October 20

So much has been going on here. Let me try and sum it up because I have only a few minutes...
Chris and I and some of our new friends drove out to Durban, which is on the coast, this weekend...
and we spent the whole time driving up and down the coast, hanging out on the beach and eating good
food and enjoying the real African countryside, which is so beautiful and different from anything I've ever
seen. Rolling hills, flat areas and lots of sugar-cane fields.

We've been at Oasis of Love a lot recently, not so much at the boys home, Acres of Love, because their
house parents left to go back to the U.S. suddenly and we were kind of working with them, so we're not
sure what our role is there anymore, but we're going to try to go and visit the boys later this week.

Chris and I led worship last week for a young adults group event and it was great!!! I miss doing that so
much! We've been hanging out with the young adults here a lot, going to a really awesome Bible study
every Wednesday... it keeps getting better! This group is really taking care of us so well! Always taking us
out and making sure we're having social life... Last night we taught some of them how to make sushi!
It was lots of fun!

And I have to be honest, I really didn't like Jo'burg at first. Actually, I've called it wretched more than
once, but the longer I stay here the more I am getting attached! It feels like I'm living here, not visiting...
we have a life here... it's weird! I've never felt like a tourist because I'm always hanging out with locals
and doing regular things like church and Bible study and work etc. And of course, I've fallen in love with
all the kids at Oasis... It will be so difficult to leave!

I'll write again soon,
Mariko