It has never taken me this long to think of what to write.  Yet, I still don’t know how to summarize what has been going on this past month and a half.  Major things have happened, like my parents coming to visit, Tenele’s mile markers, and starting my new teaching job.  There are just too […]

“Keep me as the apple of your eye…” “Now I can see…”“I came from darkness but now I’m in His light…”“I let satan have control but never again…”“I was nothing, but now I’m something…”“I know I can be a good mom…”“I should forgive my mother…” She wrote numerous statements like these that filled pages and […]

Can you solve this riddle? What is…? intelligent, holy, unique manifold, subtle, agile,  clear, unstained, certain,  unhampered, beneficent, firm,  all-powerful, all-seeing, pervading all spirits… “She penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.  For she is an aura of the might of God, and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty… […]

Knock, knock!  I rolled my eyes and sighed at the all-too constant knock on my bedroom door.  Is there really nowhere I can escape to be alone just for five minutes?! I thought to myself.  The door opened without me answering. “Mama Kate?” Nokwanda came in the room without an invitation.  “What, Nokwanda?” I said […]

While on vacation in Mozambique for 10 days, I spent a lot of time in Scripture, Christian books, and in prayer.  Every day during the week, a thought kept coming to mind about dedicating a morning of silence to God to be still and listen for Him.  I kept pushing the thought aside, thinking Rachel, […]

“Mama Kate, where’s make(mom)?” Lucia tugged on my skirt one day. “She’s at her place,” I answered.“At her place…” she echoed, just as she repeats everything I say.  She looked at me with sad eyes.“Should we go see her today?” I asked.“Yes!” she jumped up and down. Isn’t it amazing how forgiving, pure, and loving […]

After certain episodes from specific girls in the home, I realized that I had to make something very clear to everyone.  “I am not your savior.  We (including Rachel and Kiley) are not your saviors.  There is only One Savior, and trust me, it’s not me.”  We explained this to the girls during bible study […]

It’s Tuesday.  If this were a normal day, I wouldn’t know how to describe it, because here there is no such thing as a typical day.  But I wanted to give you a glance into what a single day of life might look like.  So here’s a peak into a not so typical Tuesday.                 […]

With the burden of Tenele and taking on the mothering role of her two kids, I had felt my energy depleting.  Negativity had taken over me; certain things about Swazi that I once appreciated started irritating me more and more, and I was even getting aggressive in my slight hint of road rage (I like […]

I’ve been told, “Love always wins.”  I’ve read over and over 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is patient, love is kind…love never fails.”  But what happens if it does?  Or when it does?  What happens when love really isn’t enough? Living alongside these girls in their daily joys and struggles is truly an incredible experience.  Obviously, […]