It’s been a year!

One year ago TODAY we landed in South Africa. As with every part of this journey, there have been ups and down – goods and bads. Thankfully, we have learned and grown and are more prepared to live and love here than we were one year ago. We can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned for year 2.

Here is our first year in photos! ENJOY!

Thank you to everyone who made this year possible!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

 

Our Adventure to the end of Africa

Over the festive season (Christmas), we (maybe I) decided to take a day trip to the southern most tip of Africa. This little adventure is about 3 hours from the valley so we got a bright and early start which did not make most of the family very happy. After all, Christmas break is for sleeping in – at least that’s what the teenagers in my house thought.

I had our map printed from google maps. I had the address in my phone. What could go wrong?

Two hours into our beautiful beach route (which is also the longest route) I began to realize that you couldn’t even see the beach. We went through a few little beach towns and did stop in Hermanus which is the whale watching capital of the world. I don’t really know if they claim that title but in this part of the world Hermanus is where you go for great whale watching.

Back in the car, no beach views on this beach route I had so carefully planned. Then the GPS said…in .9 miles turn left. Yes, we are stuck on miles…not kilometres. I really need to learn the metric system better! Anyway…0.1 miles turn left. Wait…a dirt road! Are we in the right place? I glance at Ron’s face and realize that this might not be good 🙂

The GPS says turn left. To the best of my abilities, the map from google maps says turn left. We turn left! Mumbling from the back seat, mumbling from the middle seat, and mumbling from the driver’s seat. HOW WAS I SUPPOSE TO KNOW?!

The view was beautiful…a stark difference from the coastal and mountain views that we are used to. Flat, dry land where you can see from kilometres! 🙂 But I dare not ask to stop and take a photo for fear of being put out of the car permanently. So we keep driving and the mumbling continues.

15-20 miles and 4 turns later, we are back on a paved road. Then a road block! Oh NO!! This grand adventure is beginning to feel like a grand mistake. But the Afrikaans police officer hears our American accent, glances at Ron’s license, and waves us through.

Was our adventure of misadventures worth it? These photos do not do justice to the beauty of Cape Agulhas – the southern most tip of Africa

Where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean meet

 

First time we had our feet in the Indian Ocean

This family of mine….I am thankful that they are used to my grand adventures. We had a few little hiccups along the way, but it was a great day. We did take the more common and shorter way home; there were no 20 mile dirt roads, and it was relatively uneventful (yet a beautiful drive through the garden route of the Western Cape).

Thankful for this beautiful country God has called us to serve.

Wherever He goes, we will follow!

If you follow us on social media or get our family newsletters, you know that this beautiful area that we live in deals with wildfires frequently. The very night we moved into our South African home we watched a line of fire from our bedroom window as it creeped down the closest mountain. And while these fires are devastating and cost the city millions of rand, they do not compare to the recent fire in Masiphumelele.

On November 29 – just days after the Extreme Response Christmas team left and just hours after we celebrated with a Christmas concert and grade R graduation with God’s Little Lighthouse – a fire swept through Masiphumelele. We heard the news on the way to church on Sunday morning. As I sat in worship with tears streaming down my face, I prayed that none of “our” children lost their homes, that African Hope Trust was not affected, and that no lives were lost.  People who have lived in the valley there entire lives were shocked; knowing that this disaster was the worst in recorded history for the area. 2500+ “shacks” burned to the ground faster than fire trucks could even get to the wetlands! 4000+ people lost their homes and all of their belongs.

The next day there was a sense of helplessness as a community shifted through the ashes. As one of our partners and community leaders stated “The devastation is like a movie scene out of the Apocalypse but it sadly is not a movie – it is reality.” Where do you even start? How do you help? What can you do?

We wondered! We prayed! We loved on purpose. We felt helpless. We prayed. We began to move. The community – this small area known as the valley; often segregated by colour and differences – began to rally. Donations were given. People of one group got their hands dirty helping people from another group.  Just the organization of the donations and finances given was an amazing feat that disaster management and Living Hope, our biggest partner in ZA, seemed to handle without difficulty.

All this time – for weeks – we wondered how we could make a bigger difference in the lives of people trying to put their lives back together. We were overwhelmed with the support of people in other countries who were willing to provide financial support for this disaster. We were blessed by body of Christ coming together to reach the ends of the earth. And still we wondered our role in this response. We were responding but how could we do it better?

Then as the Lord often does He began pulling His plan and His people together. People from different backgrounds who were all willing to work together. Through many Facebook messages and phone calls and conversations, we knew how we were to respond. A month after the initial response, families needed to prepare for the new school year. These families who may or may not have their shacks rebuilt have to prepare to send their children to school.

We partnered with Masi community leaders, Risk Reduction teams, St Peter’s Church, Media 24, and many more to provide school uniforms and school supplies to approximately 500 learners. Early this week, we were honored to help distribute the supplies.

Masiphumelele community leaders give instructions to some of the mothers and children.

Emily helping two high schoolers who lost everything in the fires find their names on the list for school supplies

After two hours, the line seemed longer than at the beginning 🙂

A group of friends waiting patiently for their new school supplies

Our ER co-worker working with one of the Masiphumelele community leaders to identify names on the list for school supplies

We are thankful for an opportunity to serve, for a community that pulls together when things are hard, for partners to serve alongside, for new friends, and for people “back home” who makes this type of response possible.

If you gave to the “Masi Fire Fund,” please know that your donations made a huge difference in the lives of these families. Your generosity overwhelms us – in a good way 🙂  Since the Masi fire, there has been several other fires in the area – some have affected homes and some haven’t. With the remaining funds and new funds given for emergency response, we will work with our partners and community leaders to respond as needed and wherever needed. You can give to this fund at Extreme Response and designate Masi Fire Fund knowing that we will respond when appropriate to any of our local areas including Oceanview, Capricorn, Red Hill, etc.

Wherever HE leads, we will follow!

Merry Christmas from South Africa

So…I tried and tried and tried to send this video via MailChimp to everyone who receives our monthly updates. However, my limited technology genius failed. I was beyond my capabilities. If you receive our emails, I apologize for the fact that you did not receive one this month. I am so sure that you have waited patiently at your computer each morning hoping that it would be in your mailbox. 🙂

Anyway…our latest newsletter and a Merry Christmas video…just for you. Enjoy!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to each of you!

Hope…Joy…Peace

I just can’t seem to get into the habit of posting anything. First, it feels like things are moving so slowly. Then, too quickly. Then, the heart break is too much. Then…hope abounds!

Strangely enough for those living in the Northern Hemisphere, we are in the middle of summer and at the end of our school year. Can I just say that it seems weird to be wearing flip-flops at Christmas time? Ok, my CIT friends..it’s not right, it’s not wrong, it’s just different!

In the last month, we have been on a roller coaster. We have experienced toyi-toyis (protests) in Masiphumelele that have distanced us from the children we have grown to love so much; yet it has built stronger relationships with the ladies we work with daily through the shared struggles. We have helped host an Extreme Response Christmas team of 27 amazing people who blessed our partners, the children, and our family in more ways than they will ever know.

We smiled and laughed as we watched 34 children graduate from grade R (kindergarten) from God’s Little Lighthouse. There was joy…hope…peace on the faces of these precious little ones.

Just days after the team left and the same night as the graduation, we witnessed the worst fire spread through Masiphumelele in recent history with over 4000 people left homeless.

We were blessed to attend another grade R graduation in Masiphumelele with the mums from African Hope Trust. Each of the 60 children got to speak into the microphone and tell what they wanted to be when they grew up. There were the typical answers of policemen, firemen, and teachers. But this one stood out from all the others with her answer…a dancer!

There is hope…joy…peace!

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14

As we end the school year and prepare for the opening of the Dream Centre for the 2016 school year, we know where true hope comes from, the joy of these children, and the peace of the season.

Be blessed, friends, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ!

I Don’t Like My New Normal

It’s been a while! I haven’t sat down to type out the words of my heart for a while – two months to be exact. At first, I thought that I had nothing to say; that nothing was happening. Just building relationships; learning about the cultures; finding a church family; settling into a school routine. Then – WOW – too much to share. Things are starting to move fast. It almost felt like too much to share. Do I share about The Dream Centre? Or the relationships forming at God’s Little Lighthouse? Or this plan? or that plan?

In the midst, I realized that we had found a new normal. It’s normal to live this crazy life overseas. It’s normal to wake up to the sound of the ocean waves crashing even though we are blocks away. It’s normal to drive on the other side of the car and on the other side of the road. It’s normal to be surrounded by 2 or 3 different languages. It’s normal to have my heart on 2 different continents. It’s normal to pay for things in rand instead of dollars.

But about two weeks ago – the new normal was turned upside down! The township of Masiphumelele was rocked by violence and destruction. This beautiful place where some of our favorites live was turned into a war zone! And, suddenly, this was a new normal that I don’t like….I don’t like it AT. ALL!!!

I won’t go into details about all that has happened – rape and murder and mobs and stoning people and burning others and protests and police and tear gas and fires and guns.  And children trapped in the middle…

My heart breaks for those children….

My heart breaks when I wake up to news of more violence; another person – maybe innocent, maybe not – has been stoned and burned to death.

My heart breaks when I get a text from one of the mums at African Hope Trust that says they can’t go outside because of the mobs and the tear gas and the flying rubber bullets.

My heart breaks to know that there is a mother of a 14 year old boy who is missing her son; yet she can’t get the image of him in death out of her mind.

My heart breaks to be awaken by a text that Masi is on fire and no one can get in or out.

My heart breaks for the men and women who are in Masi and just want to go to work so that they can feed their family.

My heart breaks to hear that only 23 kids (out of 112) are at God’s Little Lighthouse because they are in Masi – on the other side of the protest.

My heart breaks to see the fires above the Masi and to hear the gun shots and not be able to do anything….NOTHING!!

My heart breaks to see the fear in the eyes of 5 year old kids.

My heart breaks to hold them in my lap as they cry because of the things they saw and heard.

My heart breaks to hear their stories – stories of fires bigger than Uncle Ron; stories of stones hitting the roof of the safe houses; stories of hearing people on fire scream and scream; stories that no child should be able to tell.

My heart breaks as Lil Sis’ heart breaks when one of her littles from God’s Little Lighthouse tells her that he doesn’t want to go home.

My heart breaks to hear people say….”It’s not over.”

MY. HEART. BREAKS!!! And, suddenly, when I wasn’t expecting it….I don’t like this new normal. This new normal…this broken-hearted normal…it just hurts too much.

Yet this is the normal that I prayed for…eyes to see as He sees, ears to hear as He hears, a heart to love as He loves. In this heart broken moment of time, I will be His hands and feet; His eyes and ears. I will speak truth into the lives of those kids so that they know the violence and destruction is not of God and that God loves them beyond their fear. I will hold precious little ones that just need to feel safe and loved. I will listen (with HIS ears) to the stories that are hard to hear. I will sing “Jesus Loves Me” as many times as the kids need to so that they just don’t sing the words but understand the message.

I will accept this new normal….until another new normal comes along! And then I will accept that new normal.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

Hand-made with Love

“I put a box full of hats in the mail for you.”

My heart stopped – worried that THAT package full of hats hand-made with love would never make it to ZA. Worried that the infamous postal service – or lack thereof – would swallow the package whole. After all, there is still a box from wonderful friends in New Orleans that was sent in February that hasn’t seen the light of day yet.

So we waited – and prayed. Yes, I prayed for that box as it cross the ocean and became part the postal service that may or may not see the importance of it getting to the correct address. At this point, I must admitted that some selfish was involved on my part. I was informed that there were some special things for in this box 🙂

Then – prayer answered – I received a FB message while in Kenya. The beloved package was at the post office waiting to be picked up! Rejoice, rejoice, again I say rejoice!!! French vanilla coffee creamer – I mean, hats had arrived!

Today all the kids were back at God’s Little Lighthouse after school holiday so we took the beloved box. Immediately, questions! Sweet little faces looked up with questions about what was in that box!

The joy of placing the special hat on each particularly special head brought great joy. Big smiles and warm heads headed out to play, and my heart was filled.

These women who hand-made with love 100+ hats for little children in South Africa amaze me. Children that they don’t know but who are part of their lives simply because they are part of ours. There are many times in this life that I have been amazed by the body of Christ. Not of all of those times have been positive. But this time my heart overflowed with joy.

The knowledge that there are friends and family a world away who are willing to invest in the children that we love is incredible.

This -this love and use of personal gifts – is what it is all about!

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.                      ICorinthians 12:12-17

Thank you, ladies, for making today possible. Today you were the hands and feet of Jesus to a very appreciative group of pre-schoolers and a humbled Aunty Amy!

When their stories are hard…..

Stories of abuse – physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Stories of a young girl repeatedly raped by a neighbor until she becomes pregnant. Then she was cast aside with her younger sister becoming the target.

Stories of poverty. Stories of a family of seven children with no food found in their home and no ability to communicate.

Stories of neglect. Stories of a mother who just stopped feeding her small intact, and when he didn’t die fast enough, she placed him under a bush to die.

As I listened to many of these stories of the background of the children at Belwop Rescue Centre in Kenya, I was devastated. My heart ached. Tears were choked back as the pre-teen girl told me of her sister’s rape and pregnancy.

As I heard story after story, I expected to feel sadness and despair. Instead, with each child that I got to know, I saw joy and hope and a love of life. I saw Jesus!

Their smiles light up the darkness. Their hugs warm the world.

Sitting on the steps of Mum’s house as they play with my hair taught gentleness.

Teaching a 5th grade creative arts class taught kindness.

Learning in a Swahili class taught humility.

Cooking mandazis (the Kenyan version of vetkoeks) taught patience.

Making up silly stories about princesses floating down rivers of chocolate taught faithfulness.

Holding hands and sitting quietly because words were not needed taught joy.

Hearing the hard stories and seeing the joy on the other side taught love!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Belwop is a safe house for 30+ children who have been rescued from horrible situations. These children do not even exist as far as the country of Kenya is considered. There are no papers, no birth certificates, no birthdays – nothing to prove that these precious little people exist. In fact, Belwop basically means “BEtter Life WithOut Papers.”

We went to Belwop to spend time with one of the ER interns that is serving in the Belwop Shine Academy which is a small school that started this year. We also went to talk to Veronica, the mum at Belwop, regarding future interns and needs. Mostly, I went to love of the kids 🙂

I left Belwop blessed with a new family in Kenya.

Anyone want some fat cooks?

Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all!!

Several weeks ago we were introduced to vetkoeks (pronounced “fat cooks). Vetkoeks is a traditional South African treat. Much like the beignets that we came to love in New Orleans, vetkoeks is bread dough deep fried in oil.  It can be eaten immediately out of the pan by itself or with mince, honey, butter, or anything else you want to spread in the steamy middle. We chose peanut butter!

After enjoying this surprise treat, Ron made arrangements for us (him) to learn how to make vetkoeks. Our sweet friend at African Hope Trust cooks much like my Granny did. There was no recipe – a bit of this and a dash of that and until it feels like this!

Then once the dough is prepared, you let it rise.

Ron was excited to dig his hands in and knead the dough.

Once again – no recipe, no measurements. Pinch off a bit…

And into the hot oil! Give it time to brown on both sides…

And out of the oil to cool for just a few minutes.

Now they are ready to eat. Pull apart – spread some peanut butter on it – and enjoy!!! Deep fried goodness! Really, all we needed was some powder sugar and we would have thought we were having beignets at Cafe du Monde – except everyone around us was speaking Xhosa 🙂

Ron and Rachel made about 8 dozen vetkoeks and fed 20 hungry tummies – with lots left over. This little one just couldn’t stay away from the flour. Isn’t she precious?

One of the greatest pleasures in building relationships and learning a new culture is enjoying time with others. Add some yummy treats and you are sure to have a great day. African Hope Trust is an amazing partner that we share time with weekly – or more when possible. We pray that the Lord will open opportunities for these relationships to grow and  that we can just live life with these mums and kids.

Jump on over to Live Out of Your Comfort Zone. You will be amazed at what an almost 13 year old MK has to say 🙂

When you just need some encouragement…

There are days when you just need some encouragement. Maybe a word or a hug or a laugh. Days that – for reasons you just can’t explain – are hard.  Then along comes an email and a post that just lightens the load, that bears your burden, that speaks truth into your soul.

It’s only noon here, and it’s already been one of those days. I woke up just feeling blah. A little put out by the car repair…again. Then BOOM! CRASH! I fell. Right in the middle of Main Rd in Fish Hoek. Well, I wasn’t in the road….but in front of the bank as I was going to pay for that irritating car repair.

I don’t know what happened. My slip-slop (not a typo – means flip-flop) just folded over. And I, with no grace at all, fell up – yes, UP – the bank steps. Then two sweet old ladies began speaking. Checking to see if I was okay. No English. Afrikaans and Xhosa (I think).

Praise the Lord, I am okay. My left knee and hand bearing the bruises that will fade with time. But my heart aching. Still aching as I type this. But I recovered and carried on to the bank – to pay for that  irritating car repair.

Home…needing encouragement. A quick texted to Ron revealed that I am not in this craziness alone. A deep breath and a little healing of my heart.  Opening His Word to the reminder…”I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul’s word to Timothy speaking to me. Paul endured prison and a ship wreck and many, many horrible things. Yet, he rejoiced. Can I rejoice in this morning?

Then an email and a post from a sweet friend serving in Haiti. And the word…abide. I love that word. To abide, to stay, to remain!

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4

“Being in Him.

Filling up in Him.

Vivification, Building Faith in Him.

Staying in Him.” Jesu Se Espwa

Quote from Jezi Se Espwa. Jump over and read her adventures. Even with a broken ankle and another sprained ankle, she brings the light and love of Jesus as she serves. Thank you, sweet Stephanie, for your encouragement today 🙂

Even in this car repair, falling down kind of day, I can abide-stay-remain in Him. And it is okay! 

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16

And not only can I abide in Him….He abide – remains – stays with me. Even in this car repair, falling down day!

Never doubt that your words, your texts, your messages, your blog posts, your email are encouragement. Not only to me but to all who are serving overseas. Take the time today to encourage someone…