contrasting emotions

This time was the hardest time for Paul and I to come to SA.  We are enjoying meeting new friends in South Carolina, getting involved in our new church, and watching the house go up.  So I think we were both wondering why we were going.  Is it worth our time and effort?

We got our answer yesterday.  We have always tried to spend a good bit of time with the two oldest girls- Promise and Peaceful.  They were the first children with their brother, Christopher, in our first iThemba home.   Over the years we have been coming, we have become very close to them.  Jenna feels like she has two SA sisters!  We had dinner last night with Promise to catch up on life since we were here last.  She is even more beautiful than before.  She has long hair now with waves that frame her face beautifully.  She is now 21 and works at a travel agency where she has been for 2 years.  After dinner, we were driving her home to iThemba, and she said to us, “You don’t know how much it means to us when you come here.”  Very sweet, we thought.  “No. Really.  It means so much to all of us that you come here.”  “ It means so much to us.”  Wow.  That puts it all into perspective.  We believe we come because that is what God wants for us and has called us to.  We are now feeling so blessed to be here!  Amazing that just showing up can be such an encouragement.

Contrast to this, our emotions of the next day.  We heard a story of a local single woman who was gang raped and beaten when she got home from a late work event.  She was finally able to get away to a neighbor and to safety.  Can’t tell you how much this hurts our hearts.  Last year we heard of a 10 year old boy who was raped by two neighborhood young men.  I guess this is partly why so many local people here ask us why we come when so many are leaving. And also why we admire our South African friends who have committed to staying here and being part of the solution for their beloved country.  It isn’t an easy calling for them.

And Paul and I?  We come under God of the Universe’s protection and in His will.  We will cry with the hurting and try to bring hope- even if that is just by our presence here- to our wonderful foster kids and friends.  

God, bless Africa! Your Presence is needed!