Adoptions All Around!

Hey Family I hope you are doing well. I made it a whole year! God has been so good to me here in SA. It is so cool to see how practically he has protected and provided. So much has happened since the last time I wrote so ill try to fill you in best I can.

Giggle's cute adoption outfit

We had our first international adoption in March!

Our big boy Giggles (Baby S) was introduced to his forever family. With it being our second toddler placement, we are always a bit nervous about the handover, due to an older placement. It went great! God has been so evident with all of our placements preparing the babies in amazing ways. Three weeks later Giggles and his parents came to visit the baby house and see where their son has grown up. They are so sweet and even brought small gifts for the children and aunties. As their new little family drove away, all I could think about was how well the parents complimented their new little boy. God always knows exactly which type of family each baby needs.




At the end of March, my Aunt Jerri came and visited me for about 10 days. It was so great to have family in my environment. I got to show off my Africa and all my babies too.

Aunt Jerri and I

Four Babies at once, what a pro!

Aunt Jerri got to meet my girl

April 14th was the happiest and hardest day I have ever experienced. I have never quite had day that gives me such peace in my heart and at the same time leave a deep loss. My Sweet Baby Girl was placed with her forever family on this day. Since I cant seem to write any more sentences without being super emotional about it, I will say this. Despite my heart being so invested in My Sweet Girl, God protected my heart. He has been so faithful in this last year with my girl, answering all my prayers for her and her new parents. I am confident God hand picked this amazing family from Holland. I got to meet her forever parents and they are very sweet. I miss her terribly everyday but I know she is so loved and happy in her new home.

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!

Party Dress!

Adoption outfit

 

Last Pictures

For the whole months of May I got to go back to California. It was so good to see family and friends again. The time went quickly and sometimes I felt like a crazy person driving from one end of the bay to the other. I am so thankful for all the encouragement and I rest I received. Definitely necessary after a busy year and with a busy year to come. 

So much to fit in 12 hours with April

My sister and I watched so many cheesy movies

Walking Dozer

 Such a busy time at the baby house the last couple weeks. We got two new babies and a toddler in a couple short weeks plus a Local Adoption! 

Baby L Adoption Outfit

One of our new little hands

Finances:
I still need $900 to be fully funded to serve for the next 9 months. If you would like to be apart supporting my time here in South Africa please send checks to:

Whitney Eitzen
6140 Kavala Court
Pleasanton, Ca 94566

Checks written out to VALLEY BIBLE CHURCH
Donations are tax deductible

Prayer Requests:

-That I continue to draw near to the Heavenly father
-The babies to be healthy and strong during this winter season
-God brings our little Rockstar the perfect family at the right time
-That I continue to let God work on my heart by letting Jesus fill this little girl shaped hole in my heart

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19
 

Blessings,

Whitney

"Little" Brother Graduated 8th Grade

Now he gets to go to High School

My Girl <3

Still trying to develop a good attitude about flying

Our new cat Gatsby (aka Kitty)

A Welcome Home Line Up

Birthday Love from these kids

One of my Favorite Families: Khanyi and her Kids Nana and Sanele

March Update

Happy New Year in March! This year sure has started off with a bang.. Literally. I will now go down in Refilwe history for being the volunteer that burned the car.

On January 7, I drove to work at the baby house in Nicole’s car at around 6:30 am. There has been problems in the past with the car short circuiting as we drove on the dirt roads to and from Refilwe. As I went over a small bump, the car died and I thought it would restart like every other time but it didn’t. Instead, the car started to smoke and I couldn't get the key out or even put the car in park. After I made a couple phone calls and lots of smoke, my dear friend Kate yelled at me to get out of the car. I quickly grabbed my bags and got a safe distance away. I turned back and saw flames coming out from the bottom of the engine. Some people pulled over to help me and my friends (really family now) from Refilwe tried so desperately to put the fire out. The car was so hot nothing was helping so we just had to watch the car burn until the fire department arrived. Since nothing happens quickly here in South Africa the fire brigade didn’t show up till most 7:30am! To start my morning off right I had to throw a party so I invited the fire brigade, two fire trucks,and 4 police cars. I wasn’t injured but was pretty shaken up and cried many tears.

 God gives and He also takes away. The car was His beautiful gift and He took it back, I believe for His glory. With much prayer, God provided another car at the end of February. The Refilwe Holland team, who supports the baby house, raised enough money to buy the baby house a vehicle. Such a blessing.

So many things are happening here on a weekly basis it’s hard to capture it all. Our prayer in the baby house has been that we could have 12 babies in the house. So since January, we have grown slowly to a house of 11 and prayerfully waiting for that last spot to be filled soon. Our house now includes Rockstar, 18 months, Giggles, 17 months, My Sweet Girl, 11 months, Baby T and Baby J, 5 months, Baby S, Baby E, and Baby L, 3 months, Baby K, 4 weeks, and our two newest additions Baby H, 6 weeks, and Baby A, 3 week.

six of my nine children

Bongiwe and I

As I’m sure you can imagine, a house with so many babies can be a little crazy. I would like to give a shout-out to my partner in crime Bongiwe. She is the newest member of our Auntie Team and I have enjoyed getting to know her as we tackle the tasks of making sure every baby is fed, held, loved and that every nappy is changed.

Two toddlers makes everyday an adventure, then add 9 small brothers and sisters and you can imagine the non-stop activity that happens. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to play referee,or body guard. They’re so observant, and if in the mood, want to be awesome big brothers.

Their favorite song right now is Old MacDonald and they both walk around saying E-I-E-I-O E-O. It’s very cute! Rockstar is a master climber and as soon as he hears the Aunties leave to gather babies from nap-time, he springs into action. Within 10 seconds, this kid can climb up on the couch and balance on the arm to look at himself in the mirror. Trouble is what I call this...

My Sweet Girl is still so sweet. I fully acknowledge that she has me wrapped around her little finger. I love our night-night routine for her nap and bedtime, the sleepy cuddles are the best.

All of the small babies are developing their personalities and I will be posting some new Baby Profiles soon. The Joe Slovo community is still one of my favorite places to spend time with people. God is moving significantly in the way Refilwe is able to be involved within the community and it’s such a blessing. We have been neighbors for so many years and it is incredible to watch God tear down huge walls between us.

Some of my precious community Kids

 It’s crazy to think that I have been here for almost 9 months. In most ways it seems like the time has gone by very quickly then I look at the calendar and see that it’s March and I look back to June, when I arrived here, and it seems like forever ago. God is so evident here in South Africa. I can see Jesus which makes me all the more excited to be here. I still very much rely on your prayers for me. I have never experienced such a place that stretches my strengths and highlights my weaknesses.

Baby E

 I am coming home in May for a month to attend the wedding of my best friend and to spend time with my family and friends. It will be so good to see everyone and to catch-up on what everyone has been doing during my absence. It will be so nice to hug, laugh, and have long chats again.

 I will return in June to Refilwe to volunteer for another ten months.
 My monthly expenses are approximately $500.00 a month and I have raised half of the funds I will need to support me until April 2015. If you are able to donate to my support, I would sincerely appreciate your help. As always, your prayers mean so much to me.

 If you would like to support me in this journey please send checks to:
 Whitney Eitzen
6140 Kavala Court
Pleasanton, Ca 94566

Please Make Checks Written out to Valley Bible Church
Leave memo line blank
All Checks are Tax deductible

May the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Burger King Opened here!!!!

Preschool Times

Baby S

Big Boys (Rockstar and Giggles)

My Sweet Girl is Almost 1!!!!!

My Love

My Little Kiddos

Monkey's Like people food!

Baby L

First Rugby Game!

Nicole and I at the Rugby Game

My Sweet Girls First time with Baby Food

Handed out Black baby dolls to the community girls

Hey Everyone! Happy December and Merry Christmas.

Hey Everyone! Happy December and Merry Christmas.

There is not enough Christmas music that I can play that can convince me that Christmas is 14 days away. A hot Christmas season is the weirdest thing. Since most people who live in Johannesburg are from somewhere else, in December this place turns into a ghost town while everyone returns to their home towns for the holidays. I am looking forward to open roads and empty stores, which is very opposite to what it would look like in California.

  I have some pretty exciting news to share.

In the last three weeks we have had two adoptions! On the 22nd of November my precious Big Girl went home with her forever mommy, forever daddy and Cousin. I think this will be one of the hardest adoption I will experience. I am so happy for her and her family and believe that this is where she

was suppose to be but it doesn’t make the whole is my heart any smaller. She was such a big part of my life at “work” at the baby house and on my days off. Three weeks later and I still have moments where I see something that reminds me of N and my heart aches a little. She is such a sweet and special girl, I cannot wait to see her on the other side of eternity and hear all the amazing things God has done.

On the 25th my little Chubby Cheeks went to spend her first Thanksgiving (if they celebrated it here) with her forever Mommy. She did so well and even had some special cuddles for mom when she was handed to her.

 I”m excited about some great new news!!

 When I first got here I felt strangely at home. I wasn’t expecting such confidence this being my first

experience in a new country and being so far away from my family. I believe it has been a true gift from the Lord. In His kindness he has helped me make many tough transitions. It is awesome to know that I am exactly where God wants me.

There are many confirmations that show me that I am exactly where God wants me to be. Even after being here for only a few weeks I was considering staying on and extending my time here. It seemed to fit.

So, my last piece of exciting news is that I have decided to stay for another 14 months. 

When I first told my family that I wanted to make South Africa my home for a while - They were not surprised at all! As a matter of fact, they had already discussed that I was going be out here longer and knew it all along. Its kinda funny they knew what I was doing with my life before I did. How awesome is that? 

At this time the rough plan is for me to fly out June 17th! Ill be back in California for a couple weeks then return home to South Africa for another 8 months. I am hopeful until about March 2015. I was able to get some time off of school until April 2015. I will need to be back if I want to continue to be enrolled as a student and finish my final year.

 In as much as plans change, I would like you to consider extending your support for me both financially and in prayer. God has changed my world view completely and I want to be a part of what He is doing here!

 I have look at my finances and have found that I have used less that I had planned - I’ve been pretty frugal! I have calculated what I will need to continue on here in my current capacity as well as adding some additional work.

The Plan!

At the present time there are many of you that have helped me out with one time gifts and there are others that have committed to support me monthly.

I am very grateful for that. 

 I am asking those of you who are supporting me monthly to prayerfully consider continuing your

support. If you are able, then I will simply need an additional $5,000.00 total to continue my journey here for the next 14 months. For those of you who are math challenged like me, that is only an additional $357 a month!

Is it worth the investment? 

This support will allow me to continue to love on the babies at El Roi, volunteer at the clinic delivering food to small local communities, as well as invest in the community of Joe Slovo. This allows us to continue to our goal of fulfilling Matthew 25 in ministering to the least of these - Those that cannot help themselves. I love building relationships with the families in our own backyard!

A special project I’d like to accomplish. 

I want to tell you about Maria and her daughter Akasiah. Maria is a caregiver at the clinic and has a 3 year old daughter named Akasiah. Akasiah lives in Joe Slovo with Maria and her father and attends the preschool at Refilwe. Back in August God put on my heart to help Maria and her family. After much prayer and thought I would like to anonymously pay for Akasiahs preschool fees for the next

year. Its 3000 Rand (about $300) for the year. Akasiah is so spunky and loves singing about Jesus just like her mama. She is so clever and has so much love to give. After I had finally made up my mind to pursue this hope of mine I found out that Maria is pregnant and expecting her second child in June! I am very honored that I will be able to help this wonderful family and see what God will do in the future. Part of your support funds will also help me accomplish this! It is something that I have been praying about for sometime now.

The most important support - Prayer. 

Over the last 6 months I know that I could not have survived without my friends and family supporting me in prayer to our heavenly Father. This journey has been so very hard both physically and emotionally and spiritually. There are many light days but there are also many heavy days too. The immense pain of loving these babies and giving them my heart knowing that God is using me to prepare them for their forever families is so very hard. This has only been possible because our Abba Father has given me the strength to accomplish it. Thank you for praying for me lifting me up!

Please continue to pray for me. Right now I covet your prayers! 

That I would continue to keep my eyes on Jesus.

That God would provide for me and for His wisdom in my life.

That God would provide for the Baby House and for wisdom as we expand to 12 babies in 2014.

And to top this off that God’s Holy Spirit would give me sensitive ear to His directing.

If you would like to support me in this part of my journey

please let me know by emailing me here:

whit.eitzen@gmail.com

Please send checks to:

Whitney Eitzen

6140 Kavala Court

Pleasanton, Ca 94566

Please Make Checks Payable to:


Valley Bible Church - Leave memo line blank

All Checks are Tax deductible

Thank you, Whitney Eitzen