Goodbye Port Elizabeth

The time has come and I now must say goodbye to my Port Elizabeth home. On Friday, I will pack my bags and head to Richmond, South Africa. I will be joined by Leah Bellow Handleman, Bloemfontein intern. We have been given the challenge to start a GRS program from scratch in the small rural community of Richmond, South Africa.

Richmond is located in the Northern Cape along the N1. We do not know much about Richmond but have only heard great feedback about the people of Richmond. I have been living the big city life for a couple months now in Port Elizabeth. I am excited to get back to my roots, small town friendly community living. Leah and I will be given bikes for transport throughout the town of Richmond. I am pumped. The combination of biking everywhere and living in the desert will finally get me into shape. Feeling a little sluggish since soccer training ended, one year ago, and I am excited to get back into the athletic mindset.

Lauren will be leaving in early March but until then she has started up 14 new schools in the PE area with over 1,500 perticipants. Ben will be headed back to the States and will return in March to take ownership over the PE program. He has some big shoes to fill since Lauren will have almost doubled our graduate total in only one month.

I would love for everyone to keep one of our coaches in your prayers. Over the weekend, one of our female coaches was gang raped by eight men, beaten and left for dead in a field. South Africa can be a very dangerous place especially for women. For me I have been fortunate and have only seen and experienced the great offerings of this country; the lively people, the mountains, ocean, and every species of animal. I am happy to inform you our coach is home safe and recovering.