sorry, I've been a bit busy...

These past few weeks have been mega hectic... and with Christmas just around the corner it looks like the craziness is set to continue for a few more days yet! I should so be in bed asleep right now and not blogging... but I just wanted to put this post up and then will put more details in at a future stage.

One of the main reasons for lack of internet activity for the past few days is that I've been looking after some special guests at GGA, who came to spend a couple of days discovering the wonders of God's Golden Acre for themselves. It's a tough job sometimes, but someone has to do it!!!! ;-)

Here's the press release that was on the front cover of today's NATAL WITNESS newspaper:

Jude Law visits God’s Golden Acre (19 December 2006)
By Bronwen Reynolds

God’s Golden Acre “Give a Child a Home” Project near Cato Ridge was abuzz with excitement on Tuesday night as the Young Zulu Warriors prepared for another performance of the Zulu play ‘Thula Sizwe’, written by founder and director Heather Reynolds. Guests of honour at the production were British actor Jude Law and actress Sadie Frost. Jude had been asked by Heather during his visit to God’s Golden Acre to take part in the drama production, including a ‘very unexpected’ gumboot dance scene. “That’s what this place is all about,” he smiles, “you’re so easily embraced, the communal atmosphere is contagious. It’s certainly not very easy to be an observer here.”

Jude’s ex-wife Sadie had first visited the project in April of this year, and had spent time helping to build a house in the Sankontshe community, where a lot of the work by God’s Golden Acre is done. Returning 8 months later with Jude and their three children, Rafferty (10), Iris (6) and Rudy (4), Jude describes the visit as “an amazing experience, as God’s Golden Acre is a place which is true to the values we are trying to introduce in our children.”

During their stay at God’s Golden Acre, Jude and Sadie with their children had participated in drama workshops with the children of God’s Golden Acre, and plan to visit the rural valleys with Heather and her team to see the work being done there.

The Young Zulu Warriors are due to tour the UK next year with the “Thula Sizwe” drama production, and Jude has committed his support by offering to host a concert in London.

“My advice to anyone thinking of helping would be to come and see God’s Golden Acre for yourself,” says Jude. “To see it with your own eyes makes you realise the effect it has had on so many, and you can tell that the heart of the project is in exactly the right place. God’s Golden Acre is run by an extraordinary woman, and when you listen to Heather Reynolds tell the story of each and every child that has been helped, it is evidence of where her heart is and where the future is taking her.”

I have to confess I was never much of a Jude Law fan before this week, having probably only ever seen one or two of his films on dvd, but now I'm a convert. I can confirm that he is just the nicest bloke one would ever hope to meet and all of the family are gorgeous. They had a wonderful time and have established an excellent, and hopefully long-standing relationship with the GGA family.

Both Jude and Sadie and the older kids got into the drama side through 'Thula Sizwe' (coming to the UK soon!), the kids were off playing with our kids from the second they arrived. We took them down the valley to take some Christmas goodie bags to a group of children, and last night we went down to another valley through the mist and rain to pray with a family where 2 of their teenage girls are dying with AIDS. It was an eye-opening experience for everyone, tragically these girls are not alone in their situation, there are many more like them who are not being reached with comforting prayers and visits. Reality check that leaves a profound effect.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind this week, all in all.

And tomorrow it's the 22nd Dec and I've not done any Christmas shopping yet!