WORLD AIDS DAY

TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IS WORLD AIDS DAY. I just want to encourage you all to get as involved as possible. If nothing else, spend the day educating yourself on AIDS and read some statistics. (Here's one for you: 15 yr olds in South Africa currently have a 70% chance of contracting the HIV virus in their lifetime.) I'm sure there are many ways to get involved in your area, and I hope you take advantage of this opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Introductions: Corine (director/ Rev./ nurse/ Harley Queen)

Introductions: "Teacher" Patience & Dr. Karl

Introductions: Cindy

Introductions: Pauline (who is back in Chicago now)

home

finally!

Well, since I don't have much to say at the present time, I'm going to catch you all up on some of the basics. The easiest way to do that is through photos, which I am finally able to post! So here goes...

You are my hiding place

As time goes by, there is really too much to say. Things here are getting very overwhelming... and there is nowhere to find relief. Thus, this week I have been forced to rely on God more than ever. I've cried with Him, talked with Him, walked with Him. It is so much nicer than doing it on my own. So, while life gets more difficult every day... He comforts me.
I am also comforted in knowing that I am right where I'm supposed to be. No matter how frustrating things get, there is no doubt in my mind that this is exactly where God wants me. That is extremely encouraging. I can actually see how my whole life has led me to this moment... especially my experiences in the last few years. Living in Australia, being a summer camp counselor, working at an inner city Chicago high school... it is unbelievable how things have tied together... and how God has trained me and prepared my heart. I really think that's what life is: A succession of purposeful and intentional events, as long as we are allowing ourselves to be used by God. In the insane jigsaw of my life, things are actually fitting together. I wonder what the picture of my life will look like when the puzzle is complete. (I pray it's the face of Christ)

When it rains, it pours.

sooo, my birthday was surprisingly nice!

I received about a dozen beautiful birthday cards from the kids, Corine brought me gifts, and Cindy (my new roomate who has worked here for the last 4 years) and Merrie (the 2 wk. volunteer social worker from the UK) took me out to dinner. I had experienced several difficult days, so I was very relieved to have such an enjoyable day. Since then, things have been a bit better. It's been raining nonstop here for about 3 days, and when it rains in South Africa... it POURS. "The rains came down and the floods came up" very quickly. Anyway, I've noticed that this can also be related to other areas here.... emotionally, when it rains at Sparrow, it POURS. When things get rough here, it's easy to feel very lonely. I have this constant struggle of trying to do things on my own... or letting God take care of me. In the last few days, I've tried drawing closer to Him... and He has not let me down. I once read a church sign that said, "When God reigns, it pours." I think I'll focus on this latter concept.
I've decided to start a girls' bible study/ mentor group. The older girls are so desperate to fill the voids in their lives. We actually have one 17-yr old who is pregnant. These girls really have no model of what a Godly young woman is. It's interesting that everyone here seems to be religious, but I don't know how many actually understand what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. These kids have been fed so much rubbish their whole lives: being abused by their own parents, being told by pastors that they have HIV because they are evil, being told by their teachers that they're "BAD." Everything that has been sown in these kids' lives is now being harvested... Making work at Sparrow very complex. How can you expect them to act "normally?" This past week I have seen a lot more of where the kids are coming from: the types of places they've lived, their personal stories... Things are starting to make more sense... and I'm actually amazed that these children have come so far.
There are so many stories to tell... I hope to get to a few of them, at least. I promise to post more pictures soon, which are worth a thousand words each... so that should tell a few stories, right?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

well, i wanted to see that phrase at least once today. hehehe. yes, it's my birthday. and let's just say, i'm realizing how small i am... something that these poor kids have understood (all too well) for a long time. more of Him, less of me... it's a painful process.

love you all... i'll let you know how this goes...

Not for the faint of heart.

So, I know I just got done saying that I needed to be less morbid, but I just need to share this with you. I want you all to get a good look at Nothando. She is my statistic. Nothando is the face of the AIDS pandemic, and I'm going to do all that i can to make sure that she and all the other millions are not forgotten. In order to put an end to this, we will all have to take some personal responsibility for it. When you look at this picture, please ask yourself what this means to you, in your own life.

thank you

Still don't have much to say, but I would just like to thank everyone for your sweet words of encouragement through your e-mails and blog comments. It's easy to feel alone here, but I am so comforted knowing that I have the prayer support of many... Thanks for the reminders (that I am never alone). You have no idea how much it means to me.