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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

“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 […]

(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 […]

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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]