I am writing this really for my own benefit. Wherever I go in this world I want to be able to look back on this and remember that whatever happens to me in this world I can consider it joy because this life is not about me - it is about bringing glory to God and preaching His gospel with my life.
"No matter how you look at it, nothing can steal a man's joy if he possesses the single mind! "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21) Maltbie Babcock, who wrote "This is my Fathers world," has said, "Life is what we are alive to." I absolutely dread memorizing math equations, or sitting in a science class in which I need to look up nearly every other word to understand what is being taught, but when know that it is time to go to Cultural Anthropology I come alive! The thing that excites us and "turns us on" is the thing that really is "life" to us. In Paul's case, Christ was his life. Christ excited him and made his life worth living.
Philippians 1:21 becomes a valuable test of our lives. "For to me to live is ________ and to die is ________" Fill in the blanks yourself.
"For me to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind."
"For me to live is fame and to die is to be forgotten."
"For me to live is power and to die is to lose it all."
No, we must echo Paul's conviction, if we are going to have joy in spite of circumstances, and if we are going to share in the furtherance of the Gospel. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain!"
This is from Warren Wiersbe's commentary on Philippians.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Last week Flying Mission gave me permission to live at an orphanage in Botswana. And I got permission from the orphanage as well. It was quite the week man…unfortunately I was specifically told to not describe the going ons. But if you can remember in your prayers the orphans of Botswana…that would be good. It’s a dark place in more than one way…especially spiritually. It felt like fighting a forest fire with a squirt gun. You'll just have to get the details when you come visit me. I am in love with Botswana and the people and it is going to do my heart some serious damage when I rip it away. Ah! I don't want to think about it, but it is plaguing my head.
One of my friends here, who recently (like 3 weeks ago) committed her life to Christ, mom just passed away. Please please pray for her that this tragedy will send her running to God and not further away.
Thanks for all the love and prayers sent my way! You are an encouragement to me !
One of my friends here, who recently (like 3 weeks ago) committed her life to Christ, mom just passed away. Please please pray for her that this tragedy will send her running to God and not further away.
Thanks for all the love and prayers sent my way! You are an encouragement to me !
Monday, June 1, 2009
Camp Chaos
My apologies to those of you who are faithful followers of this blog and have been missing updates. It has been quite awhile! So let me dive into a fast and furious update on my life happenings - I finished my social work internship, via email I heard the news I graduated, and I am now a full time short termer with Flying Mission. My weekly schedule now looks like:
Monday: Playgroup at Baylor
Tuesday: Teaching income generating crafts to home based care clients in various villages surrounding Gaborone
Wednesday: Tumelong orphan feeding program
Thursday: Home based care work from 9-2 and SOS children's village from 3-6
Friday: Old Naledi orphan feeding program
OH! You have to hear about camp!!!!
The week after I finished my internship I was invited to be a counselor at a camp for OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children). I thought I was going to a camp kind of like the one I had been counseling at for the last 3 summers. WRONG totally wrong. Well I suppose there were a few similarities, such as the kids are all from disadvantaged homes, they come for free, there is food, I don’t shower much (in this case at all) and I am in the minority. God was hard at work and so was the devil this week. First of all the camp was not Christian, second of all it was not Christian - the counselors (not all of them but a majority) were out drinking every night - the girl counselors had different men in their beds (the same room as the girl campers and I) nearly every night. This was so painful for me to watch go down, but nothing I said (and if you know me, you know I said strongly) changed anything.
The purpose of the camp was to educate on issues of HIV, drug abuse, some other issues (it was all in Setswana so I didn't catch much) and also to do some psychosocial work with the orphans who had lost family. The differences in Western and African culture were highlighted when I arrived at camp and there really was no plan. The counselors were in a group talking and the kids were scattered around the camp just doing whatever. I thought maybe it was just the settling in day, but the camp continued this way the rest of the week. Everyone just hung out. It was so laid back and chill..whenever a counselor felt like playing a game, they got the kids together and played it, when the counselors thought maybe they should teach something - they rounded up the kids and taught. It was so so different than an American camp where every minute is planned out down to time for changing clothes and going to the next activity! There are positives and negatives to both, but this really took adjusting for me! The go-with-the-flow strategy of Botswana really worked to my advantage in the end giving me ample time to pump out Gospel to these kids who are malnutritioned in more than one way.
Night one I read a bible story to the kids around my bed at night. Night two the word got out about the bible study and there was about 15 kids, 14 girls and 1 boy that all sat quietly as I read and another counselor who had become my friend translated. That night I woke in the middle of the night to feeling the worst pain I've felt in a long time, plus I had diarrhea 1 minute and the next I was throwing up. I took that as a sign that doing something right and I was where I was supposed to be because obviously the devil did not want me there! They wanted to send me to the clinic in the morning then home and there was a part of me that really wanted the comforts and privacy of home, but all the reasons for staying were so much better than my self considering reasons for leaving. Also! One of my girls said "Erica don't go we are begging you" other than being shocked by her English sentence I was surprised that she cared so much "why " I asked and then came the biggest surprise "we want you to read the Bible to us." and that was it. No clinic, no home, I was not leaving that camp. Although I was useless all Wednesday being so weak from the sickness - God gave me energy at night when I needed it to read the Bible. Thursday was quite the day. I had a few really good conversations with the counselor that was translating my Bible stories at night, finding out about her life it was plain to see the pain. Anyways I was able to tell her about what a sweet friend I have in Jesus. She was interested but I did not want to force anything on her (sometimes people here just go along with whatever you say even if they don't understand or do not want to, in order that they do not offend you) I told her to just let me know and I could hook her up. She had grown up being forced to go to church by her grandma, but she hated it. So she knows a lot about Jesus but doesn't have a personal relationship with Him. She seemed to think that was probably enough, but a light bulb seemed to turn on in her head when I explained that just like a celebrity we can know all about them, but not have a friendship with them. Also on Thursday, the camp conducted a death and bereavement counseling session. Nearly 80 kids shared their stories of how they dealt with the death in their family - not one eye was dry leaving that circle including my own. There is nothing like death to get you thinking about eternity! I had talked with one girl after the session and told her a little bit about my friend Jesus who had promised to "never leave her or forsake her" and left it up to her to come and get me if she wanted to know more. A few hours later she did and she knew exactly what she wanted. God gave me the privilege of being right there while He drew his lost child to Himself! Although her prayer was in Setswana - there is no mistaking the smile she had on her face afterwards!!
God really just brought one kid after another to me to share the Gospel with. The kids were starving for spiritual food! I've never had an experience like this. At camp MT in Michigan, the Bible reading part of the day was like the boring part and if they could get out of it they would (for the most part - there are some exceptions, but those are rare.) Here they were literally begging me! I was in awe and still am.
The counselor who I mentioned is now a good friend of mine and attended church with me last Sunday - she still has not committed her life to Christ so be in prayer for her please!
God's latest lesson for Erica:
We are commanded to "think the same way that Christ Jesus thought."Phil 2:5 And something God is teaching me is that there are two parts to doing this. The first is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centered and self-seeking. The Bible says, "Stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."1Cor 14:20 Babies by nature are completely selfish. They think only of themselves and their own needs. They are incapable of giving; they can only receive. That is immature thinking. The Bible says that selfish thinking is the source of sinful behavior Rom 8:5. And the second half of thinkin like Jesus is to start thinking maturely, which focuses on others, not yourself. In his great chapter on what real love is, Paul concluded that thinking of others is the mark of maturity; "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." 1 Cor 13:11 The core of our Christian lifestyle is not so much having biblical information and doctrine packed in our head - while that is one measure of maturity its not the whole story - our core is found in thinking of others before ourselves like Jesus did. God has been revealing to me that I am still a toddler. I have so much to learn in this area, but lucky for me I have His Spirit helping me along..I just have to be walking in that Spirit every moment!
Monday: Playgroup at Baylor
Tuesday: Teaching income generating crafts to home based care clients in various villages surrounding Gaborone
Wednesday: Tumelong orphan feeding program
Thursday: Home based care work from 9-2 and SOS children's village from 3-6
Friday: Old Naledi orphan feeding program
OH! You have to hear about camp!!!!
The week after I finished my internship I was invited to be a counselor at a camp for OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children). I thought I was going to a camp kind of like the one I had been counseling at for the last 3 summers. WRONG totally wrong. Well I suppose there were a few similarities, such as the kids are all from disadvantaged homes, they come for free, there is food, I don’t shower much (in this case at all) and I am in the minority. God was hard at work and so was the devil this week. First of all the camp was not Christian, second of all it was not Christian - the counselors (not all of them but a majority) were out drinking every night - the girl counselors had different men in their beds (the same room as the girl campers and I) nearly every night. This was so painful for me to watch go down, but nothing I said (and if you know me, you know I said strongly) changed anything.
The purpose of the camp was to educate on issues of HIV, drug abuse, some other issues (it was all in Setswana so I didn't catch much) and also to do some psychosocial work with the orphans who had lost family. The differences in Western and African culture were highlighted when I arrived at camp and there really was no plan. The counselors were in a group talking and the kids were scattered around the camp just doing whatever. I thought maybe it was just the settling in day, but the camp continued this way the rest of the week. Everyone just hung out. It was so laid back and chill..whenever a counselor felt like playing a game, they got the kids together and played it, when the counselors thought maybe they should teach something - they rounded up the kids and taught. It was so so different than an American camp where every minute is planned out down to time for changing clothes and going to the next activity! There are positives and negatives to both, but this really took adjusting for me! The go-with-the-flow strategy of Botswana really worked to my advantage in the end giving me ample time to pump out Gospel to these kids who are malnutritioned in more than one way.
Night one I read a bible story to the kids around my bed at night. Night two the word got out about the bible study and there was about 15 kids, 14 girls and 1 boy that all sat quietly as I read and another counselor who had become my friend translated. That night I woke in the middle of the night to feeling the worst pain I've felt in a long time, plus I had diarrhea 1 minute and the next I was throwing up. I took that as a sign that doing something right and I was where I was supposed to be because obviously the devil did not want me there! They wanted to send me to the clinic in the morning then home and there was a part of me that really wanted the comforts and privacy of home, but all the reasons for staying were so much better than my self considering reasons for leaving. Also! One of my girls said "Erica don't go we are begging you" other than being shocked by her English sentence I was surprised that she cared so much "why " I asked and then came the biggest surprise "we want you to read the Bible to us." and that was it. No clinic, no home, I was not leaving that camp. Although I was useless all Wednesday being so weak from the sickness - God gave me energy at night when I needed it to read the Bible. Thursday was quite the day. I had a few really good conversations with the counselor that was translating my Bible stories at night, finding out about her life it was plain to see the pain. Anyways I was able to tell her about what a sweet friend I have in Jesus. She was interested but I did not want to force anything on her (sometimes people here just go along with whatever you say even if they don't understand or do not want to, in order that they do not offend you) I told her to just let me know and I could hook her up. She had grown up being forced to go to church by her grandma, but she hated it. So she knows a lot about Jesus but doesn't have a personal relationship with Him. She seemed to think that was probably enough, but a light bulb seemed to turn on in her head when I explained that just like a celebrity we can know all about them, but not have a friendship with them. Also on Thursday, the camp conducted a death and bereavement counseling session. Nearly 80 kids shared their stories of how they dealt with the death in their family - not one eye was dry leaving that circle including my own. There is nothing like death to get you thinking about eternity! I had talked with one girl after the session and told her a little bit about my friend Jesus who had promised to "never leave her or forsake her" and left it up to her to come and get me if she wanted to know more. A few hours later she did and she knew exactly what she wanted. God gave me the privilege of being right there while He drew his lost child to Himself! Although her prayer was in Setswana - there is no mistaking the smile she had on her face afterwards!!
God really just brought one kid after another to me to share the Gospel with. The kids were starving for spiritual food! I've never had an experience like this. At camp MT in Michigan, the Bible reading part of the day was like the boring part and if they could get out of it they would (for the most part - there are some exceptions, but those are rare.) Here they were literally begging me! I was in awe and still am.
The counselor who I mentioned is now a good friend of mine and attended church with me last Sunday - she still has not committed her life to Christ so be in prayer for her please!
God's latest lesson for Erica:
We are commanded to "think the same way that Christ Jesus thought."Phil 2:5 And something God is teaching me is that there are two parts to doing this. The first is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centered and self-seeking. The Bible says, "Stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."1Cor 14:20 Babies by nature are completely selfish. They think only of themselves and their own needs. They are incapable of giving; they can only receive. That is immature thinking. The Bible says that selfish thinking is the source of sinful behavior Rom 8:5. And the second half of thinkin like Jesus is to start thinking maturely, which focuses on others, not yourself. In his great chapter on what real love is, Paul concluded that thinking of others is the mark of maturity; "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." 1 Cor 13:11 The core of our Christian lifestyle is not so much having biblical information and doctrine packed in our head - while that is one measure of maturity its not the whole story - our core is found in thinking of others before ourselves like Jesus did. God has been revealing to me that I am still a toddler. I have so much to learn in this area, but lucky for me I have His Spirit helping me along..I just have to be walking in that Spirit every moment!
Two of the girls who shared my bed with me! Tendie and Morina
More of the group
How the boys got to camp...a 2 and half hour drive with over 20 of them packed in the back!! The girls and I were in a combi.
How the boys got to camp...a 2 and half hour drive with over 20 of them packed in the back!! The girls and I were in a combi.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
a divine appointment
April 25, 2009
So today was teens club in the morning into the afternoon. I helped lead a small group of younger teens on the topic of friends and peer pressure. It went really well.
Tonight was bible study with the Flying Mission short termers, but tonight was different than usual we had 2 new friends who attended. Mapula and K who are both from SOS children's orphanage. They are both in their teens now so they are allowed more freedom and can stay out late so they took advantage of this freedom to come to our bible study. Mapula is one of my good friends at SOS, but I had never met K before. During the study I noticed that K was extremely quiet, only speaking when spoken to and even then the response was as short as possible. At one point he did speak to ask what a specific verse meant, but you could hear the nervousness in his voice when asking. In attempt to figure this kid out my social work self accidently made a few awkward eye moments during the study. After the bible study part of bible study I sat by K and tried to lessen his nerves with conversation - I failed - he seemed to become even more nervous. So I started talking to the people around who would talk back until I got a tap on my shoulder. It was K. He said softly "Let me tell you my story." "OK" I replied and I tried to turn to help myself focus on only him as there were people conversing all around us. He slowly, quietly, a few words at a time, began unfolding his heart wrenching life story to this girl he had just met. His mother had died the day after giving birth to him. His dad did not want him. His dad's family and mom's family fought over him because they all wanted the assistance that would come from his being an orphan. He was taken from the aunt that had ended up with him when she was found drunk and K neglected. He was brought to SOS when he was only 4 months old. He was allowed to go home a few times during holiday when he was 13, but his mom's family would not allow him to sleep in the house unless he brought them money. He had no way of getting money so he went to his dad's family who sent him back to his mom's family, but he knew that he could not go in so he went back to the orphanage. That same year he asked his house mom at SOS if he could go to church. He wasn't sure why he wanted to, but he did. His house mom told him that if he went to church he would not be given meals for 3 days and he would have to stay in his room. He asked why but she was silent and just walked away. He went to church anyways. He didn't know where church was, but he just started walking. It was far, but he made it ok. He continued going after that day and got involved in the choir where they gave him his first Bible. He said "Jesus is always with me." He explained that some people call him a prophet and there has been a few times where he has known things that he didn't know why he knew them. Tears were rolling down both my cheeks as I listened to how God had scooped up this child of His and guided him so clearly to Himself.
He stopped and looked at me in the eyes and asked "Can you help me?" I asked "Help you with what?" "I do not like people. At my house when people are in one room I go to the bedroom and when people come to the bedroom I go outside." I told him that I couldn't help him, but God could and I asked if he had talked to God about it. God brought 2 Timothy 1:6 to mind "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, of love and of self-discipline." We read the verse together. I knew that this was a divine appointment and could sense God's presence was heavy upon us. Our whole group prayed for him. By the end of the night he was singing and joking and really seeming to have a good time. Praise God! His story was really an encouragement to me and I know that he will be telling it to thousands at a time one day!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Release your grip and get ready for a trip!
April 9, 2009
Wow I do not even know where to start. God has really been at work in my life lately. I wish I could tell you this in person because I feel that although there is not a way for me to fully express my experiences to you, at least in person you would be able to see in my eyes and know that what I am telling you is sincerely coming from my heart and has truly moved the deepest part of my soul.
I have been deceiving myself. "the heart is deceitful above all else. Who can know it?" Yes, its true that I have been living an adventure here in Africa. I have gone many cool places, seen amazing things, met a lot of really cool people, but I have not been giving my all for Christ. Yes, I've been reading my Bible, sometimes not, but mostly because I know that this is "the right thing to do" and I do long for a deeper relationship with Christ. However, breaking my life down into the small choices that I have been making everyday - I was considering myself first - my flesh was winning many choices that arose.
This Monday God graciously drew me back to Himself. I was reading my usual Bible chapter for the day, not going too deep and feeling distant. My prayer was this "God, where am I?" What is going on with us?" I was not doubting that He was with me. What I was doubting was myself and for good reason. His reply was simple "You know what you have to do before I can walk with you." And He was right - deep down I knew. I had two specific sins come to mind that I had been trying to forget about and sweep under the rug before I had even come to Botswana. I cried out to God, asking forgiveness and declaring in my heart to take care of whatever I needed to in order that I could walk closely with my Savior once again. My prayer was this. "God, I'm so sick of this life without you at the center! I can't do it! It's meaningless. But at the same time I feel I don't have the courage to do it with you. Please take over! Be with me!"
Okay now let me back up and give some history on this. Last summer God guided me to the Nashes. I saw Christ moving in their lives and was drawn to that. One day while I was at their house, Jaren, 6 years old at the time took my hand and said "Erica, I want you to come to Bangladesh with us." Aaaw that is so sweet I thought to myself as I quietly dismissed the thought, I was excited for the ministry their family would have, but had not really considered going myself. My mind quickly scanned for the best excuse and landed on the easiest "Oh, I would love to Jaren, and if I had the money I would."
"OH! I have money!" she exclaimed, face beaming, as she dropped my hand and ran upstairs to her room. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that she returned with her piggy bank! She poured it out, put it in a zip lock bag and proudly handed it to me. "THERE! Now you can come!" I was at a loss. I looked at Jesse, who had seen the whole thing take place, to help me out, but he totally took her side or was it God's side? All he said was "now, how can you not pray about coming with us after that?"
SO I did. Kind of quickly said the words that night, but didn't linger on the issue if you know what I mean. The next Sunday was my birthday celebration. I got to choose my birthday dinner (KFC), and my fam got me some really sweet presents including an IPOD! Any normal person would be ecstatic at this, but as soon as the family started cleaning up and I could get to my room , I balled. Not that I didn't want the IPOD, I did. I had actually asked for it, and most people at work had one. BUT I knew that this comfortable, cushy life with every need met and all of my desires satisfied nearly instantaneously was not what God had called me to. I knelt down by my bed and told God, what I was feeling, I felt lead to confess sins (sound familiar?) I then asked God "what now?" the reply "Go to Bangladesh." my reply "WHAT?" His reply "Go to Bangladesh" then I balled my eyes out. A few nights later during prayer I told God of my deep desire to rely on Him for my needs. "Then go to Bangladesh." A few nights later - the same thing "then go to Bangladesh" This time instead of replying with a head of doubts I said "OKAY I'll go! When?" His reply was a picture of the words "now" and "1 year" floating together. It didn't really explain anything to me but upon telling Dad about the picture he explained what it sounded like to him "prepare now to go in 1 year." As soon as he spoke those words my spirit knew he was right. I did that semester with Bangladesh in my mind. The opportunity to go to Botswana for my internship came the day after God told me to go to Bangladesh.
Back to the present days here in Botswana. The best way for me to get a visa for Bangladesh would be to go to the Bangladeshi Consulate in person, and since we don't have one in Botswana I would need to go to South Africa. I don't have a car, and it is dangerous to go by yourself on a bus or combi, and my roommate did not want to drive sooo I just said "God if you want me there work it out." Friday the 3rd I found out that one of the guys I work with was going to South Africa on Wednesday and was willing to bring me to the Bangladeshi Consulate. Over the weekend I got everything I thought I needed for my application for visa. Wednesday I traveled to South Africa with two amazing people of God. I went to the Bangladeshi Consulate, I did not have 2 out the 5 things I needed for my visa or the 1180Rand I needed for the processing fee. The man from work and the woman I had just met on this trip( her middle name is Faith) forked out all the Rand (south African dollars) they had and it was just enough to pay my fee! (they had about penny left!). It usually takes 5 days to process a visa, but I needed mine the same day so that I could travel back into Botswana with my passport. Everyone traveling with me said it was a miracle that:
I GOT MY VISA!!!!!!
(this is Mostabisa (sp?) who issued my visa) I was so excited and tellling him how he blessed my life he couldn't refuse when I asked for a picture. I look a little more happy about this than he :)
I am going to Bangladesh at the end of July. Why? Because God wants me there. For what? I'll find out when I get there - something to do with the poorest of poor people. For how long? Until God wants me to leave.
The church I attended tonight had a guest speaker and choir. I did not know this until I got there, but the speaker was from India and the choir's song was in Bengali!
I pleaded with God to take over my life on Monday. He hasn't stopped blessing me since.
That was a long story but the important thing is this. God refocused my eyes on Him. Everything is clear once again. It is only in His will that we are free. My life is not about taking care of myself, my life is meant to be a delight for my Jesus. I want to give everything I can to Him who gave everything to me on the cross. Life is so much more full when you are not living it for yourself! When you surrender all and die to yourself that is when God multiplies. John 12:24 "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." Release your grip on your life, and get ready for the trip God will bring you on!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
An Easter to remember
April 11, 2009 Happy Birthday to my baby sis Lindsi Lou my lil boo.
So Yesterday was Easter. I've always heard it is the holidays when you miss far away family the most. It is SO true! This morning I had to ask God's forgiveness for having self pity. Do you know that it is prideful to have self pity? It totally is. Thinking that we deserve something other than death is pride. By ourselves we are dirty rotten sinners who deserve death. Christians can not have self-pity. The self was killed on the cross. So this morning I poured my heart out to God, asking His forgiveness for feeling bad for myself that I wasn't with my family on Easter and my lil sis' B-day and how I missed cuddling with my friends.
ANYWAYS as I finished that prayer…maybe even while I was still praying it - Beatrice (who I just met on Wednesday on the trip to South Africa) sent me a text saying she was picking me up in 20 minutes. From about 11am to 11 pm I spent the day with an amazing group of God-fearing Kenyans (who speak English). They totally accepted me into their home from the very beginning, we ate breakfast together, lunch at a park, took walks, played games, ate dinner together, and there were two beautiful lil girls named Nuru (meaning light) 3 yrs, and Nema (meaning grace)2 yrs who invited me to their birthday party within the first 5 minutes of meeting them and who cuddled with me all day!!! At the end of the day I heard them say a few times "I want to be like Auntie Erica." Along with Auntie I was called sister, adopted daughter and friend. I was totally adopted into their family just when I needed one most. God cares about everything in our lives. Don't hold back your feelings from Him, He is always there and waiting to bless us.
So Yesterday was Easter. I've always heard it is the holidays when you miss far away family the most. It is SO true! This morning I had to ask God's forgiveness for having self pity. Do you know that it is prideful to have self pity? It totally is. Thinking that we deserve something other than death is pride. By ourselves we are dirty rotten sinners who deserve death. Christians can not have self-pity. The self was killed on the cross. So this morning I poured my heart out to God, asking His forgiveness for feeling bad for myself that I wasn't with my family on Easter and my lil sis' B-day and how I missed cuddling with my friends.
ANYWAYS as I finished that prayer…maybe even while I was still praying it - Beatrice (who I just met on Wednesday on the trip to South Africa) sent me a text saying she was picking me up in 20 minutes. From about 11am to 11 pm I spent the day with an amazing group of God-fearing Kenyans (who speak English). They totally accepted me into their home from the very beginning, we ate breakfast together, lunch at a park, took walks, played games, ate dinner together, and there were two beautiful lil girls named Nuru (meaning light) 3 yrs, and Nema (meaning grace)2 yrs who invited me to their birthday party within the first 5 minutes of meeting them and who cuddled with me all day!!! At the end of the day I heard them say a few times "I want to be like Auntie Erica." Along with Auntie I was called sister, adopted daughter and friend. I was totally adopted into their family just when I needed one most. God cares about everything in our lives. Don't hold back your feelings from Him, He is always there and waiting to bless us.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
April 2, 2009
April 2, 2009
Today on my way to SOS orphanage I had 2 proposals of marriage. One of them even confessed that he was "in love" and when I laughed he said "baby you see I fall in love fast…2 minutes!" It was quite funny except that they would not let me off the combi without getting my phone number soooo…Dad, you may be getting some calls from Africa because I gave them yours! In the States something like this would have taken me a week to get over, here it gives me a chuckle to start the morning and is shrugged off within minutes.
Today at SOS I helped one of the family social workers deliver supplies for his beneficiaries(needy families affected or infected with HIV) to build fences around their plots. I really love the program that SOS has created. They do not just deliver groceries every month like many organizations I've found doing, but instead they work with the family and the amount of resources that SOS gives them matches the families willingness to work. SOS starts off giving the family the supplies to make a fence around their house, and teaches them how to do it, then the family is responsible for putting it up. Once the family has the fence up (for some this takes months, for some days) SOS teaches them how to start a garden, once the family has done that, SOS supplies them with seeds, and once the family has a flourishing garden SOS considers meeting other needs that the family is presented with. BUT in order for anything to happen the family has to put in effort. This is important so that the family can eventually become independent of aid.
time for internet has ran out!
LOVE YOU ALL!
Today on my way to SOS orphanage I had 2 proposals of marriage. One of them even confessed that he was "in love" and when I laughed he said "baby you see I fall in love fast…2 minutes!" It was quite funny except that they would not let me off the combi without getting my phone number soooo…Dad, you may be getting some calls from Africa because I gave them yours! In the States something like this would have taken me a week to get over, here it gives me a chuckle to start the morning and is shrugged off within minutes.
Today at SOS I helped one of the family social workers deliver supplies for his beneficiaries(needy families affected or infected with HIV) to build fences around their plots. I really love the program that SOS has created. They do not just deliver groceries every month like many organizations I've found doing, but instead they work with the family and the amount of resources that SOS gives them matches the families willingness to work. SOS starts off giving the family the supplies to make a fence around their house, and teaches them how to do it, then the family is responsible for putting it up. Once the family has the fence up (for some this takes months, for some days) SOS teaches them how to start a garden, once the family has done that, SOS supplies them with seeds, and once the family has a flourishing garden SOS considers meeting other needs that the family is presented with. BUT in order for anything to happen the family has to put in effort. This is important so that the family can eventually become independent of aid.
time for internet has ran out!
LOVE YOU ALL!
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