In my last blog update I dropped a little hint that I want to share not just quietly but really I want to shout it out at the top of my lungs!
I have decided to stay in South Africa!
Wow! It is not a decision I have made lightly, believe me! I have prayed a lot... And many others have been praying with me on this as well! I have talked through my different options with my family, mentor and other leaders and we have all come to the same conclusion that this is the best place for me to be right now! I am so excited about it, can you tell??
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I just have to tell you some very cool things that have happened in this process. There are some ways that I believe that we know we are where we should be in what we do and two of those are affirmation and support or means. I’m sure you have heard the phrase before “Where God Guides, God Supplies.” Well, thats how my dad says it at least. So after receiving affirmation from my family and leaders around me I made my decision. Now, it was time to wait and see how God supplies and how.
We began to put together a simple budget and find out what the minimum would be for me to make my yearly commitment here. Even before I sent out one support letter or blog or even began to really tell many people about my decision, God had already moved people to support me. I am blown away because even before I got on my return plane to South Africa my basic support needs were already covered. I have to say... That's amazing and a huge God move!
After returning to South Africa and looking at all the adjusting that needs to be made from moving to long term from short term I find that there are some additional needs. As a short term volunteer one doesn't have to worry much about transportation. Because of the length of ones stay one really doesn’t have to really be anywhere else. However, after living here a while I have seen the need for being able to get around with out having to always borrow a car. After a while you start to always feel that burden of trying to find a ride everywhere you have to go. Remember, its not like we are in the middle of a town or near safe public transportation.
I would really like to get more involved with my church out here, run errands for the baby house, be a possible 2nd vehicle for Dr. and hospitals runs with the babies and be able to find reliable internet on my off days.
So, with that in mind I would like to start a car fun to raise enough money to purchase a car here along with insurance and petrol. A realistic number is ten thousand dollars US. My plan is to use the car for as long as I am here in South Africa and then when my time here is complete I would then donate the car to the Refilwe community.
If you believe you are lead to help out with this need or help in my general need of support, please email me here whit.eitzen@gmail.com. I am also working on a Paypal account so if you check back in next week I will have more information on that. : )
All donations through Valley Bible Church are Tax Deductible.
Another thing the Lord has been showing me about this year is His Kindness. I feel like the Lord continues to send me blessings in incredible ways. Just recently I was very humbled. I kinda was throwing a mini tantrum to God and complaining. The next day God blessed me with more that I could have ever hoped for with the very thing I had been complaining about. Talk about a humbling moment for my ungrateful heart but also a cool moment too. I felt like God was able to whisper “hey I love you, I want to bless you.” Ever have a moment like that?
What has started out as a 6 month journey is now approaching 2 years. I never would have imagined that this is where I would be living or what i would be doing with my life. I really would not want it any other way. I have the best “Job” in the whole world. What else would I want to do?!
I am really excited about 2015. I have some cool opportunities this year. I will be continuing to work at the baby house and care for my 12 little Monkey’s. Everyone is getting so big and continuing to show me new things everyday. We recently had four birthdays in three and a half weeks. What a joy it is to celebrate my kiddos and blessing they are to us. We officially have Two 2 years olds, Two 18 month olds, Five 1 year olds and a 10, 9 and 8 month old. Busy is an understatement lol.
In June I have been accepted to a four week internship with an organization called Impact Africa (IA). IA is an organization about 10 minutes from Refilwe. We work with them a lot in many different areas. They have a baby rescue center and 4 of the babies in my house currently come from their organization. Most notably, my precious sweet girl came from this organization.
The Internship cover 4 weeks and 4 different aspects of the non-profit. I will get to see their Preschool, hang out with teens from Kaya Sans settlement, get trained in shack to shack ministries where we will walk through Diepsloot and talk to people about Jesus and finally, counseling and praying for mothers in the community.
I am really excited to learn and be stretched, humbled and mostly learn more about my Heavenly Father. I know this will be a great training experience for me. I will get hands on experience with a different organization, new volunteer teams, new communities and new outreach programs.
Baby House News
I am really excited to share about some upcoming adoptions next month! Many answered prayers that my babies can be united with their forever families!
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