Hello friend, I hope that you are having a great great day today. I just wanted to share some pictures and stories and Scripture with you today-this is more than likely my last blog entry…we leave next Wednesday to come home!
Last Friday going to the zoo was so much fun! But it seems that we chose one of the coldest days of the winter to go. It was warm in the sunshine but quite cold in the shade and when the wind was blowing. Our kids were very very warm-we put them in snow suits and think hats and blankets in their stroller. I do believe that they greatly enjoyed this time at the zoo. I think my favorite and their favorite was the seal feeding. The man would throw the fish way out into the pool and the seals would swim after it and then shake it and the fish head would come off and fall to the bottom on the pool. Then the other seal would eat the fish heads off the bottom. The little boy that I was holding during this was just in awe. I also enjoyed the giraffes. We were able to get closer so very close to giraffes-closer than I have ever been. They really are pretty animals but they look so funny! Their tongues come out so far and they walk real funny. God surely is a beautiful, creative God.
When K and I got back to the Baby House, Auntie Francinah asked us if we could drive to Baby House 2 to pick up a baby who the police brought. She was found naked on the floor of a public restroom in a park. She was born that very day. Door of Hope took very good care of her for they gave her a good cleaning and the medical attention needed and wrapped her in thick blankets. She truly is a beautiful child and I wish that I could show you a picture. When we arrived at Baby House 2, we were met by 2 other aunties who were there taking care of her. She had only been there about a hour before we arrived. As we listened to this precious little girl’s story, I felt once again my heart breaking but knew that she has hope. She is at Door of Hope and will be matched with a forever family, but my heart broke for her mother. What kind of circumstances could lead you to leave your newborn like this? She must have been desperate and felt like she had no hope at all. As I have been praying for this little girl, I have also been praying for her mother. I pray that she will find true love and hope in Jesus Christ. After we had all listened to her story, we gathered around her little crib to pray. Much to my surprise, Auntie Francinah asked me to pray. I could hardly get the words out to our Heavenly Father to pray for this precious little one.
I had the opportunity to sit in the back of the car with her while K was driving back to Baby House 1. I was holding her little hand when I just all of the sudden felt a name on my heart. I told Auntie Francinah that we should name her Rebekah. We now have a Precious Rebekah in the small babies. She truly is beautiful. I am once again reminded of Isaiah 49:15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will never forget you.” God loves little Rebekah more that we could ever imagine, just like he loves us more that we could ever begin to comprehend.
On Monday, I woke up feeling very homesick and did not understand why I was struggling so when I knew that I was coming home in nine days. K and I had the day off and we had decided to go help our new housekeeper named Auntie Lucy with the laundry and various chores because Mondays are always so busy. When I got to the baby house and spent time with the children and the aunties, my spirits were lifted. God sent encouragement and love to me through them.
Yesterday K and I took two of our children hiking! We went to a park that is about 5-10 minutes away from where we live. There are animals roaming free and hiking trails here. It was a beautiful day and the kids loved being outside in the sunshine and fresh air. Katherine carried her little girl on her stomach in front of her in a carrier and I carried my boy on my back with a blanket. This is a very common way to carry young children in Africa and the aunties taught me how. It is quite easy and works well. I am so thankful for this special time that we were able to share with the children.
That night six of us volunteers went out to eat at an authentic African restaurant which is called Moyo’s. It was very funny because a lady comes to your table and paints your face. All the other volunteers had pretty designs painted on their cheeks. But for some reason when it came my turn she decided that I needed a design on my forehead! The girls told me that I looked like an Indian woman. Oh me, I know I did look silly.
I want to try to share with you a few things that God has taught me this summer. I am not very good with words but I will try my best to tell you. This summer I followed where I felt God was leading me. There were times when I did not think I was going to go because of my own fears and doubts, but I followed where I was certain God wanted me to go. In my relationship with God I have never had to depend and truly cry out to the Lord in the ways that I have the past two months. I feel more committed and more in love with my Lord than I ever have. I know how it feels for the Lord to be my only hope. I have felt broken and alone in a desperate sort of way and come to realize that God is the true source of peace, hope, and joy. I have prayed Psalm 86 so many times, “Bring joy to your servant, for to you Lord, I lift up my soul…you are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you…I will praise you, O Lord, with my heart.” I have also prayed Psalm 119:76 “May your unfailing love me by comfort, Lord, according to your promise to your servant.” I realize how unworthy I am to know the Lord and to live in His love each and every day. God wants us to share everything with Him-each day of our life he wants to live in us and through us. God desires for His children to be fully committed to Him, his disciple willing to take up their cross and follow where He leads. It is only when we do this that we can find the abundant life that God promises us; “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…these things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
God has given me the opportunity to love the children here with my whole heart. They will forever be in my heart. Their stories have taught me that God truly does have “plans for a hope and future” for his children (Jer 29:11-13). He loves each of these precious orphans and will never leave them or forsake them. I am only thankful that I have had the opportunity to love and care for them in this short time. The love that I have felt from the aunties here reminds me of God’s family. Believers around the world are all bound together in the Lord’s name making us a family in Christ. Back home I will forever remember the “family” that I have here in South Africa.
When I get home, I am not exactly sure how long it will take me to adjust back to my “American” life. I have seen a poverty here that is hard to accept and I have learned that I need to be so very thankful for what I have. I do not understand why I have all that I have and many people here have so little, but I hope to have a more thankful and giving heart when I am back home. I have come to realize how much this world truly needs God’s message of love and salvation. But I also realize that one does not have to be a missionary overseas to share this. God does not call all his followers overseas to share his love in a foreign country. He calls us to be his lights of love right where we are. We can share and serve those in our very own community in so many ways, we may just need to ask God to show us how.
I have also realized the importance of prayer. This is something that I believe Christians so much take for granted; to be able to continually and steadfastly approach God with a praise or a request. We are to “devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Col 4:2) and must remember to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil 4:6) Are you praying continually to your Heavenly Father each day, in every circumstance?
There are a few verses that God led me to to encourage me this summer and I wanted to share those with you:
Ephesians 3:7 “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.”
This verse reminds me to be a servant for the gospel and that it is only be God’s grace that I am His…
Colossians 1:9-14 “I pray that you will be filled with the knowledge of God of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father…”
Psalm 119:32 “I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.”
2 Corth 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you…”
Deutronomy 30:20 “Choose life, that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…”
I also want to share a song with you that has been a prayer for the children that I have loved on this summer. I think that the chorus it is a beautiful prayer also for yourself or your own children. The song is called “Hold on to Jesus”.
You’re a little piece of heaven, you’re a golden ray of light
And I wish I could protect you from the worries of this life
If there’s one thing I could tell you
Hold to Jesus, he’s holding on to you
(Chorus)
Hold on to Jesus and cling to his love
Rest deep in his mercy whenever things get rough
Don’t lose sight of his goodness and don’t ever doubt this truth
That when you’re holding on to Jesus, he’s holding on to you
Hear me Dear Jesus rock this little one to sleep
Keep her close when she’s scared and give her grace when she’s weak
I know she’ll stumble but I know she’ll make it through
If you hold on to her just like you said you’d do
Hold her to Jesus, so she’ll hold on tight to you
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers that you have shared with me this summer. And thank you for reading my blog and encouraging me! I love you all!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Pictures
Me and Katherine eating at Moyo's and getting our face painted. Don't I look like an Indian woman?
Here we are at the zoo with the camel. So much fun!
We are having so much fine hiking! Don't worry, my back was not too sore that night. It was so worth it!Thursday, July 23, 2009
O Praise Him
My goodness, is it really July 23rd? I can hardly believe that it is already almost August! Do you feel this same way? On August 5th K and I come home. I am so excited to be home but I feel so many different emotions…I love my children so much…they have forever become a part of my heart. I will never forget their unique personalities and their stories, their cute giggles and toothless smiles. Telling them goodbye will leave me in tears (I almost cry thinking of this) but I can continue to pray for them and love them even though I am no longer with them. I love each of the children very much but my heart has been captured with the smile and love and laughter of one certain little boy. He is 8 months old and is so precious. He will reach for me and smile and try to talk when I come into the room to get my attention. I love him so much but am so thankful that God has plans for “my” precious little boy. He has been matched with a family and will be leaving to live in Holland a few weeks after I leave. He has an older sister who is four with a radiant smile and a family who enjoys being outside hiking and camping. I am so excited and thankful for this! I will pray that his family teaches him about Jesus and God’s love.
With all my heart I hope that it is in God’s will and plan for me to be able to adopt someday, but so much has to happen before then…I must be patient and wait to see if this is God’s desire, but it is a passion of my heart!
On Sunday K and I had the opportunity to take two children to church with us. They loved it, especially the praise and worship music. It seemed they were in awe of the sound of so many voices singing and the instruments that were being used to praise God. Then we went to the mall and took the little girl with us out to eat and to do some shopping and it was so much fun…so very memorable.
Monday-Wednesday was so much fun working and playing and laughing and loving. I wish that you all could come here for a day and spend the day with us. You would love the children and would enjoy spending the day with them and the aunties!
There is a girl who we call J who is 26 years old who has been coming to volunteer quite often. She has lived in South Africa for her whole life. Her parents are from India. She has brought her parents, brother, and cousin to meet the children and to volunteer with us at Door of Hope. Well, they invited all 6 of us American volunteers to their house for dinner for some Indian curry. How sweet! When we went on Tuesday night, I was just in awe of everything. Their house was very beautiful (a mini mansion). The mother had a sweet maid who helped her cook and serve dinner. I wish that she would have stayed to eat at the table with us but she took her dinner and ate in another room. I did not know what to think about this...but then I realized that this is part of the culture here. During dinner we talked and shared about our lives and interests. The father led most of the conversation. He is the Chief Financial Officer of Coca-Cola for Africa and the Middle East. (WOW-his title is so big that I am not sure that I even got that right) He travels all of the time and has been in 88 different countries. He comes to Atlanta a lot on business. He had many stories to tell about his travels and many trips. I soon realized how this dinner was an amazing witnessing opportunity. You see, J’s family are not Christians; they are Hindus. J is a Christian and has taken her father with her to church a couple of times but he has not embraced Christianity. When we were talking about the children and how much we love them, he said that he could not understand why we would travel so far and for so long just to come here to this country and work at the orphanage. I do believe that he realizes that we came because this is where our Lord led us and that we want to follow with our whole hearts. I hope that God used us to share his love and light with this family.
Tomorrow K and I are going to go to the Johannesburg Zoo and take two children with us. We are so very excited! I am so thankful for my close friend Katherine Lee Wiggins! I am thankful that God led us both here this summer; we have drawn close in a way that only friends can when they face many joys, laughter, and sorrow together. We have shared the joy of loving the children, sharing in the laughter of the cute silly things they do, the joy of laughing at hanging wet, dripping laundry with numb fingers on the clotheslines, shared in the joy of finding a family with the aunties, uncles, and children, laughing at the many small cultural mistakes we have made, the sorrow of seeing poverty that is found here, the sorrow we have shared when missing home, the tears we have shared when hearing our sweet children’s stories, shared in the joy of sharing Scripture and praying together…
Katherine has encouraged me and prayed with me and comforted me with Scripture when she knew my heart was heavy. K has loved me when I know that I was not very loveable and listened to so many random questions and stories and ideas that I have. Katherine is truly a woman seeking God’s heart and seeks to praise Him each day in every circumstance and finds God in small things such as birds chirping or a cup of coffee. K and I have shared so many cups of coffee together and we even have a coffee poem, “Coffee with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.” Cute, huh?
I want to recommend a book to all of you. It is called Praise Habit by David Crowder. When I am reading it, I often find myself laughing out loud. Don’t you love books like that? There are twenty one psalms with a devotion. I read Psalm 8 yesterday. It says, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise. (The Message says: nursing infants gurgle choruses about you) When I consider your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?” I was reminded to think of the precious babbling and gurgling of the children as praises to God and this should remind me to praise God in my heart. I also was reminded how small I am and unworthy of God’s love, but God loves us unfailingly and more than we can comprehend. I was then reminded of the Who am I song by Casting Crowns “Who am I, that the Lord of all the Earth would care to know my name, would care feel my hurt? Who am I that the bright and morning star would choose to light the way for my ever wandering heart? I am a flower quickly fading, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind, still you hear me when I’m calling, Lord you catch me when I’m falling and told me who I am: I am yours.” We are God’s child he wants us to live in the wonder of his love and goodness.
My next blog entry will be my last one while I am here in South Africa! I am coming home so soon!
Love you all,
Rachel
With all my heart I hope that it is in God’s will and plan for me to be able to adopt someday, but so much has to happen before then…I must be patient and wait to see if this is God’s desire, but it is a passion of my heart!
On Sunday K and I had the opportunity to take two children to church with us. They loved it, especially the praise and worship music. It seemed they were in awe of the sound of so many voices singing and the instruments that were being used to praise God. Then we went to the mall and took the little girl with us out to eat and to do some shopping and it was so much fun…so very memorable.
Monday-Wednesday was so much fun working and playing and laughing and loving. I wish that you all could come here for a day and spend the day with us. You would love the children and would enjoy spending the day with them and the aunties!
There is a girl who we call J who is 26 years old who has been coming to volunteer quite often. She has lived in South Africa for her whole life. Her parents are from India. She has brought her parents, brother, and cousin to meet the children and to volunteer with us at Door of Hope. Well, they invited all 6 of us American volunteers to their house for dinner for some Indian curry. How sweet! When we went on Tuesday night, I was just in awe of everything. Their house was very beautiful (a mini mansion). The mother had a sweet maid who helped her cook and serve dinner. I wish that she would have stayed to eat at the table with us but she took her dinner and ate in another room. I did not know what to think about this...but then I realized that this is part of the culture here. During dinner we talked and shared about our lives and interests. The father led most of the conversation. He is the Chief Financial Officer of Coca-Cola for Africa and the Middle East. (WOW-his title is so big that I am not sure that I even got that right) He travels all of the time and has been in 88 different countries. He comes to Atlanta a lot on business. He had many stories to tell about his travels and many trips. I soon realized how this dinner was an amazing witnessing opportunity. You see, J’s family are not Christians; they are Hindus. J is a Christian and has taken her father with her to church a couple of times but he has not embraced Christianity. When we were talking about the children and how much we love them, he said that he could not understand why we would travel so far and for so long just to come here to this country and work at the orphanage. I do believe that he realizes that we came because this is where our Lord led us and that we want to follow with our whole hearts. I hope that God used us to share his love and light with this family.
Tomorrow K and I are going to go to the Johannesburg Zoo and take two children with us. We are so very excited! I am so thankful for my close friend Katherine Lee Wiggins! I am thankful that God led us both here this summer; we have drawn close in a way that only friends can when they face many joys, laughter, and sorrow together. We have shared the joy of loving the children, sharing in the laughter of the cute silly things they do, the joy of laughing at hanging wet, dripping laundry with numb fingers on the clotheslines, shared in the joy of finding a family with the aunties, uncles, and children, laughing at the many small cultural mistakes we have made, the sorrow of seeing poverty that is found here, the sorrow we have shared when missing home, the tears we have shared when hearing our sweet children’s stories, shared in the joy of sharing Scripture and praying together…
Katherine has encouraged me and prayed with me and comforted me with Scripture when she knew my heart was heavy. K has loved me when I know that I was not very loveable and listened to so many random questions and stories and ideas that I have. Katherine is truly a woman seeking God’s heart and seeks to praise Him each day in every circumstance and finds God in small things such as birds chirping or a cup of coffee. K and I have shared so many cups of coffee together and we even have a coffee poem, “Coffee with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.” Cute, huh?
I want to recommend a book to all of you. It is called Praise Habit by David Crowder. When I am reading it, I often find myself laughing out loud. Don’t you love books like that? There are twenty one psalms with a devotion. I read Psalm 8 yesterday. It says, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise. (The Message says: nursing infants gurgle choruses about you) When I consider your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?” I was reminded to think of the precious babbling and gurgling of the children as praises to God and this should remind me to praise God in my heart. I also was reminded how small I am and unworthy of God’s love, but God loves us unfailingly and more than we can comprehend. I was then reminded of the Who am I song by Casting Crowns “Who am I, that the Lord of all the Earth would care to know my name, would care feel my hurt? Who am I that the bright and morning star would choose to light the way for my ever wandering heart? I am a flower quickly fading, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind, still you hear me when I’m calling, Lord you catch me when I’m falling and told me who I am: I am yours.” We are God’s child he wants us to live in the wonder of his love and goodness.
My next blog entry will be my last one while I am here in South Africa! I am coming home so soon!
Love you all,
Rachel
A few pictures
We are gazing at the beauty of the Lord, looking out the window at the sunset. Psalm 27:4 "One thing that I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may gaze upon the beauty of the Lord all the days of my life and to seek Him."
So precious! 
This is Auntie Veronica who we love very much. This picture was taken when we went out for lunch and ice cream. So much fun!Saturday, July 18, 2009
God is Sovereign
Hello friends and family! I hope that you all are doing great and have had a great week. I am so excited for all those who are involved in “Reach Rowan” which starts today. I will be praying for you as you share the gospel and love others. “Reach Rowan” is a community outreach in the city of Salisbury where many youth and adults will be going door-to-door trying to share the gospel and sharing information about local churches, leading back yard bible schools to reach the children and their families in Jesus’s name, and many will be leading a basketball camp to reach youth….all pray for open hearts and opportunities for the gospel to be shared. I am so excited to hear how God is going to work this week at Reach Rowan.
Isn’t it amazing how God is here with me in South Africa living in me and through me and he also in Davie County, living in and working through his children there? Isn’t it amazing how God is also in you and living through you each
day, wherever you are? Isn’t God amazing!! He truly is SO BIG! (I have been singing that song with the children-the one that says… “My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty there’s nothing my God cannot do...” I do the hand motions with their little arms and they think this is so funny).
Last Friday, K and I went out to eat with Auntie Veronica and her daughter named Nikki. This was a very special time. Auntie V was dressed up and she looked very pretty. We let Auntie V pick out where we were going to go eat and she picked a restaurant called the “Ocean Basket.” She had never eaten here and was excited about eating it...I could tell that she wanted to get a more expensive plate than what K and I were eating (just fish and chips) and when it came her turn to order she also ordered fish and chips but I knew she wanted to prawn plate and I told the waiter to bring this. Prawn look like big shrimp and the whole thing came on her plate. She had to break away the eyes and tail and shell just to eat the meat. So much work! She laughed at me when I was so surprised that there was a mini family of prawns on her plate. Auntie V’s daughter was very quiet and shy and is a beautiful girl. We all had fun talking and then we went to get ice-cream…we had so much fun! So they would not have to try to find a taxi to get home, K and I offered to take them home. Once again, I was struck with the poverty here and my heart broke once more.
Saturday and Sunday K and I worked and it was so much fun! I love the children so much and enjoy all the time to spend with them. Heather and Maria (our friends from Viriginia who live at the baby house) will come upstairs to be with us and play with the children sometimes. Heather plays the guitar and we had the idea of having a praise and worship time with the children. We put several of them in the “bumbo” chairs, a couple in the swings, and held some. We were all together singing and praising God when we noticed a little boy who was raising his hands, just looking at Heather while she sang. She said, “Look, Sibonelo is worshipping.” Oh my goodness, I just laughed and laughed and laughed…you know that feeling when you laugh so much that your stomach hurts and tears come out of your eyes…well, I found this hilarious. I bet you are laughing right now-but if you are not, I am sorry, I guess you just had to be there. You see, Sibonelo is our fussiest child and he is rarely happy and just to see him in awe of the music and raising his hands( I like to think that he was worshipping) just made me laugh so much.
Sunday was an absolutely exhausting day! The children were so fussy…I feel like K and I had three or four babies in our laps all day or our arms just to keep them happy…but that is okay, we tried our best to love on each one-we don’t like when they cry!
On Monday night we worked night shift with Auntie Betty, who I love very much. We had wanted to do this with her for a while and this was the best opportunity. Oh my goodness, I have a new respect for all those who work third shift! K and I worked from 7-7 and there were a couple of times where I thought I was going to fall asleep standing up. But I did not thank goodness! We fed babies, comforted crying babies, folded laundry, cleaned toys, washed bottles, made milk and put the right amount into each bottle…this takes awhile because different babies are on different formula and drink different amounts and different babies need different number of bottles for the day time and during the next night. Some of our newest babies need 8 bottles made. K counted and we made 144 bottles of formula! My goodness! But we were so busy that the time flew by, but I was very tired the next day and it took me a couple of days to catch up on my sleep. Auntie Betty said that she finds strength in singing to the Lord and remembering that she is working for the Lord. This is so true! I enjoyed seeing our babies at night time when they are sleeping-so cute and precious.
I want to tell you about Auntie Loyce-she is our housekeeper at Door of Hope and she has become a very close friend. Every morning we have so much laundry and if one person hangs it, it takes about two hours. But with two people hanging laundry on the clotheslines, it only takes about one hour! I have been trying to go help her in the mornings when I am working if the children are fed and okay and Auntie Veroinca is there helping Katherine. Auntie and I have been able to just talk and talk and talk about our lives. She knows all about Justin and my family, how I came to know the Lord, dreams I have for my life. Let me tell you a little bit about Auntie Loyce. She is from Zimbabwe. She came here to South Africa to find work so she can support her two twin daughters who are turning 8 years old soon. The father of her twin daughters is not involved in their lives and she is trying to support them on her own. One of her daughters is named Celine and the other is Diana (she says she named them after Princess Diana and Celine Dion-she is so funny). But Diana has special needs-she can not feed herself and can not talk. So one year ago, Auntie Loyce came to South Africa to live with her sister here and make money to send back to her younger sister who is taking care of her children for her while she raises enough money to pay for a specialist to help her daughter. She thinks that soon she will be able to go back to her daughters. She misses them greatly but says that she is trusting God... What faith!
The other day I was reading my bible before we had staff devotions and Auntie Loyce asked to see my bible. She had never seen a study bible before and was in awe of the study notes. She said, “It tells you what is happening and explains the verses…this is amazing.” So K and I went to the mall and bought Auntie a study bible-we are so excited about giving this to her before we come home.
This picture was taken right after staff devotions. From left over, it is Auntie Veronica, Katherine, Auntie Loyce, me, and Auntie Bebe.
Uncle Brice has also been working at Door of Hope for one year. He is from the Congo and came here to work. He left his wife in Congo until he could raise money to bring her here to Johannesburg. He is so sweet and is funny! He truly loves the children so much. When the children were so sick with that stomach bug a couple of weeks ago, he told me that he could not sleep because he was worried about the children. On the weekends when he is not working, he calls Door of Hope just to make sure that all the children are okay. His wife has now been here for two months! Uncle Brice told me that he was just walking down the street one day when he heard a lot of babies crying. He went and knocked on the door of Door of Hope and began volunteering at Door of Hope and soon he was offered a job. He said that God has provided for him and his wife in great ways.
Today is the 18th of July and I have 18 more days here until I come home. I am feeling many different emotions and am so thankful for my time here. God has taught me so much(this will probably be a whole other blog entry in the next couple of weeks) and I have felt so much love and had so much love shared with me…I have seen God’s love and provision and majesty in a new light.
1 John 4:9 “This is how God showed his love among us; He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him…He sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…”
Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
Much love to you,
Rachel
Isn’t it amazing how God is here with me in South Africa living in me and through me and he also in Davie County, living in and working through his children there? Isn’t it amazing how God is also in you and living through you each
day, wherever you are? Isn’t God amazing!! He truly is SO BIG! (I have been singing that song with the children-the one that says… “My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty there’s nothing my God cannot do...” I do the hand motions with their little arms and they think this is so funny).Last Friday, K and I went out to eat with Auntie Veronica and her daughter named Nikki. This was a very special time. Auntie V was dressed up and she looked very pretty. We let Auntie V pick out where we were going to go eat and she picked a restaurant called the “Ocean Basket.” She had never eaten here and was excited about eating it...I could tell that she wanted to get a more expensive plate than what K and I were eating (just fish and chips) and when it came her turn to order she also ordered fish and chips but I knew she wanted to prawn plate and I told the waiter to bring this. Prawn look like big shrimp and the whole thing came on her plate. She had to break away the eyes and tail and shell just to eat the meat. So much work! She laughed at me when I was so surprised that there was a mini family of prawns on her plate. Auntie V’s daughter was very quiet and shy and is a beautiful girl. We all had fun talking and then we went to get ice-cream…we had so much fun! So they would not have to try to find a taxi to get home, K and I offered to take them home. Once again, I was struck with the poverty here and my heart broke once more.
Saturday and Sunday K and I worked and it was so much fun! I love the children so much and enjoy all the time to spend with them. Heather and Maria (our friends from Viriginia who live at the baby house) will come upstairs to be with us and play with the children sometimes. Heather plays the guitar and we had the idea of having a praise and worship time with the children. We put several of them in the “bumbo” chairs, a couple in the swings, and held some. We were all together singing and praising God when we noticed a little boy who was raising his hands, just looking at Heather while she sang. She said, “Look, Sibonelo is worshipping.” Oh my goodness, I just laughed and laughed and laughed…you know that feeling when you laugh so much that your stomach hurts and tears come out of your eyes…well, I found this hilarious. I bet you are laughing right now-but if you are not, I am sorry, I guess you just had to be there. You see, Sibonelo is our fussiest child and he is rarely happy and just to see him in awe of the music and raising his hands( I like to think that he was worshipping) just made me laugh so much.
Sunday was an absolutely exhausting day! The children were so fussy…I feel like K and I had three or four babies in our laps all day or our arms just to keep them happy…but that is okay, we tried our best to love on each one-we don’t like when they cry!
On Monday night we worked night shift with Auntie Betty, who I love very much. We had wanted to do this with her for a while and this was the best opportunity. Oh my goodness, I have a new respect for all those who work third shift! K and I worked from 7-7 and there were a couple of times where I thought I was going to fall asleep standing up. But I did not thank goodness! We fed babies, comforted crying babies, folded laundry, cleaned toys, washed bottles, made milk and put the right amount into each bottle…this takes awhile because different babies are on different formula and drink different amounts and different babies need different number of bottles for the day time and during the next night. Some of our newest babies need 8 bottles made. K counted and we made 144 bottles of formula! My goodness! But we were so busy that the time flew by, but I was very tired the next day and it took me a couple of days to catch up on my sleep. Auntie Betty said that she finds strength in singing to the Lord and remembering that she is working for the Lord. This is so true! I enjoyed seeing our babies at night time when they are sleeping-so cute and precious.I want to tell you about Auntie Loyce-she is our housekeeper at Door of Hope and she has become a very close friend. Every morning we have so much laundry and if one person hangs it, it takes about two hours. But with two people hanging laundry on the clotheslines, it only takes about one hour! I have been trying to go help her in the mornings when I am working if the children are fed and okay and Auntie Veroinca is there helping Katherine. Auntie and I have been able to just talk and talk and talk about our lives. She knows all about Justin and my family, how I came to know the Lord, dreams I have for my life. Let me tell you a little bit about Auntie Loyce. She is from Zimbabwe. She came here to South Africa to find work so she can support her two twin daughters who are turning 8 years old soon. The father of her twin daughters is not involved in their lives and she is trying to support them on her own. One of her daughters is named Celine and the other is Diana (she says she named them after Princess Diana and Celine Dion-she is so funny). But Diana has special needs-she can not feed herself and can not talk. So one year ago, Auntie Loyce came to South Africa to live with her sister here and make money to send back to her younger sister who is taking care of her children for her while she raises enough money to pay for a specialist to help her daughter. She thinks that soon she will be able to go back to her daughters. She misses them greatly but says that she is trusting God... What faith!
The other day I was reading my bible before we had staff devotions and Auntie Loyce asked to see my bible. She had never seen a study bible before and was in awe of the study notes. She said, “It tells you what is happening and explains the verses…this is amazing.” So K and I went to the mall and bought Auntie a study bible-we are so excited about giving this to her before we come home.
This picture was taken right after staff devotions. From left over, it is Auntie Veronica, Katherine, Auntie Loyce, me, and Auntie Bebe.
Uncle Brice has also been working at Door of Hope for one year. He is from the Congo and came here to work. He left his wife in Congo until he could raise money to bring her here to Johannesburg. He is so sweet and is funny! He truly loves the children so much. When the children were so sick with that stomach bug a couple of weeks ago, he told me that he could not sleep because he was worried about the children. On the weekends when he is not working, he calls Door of Hope just to make sure that all the children are okay. His wife has now been here for two months! Uncle Brice told me that he was just walking down the street one day when he heard a lot of babies crying. He went and knocked on the door of Door of Hope and began volunteering at Door of Hope and soon he was offered a job. He said that God has provided for him and his wife in great ways.
Today is the 18th of July and I have 18 more days here until I come home. I am feeling many different emotions and am so thankful for my time here. God has taught me so much(this will probably be a whole other blog entry in the next couple of weeks) and I have felt so much love and had so much love shared with me…I have seen God’s love and provision and majesty in a new light.
1 John 4:9 “This is how God showed his love among us; He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him…He sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…”
Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
Much love to you,
Rachel
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Hello!
Hello! I hope that you all are doing okay and have had a great week so far, smiling bunches and bunches.
Last Wednesday K and I traveled to Soweto where I was greatly saddened by this township which is referred to as an “informal settlement”. I saw children playing with toys they had made from scrap metal, dusty streets, and houses made out of tin and concrete. I was greatly saddened, as anyone would be who saw poverty like this. I was able to talk to three small children through a fence that went around the dirt yard and small groups of houses that was inside this fence. They ran to the fence when we walked by and I talked to them. They were playing with little toy cars. As I looked at where they live and gazed at their dirty clothes and faces, I felt guilt and an anger for all that I have. Why do I have so much and they so little? Why do they have to live in the middle of this type of environment? My heart hurt and I did not know what to think…I kept thinking how we could do something to help them…I now know that I have taken so much for granted-having a warm home filled with love, food to eat, clothes….but despite all these children lacked, they still smiled and laughed…how I want to be like them. During staff devotions a couple days later, we looked at verse Hebrews 13:4-5 “….be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” I realized how all comes from God and I should be thankful for all I have each day. God is with us; he is our Provider, he is all we need. But what can be done about poverty in Africa, India, America...how can we help? There is no doubt that God is calling us to reach out, but how can we? How can we bring God’s light and hope?
The next two days (Thrusday and Friday) K and I worked but I felt like my focus was not there. I felt like I was getting impatient for no reason and having a hard time keeping a praising heart. After work on Friday, I finally realized that I am not going to be able to change poverty all around the world and here in South Africa. Yes, this broke my heart, but I should not allow myself to dwell on this and feel angry and guilty because of it. I realized that we need to be thankful for what we have and pray that God will use us to reach those who live in poverty. We can make a difference in our hometown, for there are so many people in need all around the world. If we are able help meet their physical needs-providing food, shelter, or clothing, we are also sharing God’s love and we can hopefully be used by God to meet their spiritual hunger as well…
On Saturday K and I took two babies-aged 5 months and 8 months- to the mall and we had so much fun! I had the idea of letting the 8 month old boy taste ice cream for the first time! How funny-don’t worry, we only let him have two or three licks. He loved it and was so funny trying it. We took lots of pictures. We then came back to our host family house and played. We read books, sang, and just had fun laughing and giggling. Pulang is talking some and is a joy to be with.
At the mall, several people asked us whose babies we were taking care of and we were able to talk to them about Door of Hope. They also want to know where we are from, because well, we don’t look or talk like anyone else in South Africa. Our waitress even got the number from us of Door of Hope and wants to call to see if she can work for them. Did you know that Door of Hope is non-profit? The Africans who work here are paid through church donations and all our materials are donated or bought with donated money. I just think that this is amazing how God truly does provide. The aunties were worried one day because we were running very low on formula; we were out of infasoy 1, but God provided just that kind of formula on that day. Wow!
Speaking of providing, God provided a place for me and K to stay the remainder of our time here. We were unable to stay at the Gospel Tract very long, for it was all booked before it was known that we were coming and a host home had not been able to be found for us. The aunties and uncles were praying and said that they would take us in, but many of them are living in two-bedroom homes with 5-8 children. But God did provide us with a “host family”. But our host family is a 75 year old man who we call Uncle Collin. He is a 75 year old man who has 4 children. One of his daughters lives in Spain, and his son lives in the UK, and his other two daughters live in towns close to Johannesburg. His wife died 3 years ago and he lives alone. He works for Door of Hope; he is called the management man who picks up donations and fixes odds and ends at Door of Hope’s three baby houses. When he heard that K and I needed a place to stay, he was very sweet to offer for us to stay with him. I believe that he was very lonely before. He told me and K that we bring light back into his life.
On Sunday, we went to church with Uncle Colin and I was surprised to see people from all nationalities worshiping God together. The congregation was african, indian, white, and oriental. A man with a guitar led the music and the congregation sang to the top of their voices and sang with their full voices. I was giggling at one point because Uncle Colin was singing beside me and he was singing his own song (the same words as us, just not in the right place and off key) and when we were clapping, he was always clapping at the off beat. But he did not care-he had his eyes closed just praising God. I realized that God truly does not care what we sound like, he just desires us to worship him in spirit and in truth and with our whole hearts. Psalm 9:1-2 “I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart” and Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.” When we go to worship on Sundays, are we focusing on praising God with our whole heart and being broken and humble and genuine before God?
I want to tell you that I am so thankful for Katherine! We have become very close friends and I have been blessed to share this with her. She is a constant encouragement. We have shared so many laughs as well as tears. K makes me laugh so much! How awesome it is to have a friend with me to share Scripture with me and to pray with me. I love her a lot! I am also thankful for the friendships that I have made with the Maria, Heather, and Melody, who are also volunteers from America. Our friendships are brought together in that we all love the children so much and desire to live for the Lord. Every Friday night, we go out to eat and spend the evening together, whether it is watching a movie (so far we have watched Rescuers Down Under and Aladdin) just talking, or playing card games. I am so thankful for the fellowship found here! Maria has even spent the night a couple of times and three of us in our small double bed is quite funny, but we are so tired from working that we just fall asleep no matter where we are. On Monday, there were some difficult circumstances that were happening at Door of Hope and after work, we came together with heavy hearts and just prayed together for what was happening. Truly what peace is found when we take everything to God in prayer. I am so thankful for the friendships that I have found here, not only in the other volunteers but with the aunties. Tomorrow, we are going out to eat with Auntie Veronica and her daughter. I am excited! And another best friend that I have made is one with Auntie Loyce, the housekeeper. I try to help her with as much as I can and this week I have been able to help a lot with the laundry during the children’s nap-time and she has been so grateful. She gave me and K a peppermint at lunch yesterday, telling us that this came from her inner-most heart. How sweet!
K and I have been here a little over a month and I have been able to see so much change in the children in just one month! This truly is amazing. I know how to make each child laugh and have seen them begin to try to talk and giggle and roll over and even crawl. Our oldest girl is going to begin to walk soon and I hope that I get to see this happen! She is quite a handful…when a smaller baby is crying, she will often crawl to them and look at them as if she is wondering why they are crying and then she pulls their hair! I wonder why she thinks this helps…it only makes the baby cry louder. But she makes ma laugh. Her name means “blessing.” In the African culture, the meaning of the children’s name is very important. This week, we have gotten four new babies and I have heard the aunties discussing what to name the precious children. One of our new babies is named a biblical name-one of my favorites! A couple of nights ago, when we answered the doorbell, a very young lady with a downcast face asked if this was 15 Barbara Street, which is Door of Hope’s address. She was carrying a bundle of blankets. We took her to the office and a few minutes later, she left and she looked so sad. She left her baby with Door of Hope. She did not name her one-day old son. She wants so much to keep him, but is unable to provide for his needs. But there is still hope for her to get involved in a program where she can get help and find hope and get a job and learn how to take care of her son. We can pray for this young mother and so many like her…
I want to share some Scripture that I read this morning really quick with you. I read Psalm 146 this morning and read a little devotion that K has in a book called “Praise Habit” by David Crowder. Psalm 146:
“Blessed is he whose help is in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the sea, and everything in them-the Lord, who remains faithful forever…He defends the wrong, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, gives sight to the blind, lifts up those whose are bowed down, takes the side of the orphans and widows. The Lord reigns forever, praise the Lord.”
David Crowder says, “Read this psalm and think about how God is calling us to someplace above the gray, through the clouds to a place where there is hope and healing, where justice and mercy rule, where the King of Creation cradles and widows and the orphans and the fallen, where the blind see and goodness is champion. This is our God. There is no love greater or more beautiful.”
I love you all!
Rachel
P.S. Today is Lucas’s 19th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Send some birthday wishes his way!!!!
Last Wednesday K and I traveled to Soweto where I was greatly saddened by this township which is referred to as an “informal settlement”. I saw children playing with toys they had made from scrap metal, dusty streets, and houses made out of tin and concrete. I was greatly saddened, as anyone would be who saw poverty like this. I was able to talk to three small children through a fence that went around the dirt yard and small groups of houses that was inside this fence. They ran to the fence when we walked by and I talked to them. They were playing with little toy cars. As I looked at where they live and gazed at their dirty clothes and faces, I felt guilt and an anger for all that I have. Why do I have so much and they so little? Why do they have to live in the middle of this type of environment? My heart hurt and I did not know what to think…I kept thinking how we could do something to help them…I now know that I have taken so much for granted-having a warm home filled with love, food to eat, clothes….but despite all these children lacked, they still smiled and laughed…how I want to be like them. During staff devotions a couple days later, we looked at verse Hebrews 13:4-5 “….be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” I realized how all comes from God and I should be thankful for all I have each day. God is with us; he is our Provider, he is all we need. But what can be done about poverty in Africa, India, America...how can we help? There is no doubt that God is calling us to reach out, but how can we? How can we bring God’s light and hope?
The next two days (Thrusday and Friday) K and I worked but I felt like my focus was not there. I felt like I was getting impatient for no reason and having a hard time keeping a praising heart. After work on Friday, I finally realized that I am not going to be able to change poverty all around the world and here in South Africa. Yes, this broke my heart, but I should not allow myself to dwell on this and feel angry and guilty because of it. I realized that we need to be thankful for what we have and pray that God will use us to reach those who live in poverty. We can make a difference in our hometown, for there are so many people in need all around the world. If we are able help meet their physical needs-providing food, shelter, or clothing, we are also sharing God’s love and we can hopefully be used by God to meet their spiritual hunger as well…
On Saturday K and I took two babies-aged 5 months and 8 months- to the mall and we had so much fun! I had the idea of letting the 8 month old boy taste ice cream for the first time! How funny-don’t worry, we only let him have two or three licks. He loved it and was so funny trying it. We took lots of pictures. We then came back to our host family house and played. We read books, sang, and just had fun laughing and giggling. Pulang is talking some and is a joy to be with.
At the mall, several people asked us whose babies we were taking care of and we were able to talk to them about Door of Hope. They also want to know where we are from, because well, we don’t look or talk like anyone else in South Africa. Our waitress even got the number from us of Door of Hope and wants to call to see if she can work for them. Did you know that Door of Hope is non-profit? The Africans who work here are paid through church donations and all our materials are donated or bought with donated money. I just think that this is amazing how God truly does provide. The aunties were worried one day because we were running very low on formula; we were out of infasoy 1, but God provided just that kind of formula on that day. Wow!
Speaking of providing, God provided a place for me and K to stay the remainder of our time here. We were unable to stay at the Gospel Tract very long, for it was all booked before it was known that we were coming and a host home had not been able to be found for us. The aunties and uncles were praying and said that they would take us in, but many of them are living in two-bedroom homes with 5-8 children. But God did provide us with a “host family”. But our host family is a 75 year old man who we call Uncle Collin. He is a 75 year old man who has 4 children. One of his daughters lives in Spain, and his son lives in the UK, and his other two daughters live in towns close to Johannesburg. His wife died 3 years ago and he lives alone. He works for Door of Hope; he is called the management man who picks up donations and fixes odds and ends at Door of Hope’s three baby houses. When he heard that K and I needed a place to stay, he was very sweet to offer for us to stay with him. I believe that he was very lonely before. He told me and K that we bring light back into his life.
On Sunday, we went to church with Uncle Colin and I was surprised to see people from all nationalities worshiping God together. The congregation was african, indian, white, and oriental. A man with a guitar led the music and the congregation sang to the top of their voices and sang with their full voices. I was giggling at one point because Uncle Colin was singing beside me and he was singing his own song (the same words as us, just not in the right place and off key) and when we were clapping, he was always clapping at the off beat. But he did not care-he had his eyes closed just praising God. I realized that God truly does not care what we sound like, he just desires us to worship him in spirit and in truth and with our whole hearts. Psalm 9:1-2 “I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart” and Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.” When we go to worship on Sundays, are we focusing on praising God with our whole heart and being broken and humble and genuine before God?
I want to tell you that I am so thankful for Katherine! We have become very close friends and I have been blessed to share this with her. She is a constant encouragement. We have shared so many laughs as well as tears. K makes me laugh so much! How awesome it is to have a friend with me to share Scripture with me and to pray with me. I love her a lot! I am also thankful for the friendships that I have made with the Maria, Heather, and Melody, who are also volunteers from America. Our friendships are brought together in that we all love the children so much and desire to live for the Lord. Every Friday night, we go out to eat and spend the evening together, whether it is watching a movie (so far we have watched Rescuers Down Under and Aladdin) just talking, or playing card games. I am so thankful for the fellowship found here! Maria has even spent the night a couple of times and three of us in our small double bed is quite funny, but we are so tired from working that we just fall asleep no matter where we are. On Monday, there were some difficult circumstances that were happening at Door of Hope and after work, we came together with heavy hearts and just prayed together for what was happening. Truly what peace is found when we take everything to God in prayer. I am so thankful for the friendships that I have found here, not only in the other volunteers but with the aunties. Tomorrow, we are going out to eat with Auntie Veronica and her daughter. I am excited! And another best friend that I have made is one with Auntie Loyce, the housekeeper. I try to help her with as much as I can and this week I have been able to help a lot with the laundry during the children’s nap-time and she has been so grateful. She gave me and K a peppermint at lunch yesterday, telling us that this came from her inner-most heart. How sweet!
K and I have been here a little over a month and I have been able to see so much change in the children in just one month! This truly is amazing. I know how to make each child laugh and have seen them begin to try to talk and giggle and roll over and even crawl. Our oldest girl is going to begin to walk soon and I hope that I get to see this happen! She is quite a handful…when a smaller baby is crying, she will often crawl to them and look at them as if she is wondering why they are crying and then she pulls their hair! I wonder why she thinks this helps…it only makes the baby cry louder. But she makes ma laugh. Her name means “blessing.” In the African culture, the meaning of the children’s name is very important. This week, we have gotten four new babies and I have heard the aunties discussing what to name the precious children. One of our new babies is named a biblical name-one of my favorites! A couple of nights ago, when we answered the doorbell, a very young lady with a downcast face asked if this was 15 Barbara Street, which is Door of Hope’s address. She was carrying a bundle of blankets. We took her to the office and a few minutes later, she left and she looked so sad. She left her baby with Door of Hope. She did not name her one-day old son. She wants so much to keep him, but is unable to provide for his needs. But there is still hope for her to get involved in a program where she can get help and find hope and get a job and learn how to take care of her son. We can pray for this young mother and so many like her…
I want to share some Scripture that I read this morning really quick with you. I read Psalm 146 this morning and read a little devotion that K has in a book called “Praise Habit” by David Crowder. Psalm 146:
“Blessed is he whose help is in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the sea, and everything in them-the Lord, who remains faithful forever…He defends the wrong, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, gives sight to the blind, lifts up those whose are bowed down, takes the side of the orphans and widows. The Lord reigns forever, praise the Lord.”
David Crowder says, “Read this psalm and think about how God is calling us to someplace above the gray, through the clouds to a place where there is hope and healing, where justice and mercy rule, where the King of Creation cradles and widows and the orphans and the fallen, where the blind see and goodness is champion. This is our God. There is no love greater or more beautiful.”
I love you all!
Rachel
P.S. Today is Lucas’s 19th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Send some birthday wishes his way!!!!
Pictures!
I am chatting with a dear friend and he is telling me all about his day. This precious little boy was adpoted to Norway last Monday. I am so excited for him!
These are my new friends who are also volunteers from America. Melody is from South Carolina and Heather and Maria are from Viriginia. I am so thankful for them!
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