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When I’m Not Enough
“Forgetting what the word has told me Father of love, you can have me.” -Sidewalk Prophets I was so excited for college—for a new start, new friends, and new experiences; but let’s be real, the height of my excitement revolved around moving from a pool of high school boys to an ocean of new men.
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When Dreams Come True
The dream. It began in an attic room that I shared with my roommate, Kim. With every picture of an orphan and video of missions trips, my heart caved. With every internet search for my own mission trip, my fingers trembled. When I first read the word, “Swaziland,” I laughed out loud. Is that for
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Moments Like That
Because there’s no way I can simply summarize all that happened the last two weeks in Swazi, here are the snippets of when… God is Present in Moments like That *In the midst of a country that I love with a mission that I am called to, I was reminded by a high school girl
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Called to Chase
We all need pick-me-ups every now and then. One of the greatest encouragements I received this trip was a short yet powerful message from Rachael: I was hungry, you fed me. I was naked, you clothed me. I was
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Week of Highlights
A review of the previous week… Sunday highlights: Kayla brought some frisbees, so Sebe and Sindi joined our team in a game of frisbee football up and down the dirtroad… It was a lot of fun, but we had to call it a tie because it was getting dark. That night, I spent time with
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Much to Celebrate
Simple celebrations We added some structure to the routine in the house for the girls so that Mondays and Wednesdays are bible study days, Tuesdays/Thursdays are skill building days, and Fridays are activity days. The purpose of these activities are to create better unity and community among the girls themselves along with Titi and Gogo,
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Miracles in the Making
Because I have been busily occupied with our incredible team, I haven’t had much time to dig into the relationships with my girls. My teammates, being as supportive and empowering as they are, encouraged me to get some time alone with them, so I took full advantage. For a morning I took Tenele and Ayanda
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True Beauty
After a plane ride from Chicago to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Paris (a full day layover which included a picnic and nap at the base of the Eiffel Tower!), and Paris to Johannesburg, we packed the shuttle bus with all eleven of us and embarked on a five hour bus ride home to Swaziland. We arrived
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My Place in this World
“The place that God calls us is the place where the world’s deep hunger and our deep desire meet.” -Frederick Buechner Ever since I set foot in Swaziland in 2008, I knew it would hold my heart forever. I know the Lord has called me there for a specific purpose, and ever since I came
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A Broken World Made Whole
(1-16-13) I live in brokenness every day, for my job exists in a broken world. I am a teacher but I am more. I can’t leave work at work, because when they are broken, so am I. No, I can’t take all their burdens, I can’t make it all go away, I can’t be their
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Worth Fighting For
With the opening of Hope for Life home came the miracle I’ve been waiting and praying for since 2008 when I first met the girl I now call, umtfwana wami. Since most of you reading have been following my Tenele story for the past few years, you all know how incredible it is that we
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Hosea’s Heart Answering the Cry: “Please, make me something.”
Three years ago, Bongiwe begged me in a letter, “Please, make me something.” She wasn’t asking for material things, for money, for food, etc. She was crying out for hope. Now three years later, this plea that started the dream behind Hosea’s Heart has now turned into a praise. For the past year, donors
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Who I Am — Poems from Swazi Students
“I feel depressed about hatred, poverty, and prostitution.” -Celane, male, age 14 I Am Poem from Thulile, age 15: “I was a young girl looking for purpose in life. I am a young girl who knows what life is…it’s too difficult, but people don’t know what is life, they keep doing wrong things. I feel
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The Voice of Truth
Two things I don’t know what I’d do without: Skype and Christina Hostetter. I finally got to hear directly from Swaziland today from Ayanda and Tenele! I told them the day I’d be getting to Swazi this summer and their giggles and squeals lit up my heart! “Ah, Mama…I hear your voice, now I want
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Letter to my Lilies
To My Precious Daughter, You are called to be a lily among thorns. You are called to excellence amidst a world of mediocrity. You are called to live a life worthy of true love. You are called to wait—to wait for this true love. Enduring patience is the key to this excellence. Too many people
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Simple Fingerprints
Some people come into our lives for but a moment, only to leave fingerprints on our hearts forever. Sister Mary Jane is a woman I knew for only a few months of my life while I lived Swaziland. Although we didn’t interact much, the moments when we did were always impactful. Sr. Mary Jane was
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That Man Took My Life
This may be just a story to you, but this is a precious life to me. She doesn’t want to share her name, but she said I could share her story (words in brackets are mine): One day I was coming from school with one of my friend. A man came and ask us a
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The World is not Meant for You
“The world is not meant for you.” Her own mother told her she shouldn’t even be alive. The seemingly joyful reunion between Tenele and her real mother turned bitter while I was in Swazi over Thanksgiving break. It was Lucia’s first birthday, so we were going to celebrate together at Tenele’s homestead with her mother
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Happy Thanksgiving from Swazi
Happy Thanksgiving from Swazi! Obviously they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Swaziland, or any other country for that matter. So the whole rule of thumb that you can’t celebrate Christmas before Thanksgiving is non-existent. Santa Claus has been planted in the local grocery store for weeks and you can hear Christmas music every once in awhile.
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Longest Week: Day Two and Three
Monday morning started with a lovely reunion at Enjabulweni! I went to deliver letters that my students back the in States had written to their pen pals. Unfortunately, it was actually the worst week for me to try to deliver letters because the students are writing exams this week, which means they don’t actually have
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