Mandela Day

Today is Mandela Day all over the world! Everyone in Cape Town made a never-ending line holding hands in honor of his pledge for peace. The Eiffel Tower in Paris is lit in the colors of the South African flag. People all over the country are devoting 67 minutes of their day to helping others in honor of the time Nelson Mandela served fighting apartheid. And today, I got to do just that by going to Auntie Bettie's. Now, Auntie Bettie's isn't just your typical foster home situation like in the states. This orphanage is the story of a woman who is an incredible woman of the Lord that has completely changed life paths because she felt a calling. Auntie Bettie was originally a nurse in the children's ward of the local hospital, so she spent most of her day taking care of sick children, but one day she came home from work and found three children curled up on her floor in need of care. She said she cried that night, quit her job the next day, and has been taking care of children ever since. Currently, she has 28 children that she cares for in two houses that she has built. They range from newborn all the way to full grown but she cares for, feeds, and houses all of them. My heart literally broke as I was talking to this sweet old woman about how she felt the need to care for these children when no one else was willing. And these children, oh my lanta, they were literally the most precious children I've ever met! As soon as I got out of the car, we started playing and dancing and we did not stop for 4 hours straight. It was raining almost the whole time but that didn't matter. We got dirty and muddy and grassy but that doesn't matter to kids, we played even harder! We walked to the nearby library and I got to read Bible stories to them. We took pictures, made cookies, and even sang "Hallelujah Songs" as they call them in South Africa. It was such a great way to celebrate Mandela Day and this by far, has been one of my favorite days.