Wordless Wednesday.

Children's Month.

May was Children's Month at the church that I attended in Mbonisweni. My friend, Kacy spoke at church about the importance of loving and caring for your children, and the difference it makes in their lives and hearts. My friend, Anda, who traveled to Africa with me, is an amazing artist who brought her skills and talents with her and incorporated them into Kacy's sunday message. Anda had the idea of creating a mosaic, that everyone in the church will get to be a part of, starting with the children. She chose to design a tree, representing each and every part of a family, starting with the roots representing the fathers, the trunk of the tree and its branches to represents the mothers, and the fruit of the tree to represent the children. This month is Youth Month, and my idea for the youths involvement was that they were to be the background of the mosaic, meaning that they were to be the positive surroundings that surround the children of the community who lead them in the right directions.

So, we started with the children. After Kacy's message during the church service, with the help of the pastor and his translating skills, we invited five children at a time to chose a parent or adult to go up to the front of the church with them and help them put their piece on the mosaic, and asked that the adults speak love and kind, promising words to the children, allowing them to truly feel loved and cared for. The process went beautifully. As each child walked up one by one to place their piece of art down, you could see and feel the love that was flowing out over them, some for the very first time ever.

This month, the youth have started their part in the mosaic, filling in the background with broken pieces of tile. I find it ironic in the way that some of the youth are so completely broken, some not having parents to raise them or a safe home to live in, and however, with Gods love and the love of others in the community, they can rise up, learn the true difference between what is right and what is wrong, and in the end, create a positive atmosphere to help raise the children of the community the right way. The staff members of Ten Thousand Homes have written prayers and words of encouragement on the background of the mosaic before the youth get to place their tile down and cover the background. Stay tuned to see the mosaic come together!

Birthday Blessings.

Today is a very special day, not only here in America, but also in South Africa. Today, my boyfriend and I are celebrating our three year dating anniversary together, and it is also his 28th birthday. Divide 28 in half and what do you get? 14! The age that two very special twins in South Africa turned today, as well.

Samkelo and Bongani, HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY!

These boys are the sweetest, and I mean THE SWEETEST 14 year old twins you'll ever meet. Growing up in a household without a father figure, these boys have learned their manners and responsibilities all on their own, from opening doors for the ladies, helping to raise their niece and nephews properly, washing cars to earn money to buy seeds to plant in their very own garden and fetching water for the family to cook and bathe with.

While visiting at their house the day before we had to come back home, the boys were ecstatic about showing off their garden and insisted that we plant some sprouts ourselves. We watched as Samkelo rushed around, creating rows to place our sprouts in while barking orders in Siswati at his brother for him to bring the watering can.

After myself, my aunt and our friend Anda planted our sprouts in the boys' garden, Samkelo announced that it was now "our family garden", and boy did my heart melt. It was at that time, that I truly felt at home. To know these boys for just two weeks and to have them and their entire family accept us as their family was such a wonderful feeling. Their aunt, Zodwa asked me if I was ever going to come back and visit, and to make a promise in their culture is a big deal... if you can't fulfill that promise, don't make it... but I looked at her and said, "I promise, sesi", meaning "I promise sister." I've already made an impact on this family and they have done the same to me, why would I not go back to visit them?

Happy Birthday, sweet boys! Have a blessed day!

What can YOU do with $20?

Today on my lunch break, I went around town to a few resale shops and managed to purchase 5 t-shirts, one hoodie and a new-ish pair of little boys dress shoes, ALL for less than $20.

Seeing as how I have no children of my own to be buying these clothes for, I'm sure you are all wondering, "Who are the clothes for?!"
I'll show you who....

Meet Siyabonga.

Is he perfect or what?!

I met Siyabonga at the very first feeding that I helped with in Mbonisweni. He was one of the first children to arrive at the church and I was the first person he ran up to to play with and get big, white girl smooches and snuggles from. He was the sweetest, most perfect little guy there and I instantly connected with him.

For the rest of the week, up until that following Wednesday, I was so anxious to go back and play with Siyabonga again. We arrived at the next weeks feeding early to prepare the vegetables for the meal that was being prepared for the children who would arrive once they got out of school. After everything was chopped and ready for cooking, the team members and I relaxed in the shade while we waited for the children to show up. Siyabonga just so happened to be the first child there, along with a younger boy that he had brought with him. I was so excited to see him that I ran right up to him and snatched him up into a bearhug. These boys were emotionless. We couldn't figure out what was going on with them, but the fact that they were the first ones there, before all of the other children, was a good sign that they may not have been in school that day, leading to the thought that something may be happening at home. And then there was the idea that these boys may not even HAVE a proper home or family. The language barrier made things hard because we were unable to find out what was wrong with these sweet boys, and the looks on their faces were almost unbearable.

At one point during the feeding, while all of the other children are jumping rope and having a blast, Siyabonga came up to me and set the little boy, who we believe may be his little brother, in my lap, while he knelt down beside us with his arm around me. I tried everything I could to get the poor little boy to smile. I tickled him to pieces but couldn't get as much as a grin out of him. These poor boys broke my heart.

Throughout the rest of the day, anytime you saw Siyabonga, you'd see him holding hands with his little brother, walking around with absolute blank looks on their faces. I felt so helpless. I didn't know what had happened or how I could help, the only thing I could think of to do was look them in the eyes and say "Ngiyakutsandza" and "Jesu uya kutsandza" which are Siswati for "I Love You" and "Jesus Loves You." I got no response, but I knew that they understood.

At one point I went into the church for five minutes, and when I came back out, my boys had already left and I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to them. Probably my biggest regret in South Africa.
My friend Kacy, who is part of Ten Thousand Homes, is working to find out more about Siyabonga for me. I know nothing about this child, but cannot seem to shake his face from my mind.

Which brings me back to my $20 purchase. One of Kacy's cousins is going to visit her in South Africa this month, so I am going to be sending her a package of clothes and pictures for her to take with her to Africa. Kacy told me that she is going to try and find out more about Siyabonga and personally deliver my package to him at his home. This little boy is very special. I wish I could be there to help out first hand, but until I can go back this is what I have come up with.
So now, it looks like I have two perfect children of my own to sponser and learn about along the way.

Wordless Wednesday.

In the words of Blessing.

This is Blessing. Blessing's father is the pastor of the church I attended in Mbonisweni. While we were busy chopping vegetables for the feeding that was going to be held at the church later that day, Blessing decided to come over and do some entertaining.

Cutest thing ever.

Ruth's Story

Meet Ruth.

Ruth is a single mom of two precious boys living in a home made of scrap aluminum, wood and other various found materials. This home was only a temporary home, until she was able to build herself a new, safe home for her and her children. After losing her job, this home became a little more than temporary. After miraculously withstanding 7 years of South African weather, a storm blew through, destroying Ruth's home. But Ruth stayed strong and managed to rebuild the collapsed sections of her home.

During my stay with Ten Thousand Homes, I got the pleasure of going with the team to share with Ruth some wonderful news-- they are going to start building her a new home! I could hardly contain the excitement of sharing such great news with such a deserving woman and getting to see her face light up when she heard the news, but when we got to her home and heard the news that she had for us, my heart sank. Right when she greeted us, she began to tell us that she was very sad and had just heard of some bad news... she had just found out that her grandmother had passed away that morning and she was preparing to go to her house and begin making arrangements with her family. You could feel the sadness in her heart. We gathered together and prayed for her and told her our good news. Before finding out about her grandmother, I expected her to be jumping up and down and crying tears of joy over the news of her new home, but she seemed emotionless. Although very grateful to finally have the safe home she had been praying for for years, the happiness seemed unable to break through her sorrows.

Ruth gave us a tour of the home she had been trying to build for herself... the very place that just a little more than a week later, would start to actually look like a home, with a door and windows. Before the end of my stay in South Africa, we went to Ruth's house to see how the progress of the construction was going.

Here is the start of Ruth's new home:

I saw this experience as two women receiving two new homes. While Ruth's grandmother has gone to her new Home in heaven, her grand-daughter has also received the gift of a new, sturdy home here on Earth. I feel honored to have been able to have a part in this story and am anxious to see the rest of it unfold. Ruth has asked for prayer to find work so she is able to provide for her malnourished children. Join me in praying for Ruth and her family's health and well-being during their hard times and pray that God blesses her beyond belief!

Making a Difference.

During my stay in South Africa, I went to four feedings. Hundreds of children come to a feeding to be served one meal, maybe the only meal they get all day. Maybe even all week. During one feeding, I was in charge of serving cups of juice at the end of the food line. I'd say roughly 300 children showed up. The line seemed to be never-ending, and while I was amazed at how many children were getting fed with what seemed like so little, they eventually ran out of food to serve. The last few plates to be served were simply just a few spoonfuls of juice in the bottom of a pot of beans. A good 30 kids were left hungry, without a meal or even as little as one bean. I asked what we were going to do, and a lady looked at me and said, "Give the rest of them juice." Juice. Sugary, insufficient juice. My heart ached for these children. If there had just been ONE MORE pot of vegetables, these children would have gotten to eat.



$5 a month feeds one child. Could you manage that? Could you stand to spare $5 or $10 a week that would normally be spent on overpriced coffee, or a dessert that you are too full to even finish? (Don't get me wrong, Starbucks and sweets are two of my weaknesses.) Any contribution, whether it be big or small makes a difference. A HUGE difference. I have added a donation link to the side of this blog, in hopes that anyone who feels it in their heart to make a contribution, will. I am also brainstorming different ways that I can come up with money to send to my friends at Ten Thousand Homes, the organization that I stayed with while I visited. Dusting off my sewing machine and selling homemade bags, coin pouches, headbands or clothes, having garage sales to raise money to send to Africa, praying that I come in contact with genuine people who want to make a difference, just doing anything that I can do to help. Homes need to be built and children need to be fed and clothed. While I cannot be there now, I am determined to help out from afar, with anyone else who is willing and kind enough to share with those in need.

Awareness

...is what I wish to instill in each and every person that reads and shares this blog. The awareness of the many empty tummy's needing to be fed. The awareness of the bare feet, callused and in desperate need of shoes. Awareness of those living in a self made home of scrap metal, praying for a safe and sturdy home. South Africa. A land that will be a part of me forever. We can't all drop what we're doing to travel and help out first hand, but we CAN make a difference from afar. I have decided to create this blog to share my stories and photos of my experiences in Africa. Although these stories and photos cannot do near as much justice as I would like for them to, they can help to create awareness here in our hometowns in America.



The organization I stayed and worked with for two weeks is Ten Thousand Homes. TTH works to create a sense of hope and belonging, and builds homes for and helps to feed the orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa. During my stay, I met so many incredible people and team members, providing for and changing the lives of others, in countless ways. Immediately I was hooked. I'm destined to continue to help out, even while I am back at home, and am determined to spread knowledge and share stories in order to make others aware. I ask that you pray for the children and families in need and for the members of Ten Thousand Homes, share my blog and my story with as many people possible and seek to become more aware.