Bitter and sweet moments

Whoa- Mommyhood takes over your life!!   I’m so thankful for all of the prayers, emails, and comments to encourage me as we have officially been a little family for a month now! It seems like it has been so much longer than that though!!! I’ve been learning and experiencing so many things so I will try to relive the past month briefly!  

Here is our first family photo!! For those of you who don’t know the whole story here is a brief review: I was asked to take on the role of “house mom” (foster mom), on top of my duties at the school and group home. My heart’s desire was to adopt Catie, after she stole my heart two years ago. I now feel that I’m supposed to adopt them both, so pray me through that paperwork! Catie is 6 years old and as smart, sassy, and sweet as they come! She has spina bifida, so she uses a wheelchair to get around, but she AMAZES me with her strength and the things she can do! She is SOOO helpful around the house, helping with the baby, helping with laundry and the dishes, and even sweeping after dinner! Sometimes she will insist that she helps me, even when I tell her she can go play instead! She has such a servant’s heart already! My heart explodes if I sit and process that MY little girl, the one I’ve longed to be with for so long, is living with me. She is MINE! Thank you Lord for answering prayers! She calls me “Tannie Megan” still, but I think after time, she will call me “Mommy”. Her English is improving so much- after listening to Disney stories and watching Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman with Mommy every night! She is still speaking and learning in Afrikaans, so she will be a bilingual little lady- which will be a HUGE benefit for her! She tries to help teach me Afrikaans, but sometimes she simply doesn’t’ know the word! She LOVES to snuggle and give me hugs and kisses!!! I really hammered the manners with her when she first moved in, so now I have to be careful to use MY manners, otherwise my little police officer will correct me! We have had some trying moments, things that are just a part of the adjustment period from moving from the group home to a family home. She is learning the rules and my expectations for her. I’m striving to make her as independent as I can, even though that can be hard at times.

My beautiful princess LOVES to do puzzles!

Mignon (Me-yon), aka Nonny, is my sweet little 10 month old baby!  She is adjusting well to living with us, as she learns that she doesn’t always get what she wants right away, no matter how loud she screams. This was her tactic where she was living before. Obviously, she is just a baby, so it comes with the territory, or so I’m told! She is absolutely beautiful and loves to be held! She loves to “talk” or do her crazy baby chatter! I will say one of my least favorite parts of mommyhood was taking her for her 9 month shots a few days after I got her. I tried to be brave and not cry right along with her, which I was able to keep it together while she was crying, but I was BAWLING on the inside! She has grown so much over this past month- in her abilities and her weight! She isn’t crawling yet, but she wants to move! She gets up on all fours and wiggles like she is going to go, but just isn’t quite there yet! She has started eating some soft table foods with us, and Catie and I LOVE watching her reactions to new foods! She also LOVES to dance!!! I often have music playing, so the girls and I have many, MANY dance parties together! We ALL love dancing and giggling together.

  

I cherish every moment that I’ve had with my girls, and no matter how hard of a day I’ve had, I will NEVER regret the decision to take them into my home and love them as my own. One of my favorite parts of our day is our morning song, “Good Morning” By Mandisa. (Check it out if you’ve never heard it!)  We dance and sing all around the house while we get ready for school! It is so much fun!

 

Catie and her teacher, Chantelle. She has become another one of my dear friends here. She is expecting her first child any day now! {Catie asked if I had baby in my tummy too! Haha! }

 

We’ve have enjoyed some outings already- one of them being family day for Catie’s school. They had blow up water slides, but Catie couldn’t climb the big one, but we found an alternative to the slip-n-slide:: I put her on and pulled her down and let her slide to the end! She loved it until she got splashed in the face by another kid!

Jessica is one of the girls that lives at the Asiphe` house and also goes to the Agape 4 School so I took her along to the party with me, but I had to take her home early because she kept taking off her diaper and leaving some extra things in the pool! Silly girl!!! Haha!

 

 

We also enjoyed going out for lunch at “The Orchard” one last time with Tannie Annet when she came back for a short visit before she returned to Holland. We also had a taco night before she went home and enjoyed our time together! We really miss her! We hope she can come back for a visit VERY soon!

 

Last weekend, we embarked on an adventure to the beach with Gideon, Tessa, Faizel, Sili, Nina, & Sisipho- which was tons of FUN!!! Catie LOVED playing in the water and the sand, while Nonny HATED the water- screaming most of the time- but LOVED putting handfuls of sand in her mouth! I was assured that as the spring passes and the summer comes we will be spending LOTS of time at the beach! It is free and only 20 minutes from home! It is weird to think that we could go to the beach for Christmas or for my birthday, when I’m usually playing in the snow!

 

Gideon helping Catie in the waves and Catie was buried in the sand and had a mermaid tail! <3 My little Ariel!

 

Because of God’s goodness, blessing, and provision our newest adventure is with our MINIVAN!!!!! Thank you all for your gifts, financially and prayers that God would bring the perfect vehicle to us and He has! Here is our new “swaggerwagon”!!!!

Love and hugs from all of us!!! <3

Bawo sifuna wena

 

Wow! So many things have happened since my last post, so many pictures, and so many stories. This will be a long post- you’ve been warned ahead of time!

I love to watch the sunset. The colors amaze me! This was the view from the local bus ride home from Somerset West (the big city down the mountain) a few weeks ago. I’m so glad that I have a loving God who loves me enough to allow me to watch His craftsmanship at work.

While Annet, the Dutch volunteer, was still here, Gerrit (the man in charge of Agape) took us out into the township to meet people and to step into their lives and homes for a short while. He took us through a part of the township called “Beverly Hills”, but as you can by the picture, it is one of the poorest parts of the slum. If you look closely you can see all of the wires going through that tree. A few feet before the tree all of those wires are loose on the ground, which causes many problems with people, especially children, being electrocuted. This is not the only part of the township where the wires are like this- it is common in most of the slums here. I’ve been trying to remember to pray for the children in areas specifically in their safety and that they will be taught to stay away from these “live” wires.

For four days this past week I experienced something I never would have guessed that I could say: I went camping in South Africa! We packed up 26 of the children living in foster homes within Agape, and their house parents and headed into the “farm country” of Montagu. As you can tell by the picture above, we were surrounded by beautiful mountains- and that we really all slept in tents! As they made traditional South African dishes, I was able to experience some local food.

We took two tours of the farms close to Montagu. In the picture above, the farm still has remains from the war between the British and the tribal men. As I learned about how the British used these mini-forts to take over this land, it saddened my heart. The children enjoyed hiking around the big hill up to the fort.

This farm pictured above is known for selling dried fruit. Riding on the tractor-pulled wagons and looking over all the farm land really made me miss home. When my Agape family remembered that I lived on a farm, they were asking lots of questions about our farm. Farms in the SA are much different- most of hard labor is done by the blacks or coloured people, but it is the white farmers running the farm. I know things have improved greatly for these workers over the years, but it is hard to imagine that my dad isn’t the one out there picking the harvest!

At the beginning of October, I started reading the “The Discipleship Journal: Bible Reading Plan”, a plan that gives you two parts of the Old and New Testament to read each day. God has really used these passages to speak directly to me in my time of need- especially in the times when I’m longing for home. At camp, 98% of the time they were speaking Afrikaans, which often made me feel so isolated. I can understand more, picking up on words I know, so I might have an idea of what the conversation is about, but I really can’t respond by any means yet. In my time of “trouble” God put James 1:2-7 in my path:

“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for JOY. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,  you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom- if you want to know what God wants you to do- ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.”

As I soaked in this verse, I realized that I was asking God for help with many of the decisions and struggles I’m dealing with, but I’m not really EXPECTING an answer. Like understanding the language. I didn’t really expect that God could simply change my mind and tongue to understand Afrikaans. Like the situation with the van for instance. I’ve been working so hard to see how I can find the finances. But the thing is- I CAN’T do it by myself. I completely turned over the situation to the Lord, and I’ve been trying my best not to worry about it, and when I got home and checked my account, there are many generous donations specifically for the van!!! Several of them are from complete strangers!!! I serve a MIGHTY and FAITHFUL Father!!!!

Our second tour was through a farm that has a cave, Guano Cave, that was used long ago by the Xhosa people. If you know what “guano” is, you know that we also encountered some bats that now live there. The picture above captures just one of the many beautiful mountains that surrounded us in our time in Montagu. The children –and even adults- were baffled when I told them that where I live is basically FLAT land- full of corn and soybean fields, so I’m still getting used to the mountains. I look like a tourist when it comes to the mountains- I just can’t seem to get enough pictures!!

 

Sammuel- one of the children that Gerrit and Ami (directors of Agape) have adopted posing for a pictures with Tessa. I’ve been so blessed by the friendship that God has given me in Tessa, and her husband Faizel!!! She has been helping me with the language, with transition, and has been my main source of transportation. The biggest thing for me is to just talk with another Christian woman, who has left her family and country to live here. She listens to me when I’m sad or frustrated, and helps to remind me of my purpose here. I’m thankful for those that have prayed for companionship for me while I’m here- I think God has answered those prayers with Tessa! Now we live across the garden from each other, but once I move I will live about a 20 minute walk away- or 5 minutes by car. I will be sad to be so “far” from them, but we’ve already decided that the children and I will have them over once a week for dinner! I made them homemade tacos a few weeks ago, and they’ve been requesting that is the first meal we have together!  

Tessa, Faizel, and I were in charge of coming up with some games to play with the children while we were at camp. I’m so thankful for my 8 years of serving in youth ministry because I was able to use many of the ideas for games from IMPACT/ORANGE with the kids- and they LOVED them! For my ORANGE crew we played “Flour Dodgeball” and “Pass the Candy” (in the picture above). As you can tell, they enjoyed putting the flour on themselves, so the game didn’t quite go as planned, but they were having fun, so that’s all that matters!

Sweet Gwennie is one of the children that lives at the foster home on Agape 1’s campus. She was such a BLESSING at camp! She knows a little more English than the other children so she sometimes served as my translator. She was most helpful during our games of UNO! Often she would come hold my hand when I was standing alone watching what was happening around me. She was among the children that would wait for me in the bathroom in the mornings because they were fascinated with how I did my hair and ESPECIALLY with how I put my contacts in. I just had to laugh about that. I’m constantly reminded of how different our lives are, but that we are all loved JUST THE SAME by our Father!!!!

 

Unfortunately, because of bathroom and transportation issues, my beloved Catie Belle didn’t get to come to camp, and neither did Meliska. Ami assured me that they would do something special with these girls when we got back. I know how busy they are so I asked if I could take them out for a special day. On Friday, Tessa, Meliska, Catie, and I started out on an adventure for the whole day. We first went to look at the minivan I’d been praying about, and Dean, the man who is helping me to find a quality vehicle for the children and I, said that it has lots of problems with it that are going to end up costing me a great deal. I can’t lie and say I was relieved- I fell in love with the van when I saw it- but I completely trust Dean’s knowledge of cars. So this van isn’t the one I’m supposed to have. Please pray with me as Dean is continuing to look for a vehicle for us. Pray that God will answer as we expectantly pray.

Our next adventure was out for lunch and then to a movie: Tinkerbelle 3D! Meliska really loved the movie, but Catie was so scared by the 3D that she cried for the first 20 minutes of previews and the movie, but then eventually fell asleep! When she woke up, she realized she REALLY LIKED  the movie and was singing along with the movie at the end! Situations like these are sometimes quite hard for me to understand, but I try my best to put myself her her little shoes. I don’t know if she’s ever been to a movie in the theatre, let alone a 3D movie. She was also TERRIFIED by the hand dryers in the bathrooms. These are new situations for her that I’m going to have to work hard to think through before I take my little family out and about! As you can tell by the picture above, everyone was quite happy by the end of the day with our girly adventure.

One of my favorite parts of the day was grocery shopping with the girls! As I pushed Catie through the store in the cart, she was pointing out all the things she knew “Look Tannie Megan!” and was asking all sorts of questions about the things she wasn’t so sure of! I never would have thought that a simple trip to the grocery store could bring so much joy to EITHER of our hearts!

 

As for the title of this post, “Bawo sifuna wena”, it is part of a song we sang today in church and it means “Father we need you!” I know that I need my Father so much through the constant transition to life here, without my family and friends close to me. In a culture and language that most of the time I don’t understand. I NEED my Father, and He answers. He takes care of me in many ways, never allowing me to feel totally alone. He gives me music to lift me. Emails, packages, and phone calls of encouragement. Best of all, I can really feel His arms around me, even when it hurts and I’m crying. PTL!!!

Praises:

*I’m almost completely over my head cold!!! Still some coughs her or there, and a little congestion, but I’m feeling much better physically!

* I received my first package from home- a package from my parents! I told Tessa that “my heart feels like Christmas!”, even though the box is filled with simple things like deodorant, hair products and socks!!!

* I was also able to talk with my parents and my sisters yesterday on the phone! It was SOOO wonderful to talk with them all together!! I was reminded of how much I’m loved- and how much I love them!!

Prayer points:

* That God will lead Dean and I to the right vehicle and that He will continue to provide financially for the van.

* Tessa and I are sharing part of our testimony about how God led us to Agape tomorrow night at a Women’s Prayer Event at Agape. I’m nervous- even though I shouldn’t be. Pray that we can speak with clarity and that God will use us to speak to the women that attend.

* Pray as they are supposed to be finishing a few things in the house, so we are hoping the children and I will be able to move in by the end of the week. Pray for patience for me and that the BIG transition will go smoothly and in God’s timing!

I will be praying that you were able to patiently read through this long post! Please leave comments and questions!

Bawo sifuna wena!!!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

Dear Partners on this crazy journey that God has called me to:

I NEED YOUR HELP!

As I become a house mother I will need transportation so that my little family can travel together- to the store, to church, to play dates, to school/daycare. When I was on my own, it was easy to find a ride with someone to the store or to the work. But with two children, one in a wheelchair and one in a car seat, it is almost impossible to find space.

I’ve been looking for an automatic minivan, and I’ve found a few, but I didn’t include buying a vehicle in my budget. I don’t have an exact amount yet, as I’m still talking with a few car dealers, but would you be willing to help financially and in prayer?

Pray that we can find the right van, at the right price. I’m blessed that Agape has a friend who is a mechanic that helps them to find cars and makes sure they are in good condition.

If you want to bless us financially, you can simply send a check to CTEN  (Commission To Every Nation, PO Box 291307, Kerrville, Texas, 78029-1307), including a note that this is for Megan Hartman’s Car Fund, and they will mark it that way in my account. Or you can give online to CTEN (click on CTEN and it will take you directly to my page). If you give in this way, there is no where for you to mark if this is for the van, so please either contact me (mihartm87@gmail.com)  or respond to the email you will get from CTEN after they process the gift and Angie will mark it for me.

I SOOOOO appreciate all of the thoughts, prayers, messages, emails, and financial support I’ve already received!!!!!! It is a blessing to be loved by so many people, and even though I’m half-way across the world I can still feel your love!!! Keep up the good work people!!! I can feel your arms reaching around the world giving me great big hugs!! <3

Crazy couple of weeks!

Things have been pretty crazy these past couple of weeks:

*Last week we took some of the kids from the special needs school horseback riding on a farm that invites children with special needs to come riding. If you know me well, you know I love riding as well, so it was an extra special treat to go with the kids and watch them have a BLAST!!! As the weather gets warmer here and the rain slows down a bit they will start going every Monday!

Ntabiseng  (Ntabi)  and Catie loved riding! Some of the children can ride alone, some need someone to walk alongside them, and some need some need someone to ride with them. It was such a beautiful experience!

*Annet, a volunteer from Holland and I spent a lot of time fixing up the house I thought I was going to be moving into as a house mom. FLEXIBILITY. I found out now that I will be moving into a different house, on a different campus. I probably won’t be moved in until the end of the first week of October, with only two children to start off with.

I wish I could say that I had swallowed these changes better. I’ve been frustrated and confused. I have moments when I’ve just cried, “God I’m just ready to be a mommy! What’s with the delays?” I keep coming back to the reminder that HIS plan is so much better, and bigger than mine, so I am trying to patiently wait. I will worship while I’m waiting.

 

I’ve found so much comfort from 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7- GO READ IT!!!!. It amazes me that things written by Paul so many years ago, can still be SO APPLICABLE today in my life! I’ve written these verses down and put them on the back of my door, so that every time I come or go, they are there to remind me of the comfort I have in Christ! PTL!!

 

*I’ve also enjoyed some light tourism with my friends, Tessa, Faizel, and Annet. We toured Cape Point. God’s creation just astounds me!!!! I love capturing the waves crashing against the rocks. It reminds me of how sometimes something that seems so painful- like running into a “rock” or stop along our path, can turn into something beautiful, like the mist of the waves. “You will bring beauty from my pain.”- Superchick

I’m also blessed that even though I’m living in a slum, I don’t have to go far to be surrounded by beautiful scenery. It’s crazy to think about the vast differences where I stay and where I travel.

Annet, Faizel, Tessa and I at the top of Cape Point.

Love listening and watching these waves!

 

I was also able to go to Robben Island- FINALLY! It was so interesting to hear the stories of the political prisoners that spent many years there, especially during Apartheid. I’ve always loved learning about Nelson Mandela, so seeing where he spent so much of his time in prison really was moving. One of our tour guides was actually a former political prisoner. Hearing his stories made everything so much more real!

This was the cell that President Nelson Mandela spent so much time in during his time on Robben Island.

 

*This past week I’ve been quite sick- even spending a couple of days in bed. If you know me, that is SOOO not like me. I’ve been struggling with it- I know I need to rest to get better, but I hate not really doing much to help out!! I’m so thankful that my nurse Cindy helped me pack up meds from home that I’ve been able to use! I wasn’t thinking I would need to use them so quickly though! Thankfully this week at school it was pretty relaxed because the kids are going on break for a week this coming week, so they weren’t missing me too much.

*This coming week a new adventure begins for me: Camp. When the kids have time off of school and the weather is nice, the Agape families go camping- you heard it right, tents and all!!! So as I’m trying to quickly get better before we leave Monday morning, I’ve also been trying to prepare games to play with the kids. I’m hoping to teach them Poop Deck and Flour Dodgeball, among others. (Anyone remember playing those games with me??)  I’ve been told there are some nice walking trails that we will take the kids hiking on as well. They have also talked about swimming, but I think it is a little too cold for me to be getting into any water just yet! There are 26 kids with us…so it will be quite the adventure!

 

PRAYER POINTS:

* Safety as we are travelling for Camp this coming week.

* Quick healing for me.

* Patience and understanding in the delays of becoming a house mom.

* Safety for all drivers, as there have been LOTS of accidents lately, especially on the mountain pass that we have to go through frequently to get to town for cheaper supplies and therapy with the children. Many people believe that during this time of year, when there are some Black Magic holidays happening, strange things begin to happen. Satan is at work to destroy, but I’m so glad to serve my God who loves and restores.

*Transportation for my new little family. I’m going to post a blog specifically about our need.

 

PRAISES:

*I was able to talk with my mom on the phone for just a few minutes on Wednesday, but no matter how old you are or what continent you are on, when you are sick you just want to talk to your mom! What a blessing it was! PTL!!

* In my first month of being here, I’ve been able to become close friends with Annet and Tessa, two of the volunteers here. Annet has now left, which makes me sad, but I’m so thankful for the friendship that God gave me in her and for all of the spiritual conversations we had. She isn’t a believer, but asked lots of questions- and I loved trying to answer them. I think a seed has been planted in her heart. I’m going to continue to pray that God will continue to show Himself to her, and that she will be safe as she is travelling around SA. She will be back for one day in early November before she flies back to Holland. We will all be anxious to see her again!

Teachable

Teachable- Flexible- Expect the Unexpected. These are all things that I have been wrestling with for the last week. My devotion last night addressed the importance of being "teachable", especially while on the mission field.

I thought I was just coming to South Africa to work in the special needs school, lending them my experience from school and working at the UE, and spending time loving on the kids in the group home.

But my God had different plans. Bigger plans than I could have fathomed.

As of Monday, I have accepted the role as a full-time "house mom" for four little ones, all under the age of 6!!!! God knew my heart's desire to be a mommy, but I didn't quite think He was going to answer it in this way! We are still working out details and getting the house ready for the children and myself. I'm hoping that by the end of next week I will have a move-in date. This obviously means some change in my routine, but I'm happy that I can still go to the school in the mornings if I want to since the children will either go to school or to a creshe` (daycare/preschool). Once we get settled and organized I will post more information and of course PICTURES!!! :)

Am I stoked OUT OF MY MIND????? YES!!!!!!!!

Am I CRAZY??? Probably!!!!

Am I a little nervous?? Honestly a little. I think I'm just getting those first time mommy gitters. BUT I trust that God is going to be right alongside me as I walk through this journey, as He has already led me down this path.

I need your help though: Being a mommy means I will need to have my OWN transportation. I've found  minivan that we are looking into purchasing for me to use. Thankfully it is an automatic- I've decided if I'm having babes in the car I'm not driving stick-until I've had LOTS more practice! Of course though, I didn't add the cost of buying a van into my budget before I left, so I'm trusting that God will provide the finances I need to purchase the van.

Would you be willing to come alongside and help bless our new little family with a financial gift to use for the purchase of a minivan? If you are feeling called to help financially, please email me (mihartm87@gmail.com) and I will send you information as soon as I have all of the details solved. Please pray for wisdom as we search for the perfect fit!

Also, if you have been patiently waiting for me to give you my postal address, please email me and I will send you the address!

Can I just tell you there are not enough words to tell you how much joy this little girl brings to my life?
We painted her fingernails today! I've LOVED getting to LOVE my Catie Belle!!!
I'm excited that my love gets to spill out to the 3 other kids as well!!

Week One

Greetings to all of my wonderful family and friends that are so interested what God is doing in my life in South Africa!  I have been here for a week now, but it feels like I have been here forever. I was happy to have a busy week so that I'm not just sitting around thinking about everyone and everything that I miss from home. The prayers you have sent on my behalf have most certainly been felt as I've adjusted a little better, but still getting settled in my house, my rountine, and my work schedule. I can't lie and say that it has been easy. Adjusting to life away from my family and friends, the language barrier, and the big decisions I'm still praying through have made it a difficult week. Today one of my beloved friends emailed me this verse which is so appropriate for this season:

 

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

 

I was also blessed by the encouragement from my church's weekly email that contains a reflective devotional. It was such perfect timing, only something my God can do!

 

 

 

I started my week off this week working at the Agape 4 School for Children with Special Needs and I spent everyday there, except for Friday. I love being there with the kids and the teachers, but the language barrier does prove to be quite a challenge. I know that I will learn it eventually, but it is hard to feel like I never really know what is going on. I'm trying to be a "learner"- to sit back and learn from the teachers and staff here that know the kids, the expectations, and simply know how things can work here. It has been a little challenging at times. Right now, I feel more like an "aide" or assistant than a techer. I spend most of my time changing nappies (diapers), making sure kids are behaving and following along during "class", and feeding those that can't feed themselves. Don't get me wrong- I love what I'm doing- I LOVE the kids, but it is so very different than what I expected and what I'm used to!

Sometimes I feel like things are "unorganized" but I don't know if that is because I don't understand their language or the expectations! Please send extra prayers for my tongue and brain to absorb the language!!! It will make life easier for all involved!!! :)

 

This is CarenLeigh. She has grown such much since last year and is even sitting up on her own and crawling. On Thursday, we fingerpainted flowers since it is now spring time here. We all had a blast!!!

 

 

I've also got to spend more time with Catie Belle and I have loved every minute of it. At first, she didn't really want anything to do with me- and that was hard, but I had tried to prepare myself for that. She has walls of protection at 6 years old because she has so many people coming in and out of her little life. Thankfully, she has warmed up immensely and the past several nights she has begged me not to leave, to stay with her at the Asiphe` House where she lives. She is sooo smart and deserves the world. I love this sweet little girl!!!

 

Catie Belle had a braai at school on Friday and came home with stars on her face! She must be my child for everytime I have the camera out she wants to take TONS of pictures- and she gets grumpy sometimes when I take her picture!!! :)

 

 

On Friday, there was a tannie who was sick but was scheduled to work at the Asiphe` house, so they called to ask if I would work the 7am-7pm shift. I was happy to be there- I felt like I knew more of what I was doing and there wasn't so much of an issue with the language barrier. This is where Alissa and I spent the last 3 weeks when we were here last year, so I already know most of the routine,  the kids and their needs, and most of the tannies (ladies that work in the house- "tannie" means "auntie"). While it was a hard day physically and I left covered in food, I enjoyed every minute of it. I love loving these kids and ladies. I especially enjoyed some time with Ernie and the newest addition to the house: Mignon. She is an 8 month old baby that has no special needs, but when they had to close the baby house because they didn't have parents to care for them, the only place they had for her was in the special needs home. It breaks my heart that she is here, missing out on the development and attention she needs to grow. I loved loving her and spending as much time as I could with her. We are all hoping and praying that her situation will soon change. I'm hoping I get to be a part of that change.

Mignon has one of the sweetest smiles around!! Love her already!!!



Hoping to update again next week!! For those of you in the El Paso, area- I hope you are enjoying the Corn Fest this year!!! It is soooo strange not being there, but I am living vicariously through you!!!

Hugs and love,
Megan

Change 9/4/12

My how so much has already changed in my life, but I guess that happens when you move to another continent! Here’s the thing:  You should know that I HATE change, so coming here has been a huge challenge that EVERYTHING has changed for me. I’ve been adjusting a little better, but I am still missing family and friends. Now that I am busy with school, the home, and other activities, I don’t have time to sit around and miss home- I feel like I’m always on the go! God has blessed me by bringing Tessa and Annette alongside me as friends during this transition, to keep me busy and to help me adjust by answering questions.

         Tessa and Annette

 

On Friday I enjoyed some time at the Kid’s Club that they host every Friday at the Agape church. It was a very cold and rainy day, so it was a small turn out- only 25 children. Usually they have between 70-100 kids, ranging in age from 6 to 16. Here is a picture of our small group playing a relay game. I enjoyed my time with the kids- even though I had a hard time communicating with them!

*Prayer Point- Pray that my tongue and brain will QUICKLY pick up Afrikaans!

        Kid’s Club Relay Game!

 

I’ve enjoyed spending time with all of the children, but especially Catie Belle. At first, she was shy and didn’t want anything to do with me- as I predicted would happen. Yesterday she finally broke down her walls and we spent lots of time playing together during recess at school. Today, Tessa, Faizel, Annette and I took Catie and Kaylinn (another girl from Asiphe`) to the mall for a little shopping, a walk along the beach, and a nice dinner out. They loved the extra special attention!

   Faizel, Catie, Kaylinn, and Tessa trying on some summer hats!

 

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Catie and I enjoying dinner at the “Spur” along the beach!

 

I’ve seen all of the children that we met last year and I’m amazed at how much some of them have grown, and how some of them seem to not have changed at all!! Ernie has grown SOOO much since last year!!! I could hardly believe it was him!!!

           Ernie!!!

 

*Prayer point: God is at work in strange ways. I’ve felt confused since I got here- like I wasn’t sure why it is that I am here. He is moving and working. I have some decisions that I need to make regarding where I will be spending my time within Agape, so I would covet your prayers that God would speak clearly to me so that I will be where He wants me to be.

 

My love always,

Breaking my heart for what breaks His,

Megan