Team Meetings

From now until we leave, our mission team will meet together every Thursday to prepare for our trip. We'll be learning more about the culture and the people we'll be working with. We'll also spend time bonding with each other, praying with each other, and learning how to work as a team.

As far as mission trip teams go, we're a big group...we have approximately 20 people going. It's a great mix of different ages (from high schoolers to grandparents), life stages and perspectives. It's also a bit overwhelming at times for me personally, since I'm such an introvert.

Speaking of overwhelming, I had a moment Wednesday night when I just broke down and cried on Gary's shoulder. I was feeling overwhelmed and underqualified for everything going on in my life right now. It felt like too much to handle. I said something like, "I don't feel like I'm doing anything well right now. I just want to quit everything." As soon as the words left my mouth I knew how silly they were. Thankfully Gary is the level-headed one in our relationship...he listened, talked me down from the ledge, and told me everything would be okay. I shared with him that I was afraid of leaving him and the kids for two weeks, and how sad I was about the fact we'll only have one 3-4 minute phone call while I'm gone. Even though I was a blubbering mess, it felt good to get it all out. Sometimes just getting things out of my head and into the light brings more clarity, perspective, and peace.

Our team meeting last night was great. Our flights and dates for the trip were confirmed. We're flying out of Dallas on Saturday, March 3, with layovers in New York and Amsterdam, before arriving Sunday in Johannesberg. Then, we'll leave South Africa on Thursday, March 15 and arrive back home Friday, March 16.

We also spent time talking about the different projects we'll be involved with while we're there. We'll be volunteering at two different feeding programs in the communities of Dwaleni and Mbonsweni, preparing and serving food. We're going to spend time with the kids in these communities (approximately 600 kids show up for food and love at these feedings)...we're planning to hand out goody bags to ALL of them. We'll also work with and invest in the youth there. These are just a few of the things we'll be doing while we're there; I'm sure it's going to be busy, active, exhausting, emotionally draining, and FUN!!

Thanks to all of you for joining along with me on this adventure...for your overwhelming interest, support, prayers and love. I couldn't do it without you!

Countdown to South Africa

It's still hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact I'm going to South Africa, much less that I'll be there in a little over FOUR weeks!






Here are some quick facts about the area in which we'll be staying:

• White River is a small farming town in South Africa. It's approximately 180 miles from Johannesburg, and located very close to Kruger National Park: http://www.krugerpark.com/allanimals.aspx. One of the days of our trip will be spent touring Kruger, and hopefully spotting the "Big Five" animals of Africa: the African Elephant, Rhinoceros, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and the Lion.
  
  



• The seasons are flip-flopped from the U.S., so I'll be there as Summer is transitioning to Fall. Fall in South Africa is mild, with warm, sunny days, and balmy nights. That's my kind of weather!
  
  



• During the trip, we'll be staying at the Ten Thousand Homes base working together with the staff and volunteers: http://www.tenthousandhomes.org/ This non-profit organization does amazing work bringing hope and homes to a generation of kids and young adults who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS, Malaria, disease and violence.
  

Why I'm Going to South Africa

This is my first time going on a mission trip, so I'm a little nervous. I've never been away from my family that long and I don't know quite yet how we're going to swing child care for the kids since I'm a stay-at-home mom by profession :) . I'm also intimidated by the amount of money that this trip is going to cost, and how soon that money is due: $2,000 total, with half of that needed by February 1st in order to book airfare. One thing I do know for sure is that if I wait for all of the logistics and finances to align perfectly, then I'll NEVER go.

Here are a few of the reasons why I'm going:

- A couple of years ago, I heard a group from our church share about their trip to South Africa. I've always supported other people going on these mission trips, both financially and in prayer, but when I heard this particular group share, my heart broke for the people in South Africa impacted by the one-two punch of disease and poverty. It was one of those moments when "I knew that I knew that I knew". I knew I loved these people I'd never met, I knew I couldn't turn a blind eye, and I knew I had to go. Since then, New Hope has had two more teams go on mission trips to South Africa, but I didn't feel that "knowing" pull to go, which was a little frustrating and confusing. Then, this past summer while listening to a song entitled "Love" by Chris Tomlin and minding my own business :) , I was overwhelmed with emotion and in that moment I knew without a doubt that I was supposed to go on the next trip. The funny thing was, there was no trip to South Africa scheduled yet! So, for six months I've been waiting as patiently as I can for this trip to come, trusting that the timing would work out. So, March 1st-15th, it is!

- I was given up for adoption at birth. Born in America, I was well cared for in a loving foster home until my wonderful parents adopted me. Many kids who are orphaned in Africa have a vastly different experience: extreme poverty, rampant disease, unclean water. My heart aches for children who have lost both of their parents to HIV/AIDS. Many times, the oldest child in the family has to assume the role of mom and dad, providing for their family and emotionally bearing burdens that far exceed their age and ability. Unless conditions change, this cycle will continue. I see the need, and I desperately want to help.

- I am passionate about enlarging my sense of family and community. I could stay pretty comfortable and content staying within a five mile radius of my house: my family, friends, church, and Target :) are all here. But I know there’s more I’m supposed to do with the resources and opportunities I’ve been given.

Another part of enlarging my sense of community is being intentional about asking others to partner with me for this trip. Asking for help, especially in the area of money, is way out of my usual comfort zone. I know I can't do it alone, though, and I'd love to have you join me on this journey and give you an opportunity to make a difference from right where you are.

Would you consider being part of my personal team? Moral support, prayer support, and financial support are all needed :) . If you are interested in being a financial supporter, you can give via the secure PayPal "donate" button on the upper right side of this web page OR post a comment here/contact me and I will send you a pre-stamped envelope in which to mail your donation and get your tax deduction.

Thank you for reading this and for thoughtfully considering how you can partner with me on this adventure. I can't wait to see what happens!


"Love is an attempt to change a piece of a dream-world into reality." -Henry David Thoreau


Here's a link to the video of the song "Love" featuring the Watoto Childrens Choir: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNsm9AHAJsU

New Hope website: http://www.newhopechristian.org

South Africa

I'm really excited to share with you that this March I will be going to South Africa! For two weeks I will be teaming up with a group from our church, New Hope, to work with a wonderful organization called Ten Thousand Homes (TTH). TTH is a non-profit that brings hope and homes to children and families that have been affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I'm so excited to work with this group and support them as they build homes, provide feeding programs and care centers, and forge genuine relationships in their community.

Check them out: http://www.tenthousandhomes.org/

Over the next several weeks our team will meet regularly to prepare for our trip, and I'll be learning more about South Africa and the people we'll be working with and serving.

I'll be posting more here on the blog, so stay tuned!