Whit in South Africa: June Update

Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire.. jack-frost nipping at your nose..yuletide carols being sung by a choir.. and folks, dressed up like Eskimos, everybody now, a turkey and some mistletoe .. helps to make the season bright…
Oh wait, is Christmas not almost here? It feels like it anyway…in any case Christmas Music is always appropriate despite what my father thinks ; ) And since today is my Birthday, I declare that you may listen to Christmas music. Just because its the best lol…….. your welcome. : ) It sure is cold this side and winter is in full swing. I definitely think it will be a much colder winter than last year

Thank you for all the support last month with my mom. My mom is doing okay and transitioning well I believe. I am even in a better head space. I really appreciate God not letting me sit in my own frustrations too long. That following Sunday was a day for restoration with a Celebration Sunday, solid sermon that night and good conversations throughout the whole weekend that were very challenging and encouraging.

Mothers Day Tea with the Girls

LB is getting so big!

J is getting SO Big!!

I am writing super early this month because I leave for my IA (Impact Africa) Internship in 3 days!!!!!!!!!!! Ill be moving about 20 min away from Refilwe to be trained by the IA team for about 3 1/2 weeks (15/6- 10/7). Ill be joined by 8 girls from all over America. As it gets closer my nerves have really kicked in. I start thinking about all the ways it going to be hard instead of how God can move in my heart.
-How am I going to survive with 8 Girls! ( I get to meet 8 girls who love Jesus and learn how to love and bless them)
-I am going to miss my babies soooo much! ( I get a visit day half way through and they will still be there and love me. I can always call )
-I am going to be put in a lot of uncomfortable situations ( I will be put in situations where I get to rely on my heavenly father and be refined to look a little more like Jesus everyday)

Under all the nerves, I am really excited for this new adventure and It will be cool to tell you in July how silly all my fears were and the cool ways God moved in Diepsloot.

Its been a really slow time here at the house. We still have 2 spots open and so do other baby homes. It is great to think that maybe abandonment is going down? Or I wonder where the babies are being left where they are not being found…

We still have 2 babies that are pending adoptions. We keep hearing these two are next. They are going to be matched. Hopefully they will be gone by _____. Ill I can think about it hopefully they will be with a family by Christmas! 2 more of our babies have entered in a very complicated situation within their adoption process. We need our Heavenly Father to move some big mountains so they can be with a forever family. Lots of prayers please!

AB got her hair done

K is walking like a Pro

Last week I got to read an update from our first International adoption, S (also known as giggles). He moved to the Netherlands in March 2014. The update was a Year old but all of us at the house crave for any sort of news so we read it with lots smiles and awww’s. Even three months of being with his family he would shout “mama” and “papa” when they would get him out of bed. It makes my heart so happy and that was a whole year ago.

Minnie Mouse and I

K likes sleeping with his feet out lol

Also this month, on the 19th, I am celebrating my two year anniversary of being a missionary here in South Africa. I still can’t believe that I can say I am a missionary in South Africa… what?! I remember having a conversation with a friend, back when I was around 11, about if God asked me to go to Africa i wouldn't mind while she was completely horrified at the idea. I think that might have been a first glimpse into what God would ask me to do.

I could probably talk for hours about all the things i have learned, all the times I felt like i was on Top of the world and all the times I felt like I was shattered pieces of myself on the floor. The Times that God has literally had to pick me up some mornings and times that God renewed my strength ( Isaiah 40:13). In December I wrote out some things that I had Learned in the last year and a half about myself, South Africa and My heavenly father called “18 Memories in 18 Months”. Please Check in out! In the last 6 months I definitely could add many more things to that List but, for the length of this blog sake I just want to add just one. I feel like since the beginning of the year God has really been teaching me about John 10. Specifically verses 25-30

²⁵Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, ²⁶but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. ³⁰I and the Father are one.”

What I find ironic is someone has asked me twice about this very thing God has been teaching me about this year and I have given the same very lame answer (I don't know why) so here is my redemption answer: ( I hope he reads this!)

I cant remember If I heard this in a Sermon, book, blog, or article but it was this idea of hearing God when he talks to us. We can recognize our parents voice from across a crowded room because we spend a lot of time with our parents and we love them. We can pull their voices out from dozens of people. Kind of the same concept with God. If we build a relationship with him and spend time with him (quiet time, prayer, meditation etc.) then we should know Gods voices even from our own desires and thoughts. I can’t tell you how many times I would Pray about something and think I get an answer then have to ask if it really was God or just my own thoughts and ask for conformation. Then ask for conformation 5 more times before I would do it. I was always so envious of people when they would talk about their conversations with God like they were talking on the phone with him and get such clear communication. I felt like God was trying to talk to me but I couldn’t always tell the difference between my Heavenly Father and all the other voices in my head. If I am a child of God than I needed to build that type of relationship to be able to hear his voice from across a crowded room. In the mission field there are lots of voices… I feel like this concept has changed the way I approach my relationship with Jesus and the way I hope it to be.
I am God’s sheep and He is my Shepherd and I know his voice.

Cindy and I going to share about El Roi

Prayer Requests:

IA internship 15/6-10/7
    - patients
    - open heart
    - energy
    - humbleness
    - basically prayer for everything lol
Future adoptions
for the short term volunteers this summer (or winter depending where you are)
building friendships outside of Refilwe Community
I am quite sick with a virus. Today I am trying to be Brave for Birthday festivities but I am definitely not well. Really would like to be feeling better before Monday.
Would you Please start praying about possibly financially supporting me for next year? I know its 6 months away from now but I think its good to start praying about such things early. Ill be starting new again next year for funds and I could really use your help!