February 28^th, 2016) I will be running my first full marathon. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to run a race like this while being in South Africa. Before leaving the States, I actually didn’t even pack my good running shoes/apparel because everyone told me it wouldn’t be “safe” to run here. Once I arrived, I found out that one of my Reps is actually really into running and competes in several races each year. My host parents and I planned out a route on the farm that would be “semi-safe” for me to run on solo, as long as I am cautious and aware. Ever since then, I have been running and training nonstop for this event! Although I am very anxious and nervous, I am also SUPER excited. The race will start at 5:30am and I am hoping to be finished by the time the sun is scorching! Stay tuned for results and pictures.

I would just like to take a second to also say thank you to everyone who supported me with my fundraiser for Lily of The Valley Children’s Village this Christmas.  Whether it was monetary donation, or a simple prayer, I will never be able to express how much it meant to me and the children.

(I sent out thank you cards to those who I had addresses for. PLEASE send me your address if you would like a copy :) I also attached the card below for all to enjoy!)

THE HORIZON 

Looking ahead to the next few months, I cant believe how fast time is moving. My time left here in South Africa is so limited and its beginning to hit me. 

As mentioned above, I will be running my first marathon on Sunday February 28th, 2016 in Pietermaritzburg, South Afrcia. I will then return to Hope Valley Farm School to continue teaching until March 18th, 2016. This will end the first term of our school year and will also be the beginning of our three week Easter holiday. 

While my students are away for holiday, I plan to spend two of the weeks working alongside with a partner organization known as El Olam. El Olam is a Christian camp that works with children of all ages.

The last week of Easter Holiday, I will be traveling to Swaziland with the rest of my team. I am very excited to see and visit another country in Africa!

Peace and love to all ♡

Allison Shade 

January Joys

Did you ever just sit and think to yourself, "What am I doing here? What is my purpose in this place? Where in the world am I?"

I woke up this morning around 4:00am because the rooster on the farm was a bit confused. It was a long first week with my young & new Grade R students. Only 6 of my 17 students can understand English. I wasn't sure if I could handle one more plate of rice/beans and I've only been back to the farm for one week. After dragging my feet out of bed and getting dressed, I filled a 5L bottle of clean drinking water for the day and walked down to the school.

When I arrived in my classroom, I swept my floor carpet with a broom like I always do. I started to prepare my classroom for the day and not long after, my students began popping their little heads through the door. I heard a little whisper saying "Miss, Miss, look it's me, me here today!"

As I glanced over, I saw a little ebony face looking up at me with bright brown eyes that were lit up. A pearly white smile that stretched from one ear to the other. In this moment, it hit me. I was given the answer I was searching for when I woke up without even putting thought into it.

These children, who virtually have nothing, are some of the happiest kids I have ever met. Slowly but surely, all the negative thoughts that swarmed my head when I awoke this morning began to fade and that little smile on my students face spread to mine.

Chances are, that little student that popped his head into my classroom this morning, didn't have anything to eat before coming to school - and I'm complaining about one more plate of rice. Chances are, that student shared one pillow and one blanket to sleep on last night with 4 or 5 brothers/sisters - and I'm complaining about waking up too early in MY OWN bed. Through all this, I thought to myself: How is it that I'm the one coming to school miserable, and my student is the one coming to school happy as a bee? I think it's easy to get caught up in the frustrations that life often presents to us, but it's in these trying moments that we really need to dig just a bit deeper and search for all the things we have been blessed with.

With this, I hope you all can shake off any frustrations you may be having on this day, and simply appreciate this life and all you've been given.

Peace and love to all ♡

Allison Shade 

December Greetings

DECEMBER IN AFRICA

36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit),

Braaing outside (aka a barbeque) on a Friday night,

And only three days until Christmas…

This is December in Africa!

On December 4^th, Grade R had their end of the term party. We made this a Christmas themed party since I won’t be able to see them on Christmas day.

The week before our party, we set up a Christmas tree. Yes, I actually went out into the bush and cut this baby down!

The following week, we made a different ornament each day to help decorate our little tree.

We also had a countdown on the chalkboard to help the students better understand “how soon” until our party!

On the day of the party, we sang Christmas carols, ate cookies & milk, sweets and chips, colored Christmas sheets and even had several different gifts to unwrap!

It was such an amazing experience to watch the excitement on my students faces. Most of them have never had a Christmas tree before let alone received gifts on Christmas morning. Africans see Christmas Day more as a time to gather with family and spend time in the kitchen making delicious foods.

On December 9^th, Hope Valley Farm School closed for the term. Of my nine students, two of my students will be moving to Grade 1. The other seven will be staying in Grade R for another year. This is a common thing. Some students can remain in Grade R for up to three years depending on how old they are when they begin.

Hope Valley Farm School also had registration on December 10^th for our 2016 school year. At registration, I had 13 new students sign up to start Grade R in January. This means that I will go from having nine students in my classroom to 20! Although I am very excited about this, I am also a bit nervous due to the language barrier.

We will open school again on January 18^th, 2016.

Since my class size will be doubling, I have been fortunate enough to move my classroom into a bigger space. I have already put in several hours working on and fixing up my new classroom. We are currently at a standstill as we are awaiting a new roof and floor for the building! I am hoping to begin the process of moving in on the 27^th of this month. Stay tuned for updates and pictures of the new classroom!

Since school has been closed, there hasn’t been much going on at the farm where I live. A few days after school closed, my reps picked me up at the farm and we left for a retreat by the Indian Ocean. The whole South African team gathered here and we enjoyed a week by the sea.

After our retreat, my reps returned me to Lily of The Valley Orphanage where I plan to stay for the Christmas holidays. I have been enjoying my time here very much so far. All of the children are so excited for Christmas morning. Below are some pictures of things going on around the village. 

We have begun to Christmas wrapping earlier this week and are still awaiting a few more orders to come in. Stay tuned for more pictures of Christmas morning and our Christmas Day activities! 

THE HORIZON

Next Friday (January 1st, 2016) I will be flying to Johannesburg, South Africa where I will meet my parents. We will then be spending the following two weeks together. 

As mentioned before, I will being teaching back at Hope Valley Farm School on Jauary 18th. This will almost put me at my half way point. My experience here in South Africa has been absolutely flying & I have been loving every second of it.

On February 28th, I will be running my first FULL marathon in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa..... PRAYING it wont be a hot day! 

I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas back home; I am missing you all! 

Peace and love to all ♡
Allison Shade 

"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same thing."