Volunteer weekend #3

Volunteer team May 2013

A couple weekends ago we all went away. Babies to their weekend mom and dads. And, us volunteers to the middle of nowhere. Literally. About an hour on sand roads. We thought the bus was going to fall apart as Zoe drove on. It was volunteer weekend. Every three months it happens. A little get away in the mist of the crazy busy life we live here at TLC.

We got to stay in an awesome house. We all decided we need one at TLC. There was room for us all. All the girls stayed in the loft the boys all took separate rooms. Everyone happy.

This weekend was a bit different from the other two I have been on. The first very much about us as individuals. Lots of deep thinking. The second was all about the team with lots of games and team builders. This one was about the kids. We went over and learned about the circle of courage.

‘The Circle of Courage® is a model of youth empowerment supported by contemporary research, the heritage of early youth work pioneers and Native philosophies of child care. The model is encompassed in four core values: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. The central theme of this model is that a set of shared values must exist in any community to create environments that ultimately benefit all.’

I think we all learned a lot and now look at our kids a bit differently, With more awareness. More thoughts behind why they do what they do and don't do what they don't.

Zoe always does a great job with these weekends. Sessions mixed with games and relaxing. We took a nature walk on sunday. A herd of wildebeest kept running across the path infront of us. Very cool. We sat and relaxed by a river for a moment. 

 I think we were all glad to have the weekend away. So much had happened and changed in the last month that it was good to be together for a bit just us. Gave us a chance to get to know each other. There are lots of new volunteers. Im just sad that was my last volunteer weekend.

moms needed

So when my first niece as born and mom would leave her she cried. There was nothing that could stop her except mom coming back home. And the safely and comfort that only mom could provide.

 Well tonight I am with three crying babies and there is no mom that will walk into the room and relieve them. I am here doing only what I can do. As I type, one is one my chest. two in bouncy chairs being bounced. They have been feed. Changed and are loved. I guess its a bad night. Nights like this just shows me that these kids need moms (and dads) so much. It also makes me hurt for them for their tummy mommy's who for whatever reason couldn't keep them.

some thoughts.

Tomorrow will be the beginning of my last three months here at TLC. Time has flown. Its also have been slow. I can still remember vividly the time I met each of the kids. When I was trained in each of the sections and some days that feels like yesterday. Lately we have said goodbye to a lot of volunteers. At the end of next week we will be down to 8. (So if you or anyone of you knows someone who would love to come and love babies for a bit please come.)

Saying goodbye, taking fellow volunteers to the airport has started me thinking. Maybe worrying is a better word. In a few months that will be me. I’m not so scared of leaving this place and the babies. I know it will be hard and hurt a bit but I also know that other volunteers will come and love them and take care of them. TLC does a good job of that. LOVE.

What I'm frightened of or intimidated by or worried about it the after I get home. After Im unpacked. What happens next. I have spent a year loving babies and being the person they need to survive. I go home the only person who needs me is me. And, I’m not sure I like that.

I was explaining my worries to my mom about what is next and not knowing. She replied back that I am talented and something will come up. But, I don’t just want something. That sounds unimportant. I want to make a difference. I want to love and care and be someone people need.

I don’t want to go home and just live life. I want a life to live. I don’t want to get sucked into the mundane. To the ordinary. To the normal.

Pilanesberg National Park

So I know how my dad feels after a road trip. On Tuesday when we were at Pilanesberg National park I drove for about 10 hours. Average speed 30kph/18mph. Every time we got out at a hide (those were areas where you could get out and go closer to the watering hole. ) it felt funny to walk. Like it does after a good day of skiing.

It didn’t bother me too much. I wanted my mom and sister to enjoy their first safari. We started at about 830 and finished at 630. Between those times we saw so many animals. No lions though :(. (I was really hoping) About an hour after we got into the part we rounded a curve and there as this mama and her baby rhino about 6 feet off the road. So beautiful. We sat there in the middle of the road with our engine off for about ten minutes watching and taking pictures. It was so cool. The Giraffes and elephants took a bit longer. It wasn’t till around 12 that we started to see Giraffes. Nothing up close till after lunch. Same with elephants. There was one right next to the car but it was down in a old dry river bed and not easy to see behind the bushes. We did see a whole herd young and old alike a bit after that. Nothing close up till we were heading out of the park. One by himself right next to the road munching on food. Hippos were another story. I felt like in every body of water we saw some. First it was 3. The there were 7 or 8 with one that got out for a bit. There more with two out sunbathing. And more after that. Zebras, wildebeest, and every kind of bok (deer) were everywhere. Along with warthogs and these guinea fowl that were spotted with blue heads.

 

We had a PB and J picnic inside the park in a safe picnic area with a huge Rhino in the distance. A picnic Aunt Carol would be proud of. We also stayed till the very last minute. Even taking a side road last minute in the dark. But we did see another Rhino up close. Plus it gave me more pothole experience. Some of those roads were quite a puzzle to drive. It must have rained a lot recently because you could see the washout likes. I felt sorry for our little rental a few times. But we got through all in one piece.

For a first safari I don’t think mom and kt could have gotten luckier. That is unless a lion was spotted.

Family comes to SA!

Most of you know my mom and sister came to visit this last week. And if you didn’t know , MY MOM AND SISTER CAME TO SOUTH AFRICA!  It was a much needed holiday. Almost 8 months of working 6 days a week 10 hours a day with kids wears you out. Don’t get me wrong i love it and its totally worth it but it was very good to do something else then TLC for a change.

In 9 days we covered a lot of ground.
We petted lions, giraffes and monkeys.

We fed Giraffes and Ostriches.

We saw Elephants, White Rhinos, Giraffes, Wildebeest, Hippos, Lots of deer like creatures.

We went to markets and malls.
We stayed in the middle of the bush by ourselves. (In a cute BnB).
We (I actually) drove kilometer after kilometer.
We at at an african restaurant and got our face painted.

We ate cold KFC and played bananagrams.
We got turned around once or twice. But, had our trusty GPS to get us straightened out.
We floated up in the air in a hot air balloon.

We took tons of pictures. About 2000 combined.
We had a picnic in the middle of an old volcano crater.
We saw beautiful african sunsets and sunrises.

There were lots of things accomplished and lots of babies held and loved.

Just a thought.

We have gotten two new babies in the last two days. Its so exciting when we do. But should it be exciting? It always makes me think about the whole situation. We shouldn't need a place like TLC in the first place. It would be so much better for the kids to be with their tummy mummies. Not a bunch of strangers. But we have been intrusted with them. To be honest I would rather they come here and not some other home. Here its like a home not an institution.

The thing with TLC is we aren't strangers for very long. Soon we are family. The kids learn that we are here to Love them. To be there for them to play with or to cry on our shoulders. They know we will pick them up when they fall and make sure they are warm at night. They learn to trust us and love us. Some of them get very attached to some of the volunteers and in return some of us get very attached. Love at first sight.

So even though I want babies to stay with their mammas. I do hope when they cant they can find their way to TLC because here we love them sometimes too much.

exciting times

I need to blog. But what do I blog about. Life at TLC is the same day in and day out. Its not a bad same but a lovely comfortable same. There are little things that happen that get us excited.

When babies start to crawl. Its exciting till we realise we have to chase them down all the time.
When I spotted skittles at the store today. I bought couldn’t resist.
When a new tooth appears.
When a new word is said.
When pudding (dessert) is put out with dinner.
When Lasagna is served.
Thursday Woolworths donations. Especially the fresh fruit.
It rains and makes large puddles to jump in with the lions.
Packages and letters from home.
Milk delivery on monday.
New baby clothes.
When kids sleep at nap time.
When kids move up a group.
Forever families and departure dates for kids. This is exciting and sad all together.
When night shift bakes us something yummy in the night.
Nights out.
Skype dates with family members.
When we walk in to the kitchen and there are eggs. That means pancakes and baking.
When a new baby comes to stay with us.

A Beautiful Family

Good byes here at TLC are hard. Whether its a volunteer or a kid. Your heart grows attached.

This morning we said goodbye to two beautiful shining stars. The Lord found them parents. It was a long week for everyone. With such a mix of feelings. Excitement that they have a home and a family. Excitement that they will grow up outside of an institution. But, sadness too. Sadness that they were our for a while to hold and laugh with and now that job is someone else's. Sadness that our memories with them have ended. You could see them have a mix of emotion. Having to leave a place them know and love. But wanting to have a family. Such a new thing for such little ones.

After a goodbye breakfast with friends and family they came around and said their goodbyes. One last hug for everyone. Our last chance to let them know that they are loved and that this is such a good thing that is happening. Tears were shed. In the end Mommy Daddy Brother and Sister walked from the nursery to start their lives together. Lives that will be full of love and laughter. What a special couple to be blessed with a very special boy and girl. A beautiful family. A beautiful life.

Unfolding and its okay.

There is a group of us every Monday that goes to Alpha. For those who don’t know what that is, its a 10 week class on the basics of Christianity. With not being able to go to church regularly a few of us jumped at the opportunity.

Last night while singing a few songs before our teaching video started a line to a song I have sang  before jumped out at me. 

 “Lord, renew my mind as your will unfolds in my life.”

I'm not sure why it stuck out to me so much but it did.To renew is to make again, to make fresh.  His will is something that we (as Christians) all want in our life. We pray for it. We search for it.  So we need the lord to make our mind a new as His will plays out. Im not sure why but the image of a map on a road trip came to mind. (I think it was the unfolding) As you drive you focus on a little part of the map. As you continue to drive that map needs to be unfolded so that you can follow your course. But, with each unfold new roads and options come up. You have choices. Either keep going the way you are or pick a new route which may be quicker or prettier or harder or full of construction. No matter what you need to rethink or at least think about rethinking. That is how it is with us. When seasons in our lives change and the Lord calls us to something different we need to renew our mind and be okay with a left turn here or a round-about there. The thing is He wrote the map and he knows the in the end you will be fine. Its His will His map we follow not ours. Its when we follow our map that we get into trouble. Or when we get stuck on one route and miss an even better one.