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!

Facebook: Friend or Foe?

Facebook...it's had such an effect on our culture. In good ways, like connecting with people you would have otherwise lost touch with and for feeling very loved and honored on your birthday and other special occasions. But also in negative ways, such as encouraging "voyeurism" and shallow connections.

We are not designed to maintain hundreds of "friendships" in a meaningful way, so while it's fun to scroll through facebook and see what people are up to, it really doesn't satisfy a deep desire of our hearts for real relationship. It's like if you were sitting on the couch with someone, pouring your heart out, and as you finished, they just looked at you, gave a "thumbs up", and walked away. Well-intentioned I'm sure, but misses the mark relationally.

It makes me wonder, have we become a drive-by society? Are we so busy we only have time for the thumbs-up button, or even less, for just observing/lurking in others' lives? If so, what are we so busy doing??

For the record, I've asked myself these questions too. The answers didn't feel so great. I realized that when I took a look at what I *said* my priorities were, they didn't match up with what I was spending my time doing. For example, I found myself putting off Noelle & Matthew so that I could finish an email. "Hold on guys, Mommy just needs to finish this one thing first." Really?? Could the email not wait until later? And even more, what was the message I was sending to the kids by my actions? All they want is my time and attention- for me to be in the moment with them.

I'm not saying I need to drop everything all the time to cater to my children in a way that teaches them entitlement and unhealthy neediness. I'm saying I came to a realization that caused me to take a good look at what I value in life, and make adjustments in my time accordingly. Not just with the kids, but with my marriage, my family, and my friends.

Put another way, I realized that when I come to the end of my life, I probably won't wish I'd spent more time on Facebook...

Getting Into the Routine

It's back to school time. So long, lazy mornings...hello, alarm clocks and routines. Last school year was challenging, in that I always felt like I was prodding and herding and nagging the kids in the morning and then again in the afternoon when they got home. I'd start with my soft-gentle-sing-songy voice at first, "Time to get up, kids". Then I'd use my Jo-Frost-Supernanny-calm-yet -firm voice, "You need to get up and get ready for school now, or else you'll be late". And finally, I'd resort to my teeth-clenched-while-taking-deep-breaths-so-I-don't -lose it-but-in-actuality-really-losing-it-voice, "GET.UP.NOW!!"

I knew (hoped with all my might) there was a better way, but couldn't come up with any bright ideas on my own.

And then, just at the perfect time (aka- like, the day before yesterday), my friend Brandy posted a blog entry she found that had a free, download-able afternoon routine chart. Here's the link, and a picture of mine I hung in our entry way:

I love that it has pictures and words so that Matthew can follow it on his own too. This same blog also has super-cute morning routine cards, back pack tags, lunch box notes, etc, all for free!

http://www.livinglocurto.com/

As adorable as the morning routine cards on that site were, I was really hoping to find a sticker chart. After quite a bit of searching, I found this one, pictured below: http://www.pricelessparenting.com/Chart-for-Kids.aspx

Not as cute, but I think it will be more useful and motivating for the kids each morning.

The kids are really excited about their new routine charts. Both of them got up this morning without any fuss, and instead of me bird-dogging them about each step, they went back to their charts to see what they needed to do next. And they loved getting to put stickers on the chart after completing each step. I'm not going to jinx this like I did when years ago I proudly proclaimed my child was sleeping through the night, so let's just say I'm cautiously optimistic this will work long-term...

Oh, and I think this is a great example of how we (as parents) are not designed to do this child-raising stuff on our own. Nor should we feel bad about "borrowing" tips and tricks from other parents. If it helps our kids and our sanity, then why not??

So, thank you Brandy and Living Locurto blog lady for giving me back some of my sanity this school year!!

One of Our Traditions...

Matthew just turned five last week, which means it's time for the annual birthday video montage!

I'm so thankful my husband knows his way around video editing software :) He's made yearly videos like this for Noelle & Matthew since they were born. I will treasure them forever!

So, without further ado, here is a 10 minute glance back at the past year of Matthew being four:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By35JX_pqMc