“If you had to send one of us away, like take one of us out of Hosea’s Heart, and you had to pick one of us… who would you pick?” One of my teenagers sprang the question on me and caught me off guard. I think she noticed my frown of confusion because she continued without allowing […]

As we rounded the corner, I took in a sharp breath. My chest suddenly felt suffocated like a heavy blanket had been thrown over my face. This time, it wasn’t from the shock of the humidity. For, when I had left Swaziland, it was “winter” but when I arrived in Thailand, I was hit with […]

If someone would’ve told me that six years after starting Hosea’s Heart, I’d be buying one of my daughters off the street, I would’ve said, “No way. You’re crazy. Count me out! I can’t put my heart through that kind of meat grinder.” Yet, here I am, slumped in confusion and agony, holding nothing but […]

2008 – I met a twelve-year-old, front-tooth missing, phonily happy teenage girl who ripped the heart right out of my chest. But in its place, God put His heart for her. And so she became “umntfwana wami” (my child) ever since. 2009 – I returned to Swazi to find “my child,” was nowhere to be found. “You […]

“How are you doing, Ayanda?” the flight attendant in charge of an entirely different section of our plane came over to check on the ecstatic and terrified young woman sitting next to me. Ayanda has that magnetic effect on people. “Good, good!” she beamed from ear to ear while catching her breaths. “What do you […]

Dear Kate, It is my very nature to be 100% honest, and this is no exception. Sometimes the truth hurts, but you need to hear it. Though I enjoy being sought after, the truth is you will never win me. I am not a game, a scoreboard, a reward, or an achievement. I am like […]

  Once upon a time I let you have your say You tortured me with lies I believed you anyway You taught me how to drown my pain To run away from “fear” But when I chased your promises I lost everything I held dear I lived like I was unlovable As you reminded me […]

It used to be just a normal, unimportant street corner. Whether I was walking or driving past, it meant nothing. Until about six months ago. The first time I saw them, I thought maybe they were waiting for ride. It’s not the usual “working” corner. I knew those corners. This was not one of them. […]