It's official, tickets are bought.

I bought my plane tickets. 

I fly out on the 6th of September. 

Now that it's official-- I have my medical paperwork for visa done too. 

Next step is Insurance. 

Thanks goodness for Google who will help with my search. 

Then my police background.

Soon I will have my visa.

Location= TLC

Where I am going?--- The Love of Christ Children's Home.

Check it out for yourself HERE.

A little bit about my home next year: 

"In a country where more than half the population lived in appalling conditions, with very little income, in families torn apart by urbanisation and legal restrictions, The Love of Christ Ministries was established by the Jarvis family to rescue the tiniest victims of a society in turmoil.
Since we rescued our first two little ones in April 1993, we have continued to play a part in changing the destiny of more than 780 babies who have been abandoned or orphaned, as our nation continues to be plagued by HIV-AIDS, unemployment and high crime levels.

That in itself has been a great challenge for us, but we are dedicated to more than just saving babies. Our primary ethos at TLC is that "every child has the right to a loving and responsible family", this requires us to do more.

Every baby at TLC is a part of our family, we hold each little one dear, we fight for the rights of every one, we seek the best for each individual, always.

Being committed to this belief has meant that over time we have had to grow. Our family has grown from five children to almost thirty; Our nursery accommodates another thirty little babies between birth and three years; We are assisted by a fantastic international team of 16 - 24 volunteer caregivers. We employ a number of staff members to assist with administrative and domestic duties. And we now report to a board, who assist us in ensuring we keep sailing in the right direction."

As you can tell I will not be alone volunteering.  I have to say that I am excited to be living with other young adults (yes I still think of myself in this category) my own age again. I thrive on and with community. This time it will be with those from all over the world which makes it all the better.

I'm going back!

I’m going back.
Back to Africa.
South Africa.
Not with a team, but by myself.
I am going to be sharing my heart and love with children.
Children who have been rejected and abandoned.

I am excited to go back and minister to the kids of SA.
It may look different than last time but I know that the Lord has BIG plan for me.
Bigger that I can imagine.

Just like all other trips its a little scary.  I mean a YEAR is a long time. Longer than I have ever gone before. But, I did nine months (twice), what’s three more.  I just got done with helping with VBS.  The theme for the week is “Anything is possible God.”. But ,I think that it will be the theme for my year. Something I hold on to.


More about who and where later this week.

Today I cried.

Last summer. At the Pond.

I went with my dad to visit my Grandma.  She is now in a home. Its been a long tough road for all of us. She was and still is such a strong lady that its hard to see her curled up in bed staring off into space.  We usually bring Grandma home for Sunday dinner but after last week Dad wanted to see how she was. So we went to see her. 





She was laying in bed when we got there. Covered up with blanks and a blank stare.  We talked to her and rubbed her back.   Dad left the room to talk to one of the ladies working there so it was just me and Grandma.  I have for about a week now had this feeling that we needed to tell her that it was okay to leave us. She is a strong lady and could probably out last us all. But she deserves to be happy. So once I mustered up my strength and bravery (dad had reentered at this point) I told her that it was okay to go be with Grandpa that we would be okay and that I wanted her to be happy. She deserves that. Then the tears came. Dad also reassured her that she could go be with Grandpa, Uncle John and Aunt Mary. That she can relax and its okay to leave. It was hard to both say and hear these words but my Grandma is a fighter. Survived Chemo twice and lost her husband at a early age. Part of me really felt that she is holding on for us. I just needed to tell her that she didn’t have to.  


I think of all my Grandma has taught and shown me over the years. All the things she has made it through.  It is just not fair for her to have such a hard end to life. 

 

This summer.

If you have a little extra prayer in you. Pray for peace for her. Pray that she can let go and truly go Home. It will be hard for us when this happens but it will be WAY better for her.