School and creche kids galore

Our second day in Embo was similar to the first, with a visit to a different school to start off the day.  Matt and Clay sat in the "boot" of the van, and as we approached the school, they opened the door and sang songs and picked kids up as they went along.

 Naomi gave her testimony to a rapt audience.

We met with the principal of the school after talking to and singing with the kids, and we got to hear about his dreams for the school. We prayed over him and invited him to church on Sunday.

Jenna attempted to fill the principal's role.

This day, while others went into the community to pray for people, I got to go to the Creche and hang out with the kids, which made me really happy. I helped them with their snacks and then we went out to the playground, where we spent most of the time I was there. All the kids wanted their pictures taken, and had fun taking turns posing and being placed in rows with their heads together. 

Several little girls were doing my hair and sitting on me, and I felt right at home. I am happiest surrounded by kids.

After I got picked up from the creche, we went back to the orphanage we were staying in and while some of the team made dinner, Jenna and I went and ironed clothes for the orphans.

After dinner, we went out again to a mourning family to pray with them and give testimonies.

They keep us on our toes in Embo.  There's a lot of work to do there, and we were happy to help, although at the end of each day we were ready to rest.

It begins

I've worked so many shifts at different jobs in the last couple weeks and I'm exhausted. I've been up all night. My right eye is twitching.

But it's worth it.

Today, July 30, 2014, I fly to South Africa with a team from Bel Air Presbyterian Church to finally begin something that has been in the works for the last four years to my knowledge, but so obviously longer in hindsight.

On this trip we will be working with our church partner in Johannesburg and helping with their prison ministry and HIV/AIDS patients, which are worthy causes, but the reason I felt a pull toward this trip is that we will also be working with orphans.

My heart has broken for orphans ever since I was a little girl and "Annie" was my favorite movie.  I wanted Miss Hannigan's job, but instead of being mean and terrifying, I would love those little girls with everything I have.  Everyone deserves to be loved.

When I went back to school four years ago to pursue a degree in creative writing, it occurred to me that I could pair my love of writing with my heart for orphans, and it has been so amazing to watch God piece together this purpose He so clearly placed on my heart.

My last two years at school were spent being trained in journalism and photojournalism, which I never would have chosen for myself because I have always hated the news (my sincere apologies to my news-loving former adviser Stefanie Frith, who might have a heart attack if she heard me say that.).  Journalism, it turns out, gave me the exact training that I needed to go out and write people's stories.  And that is what I intend to do, to help spread awareness of all the children around the world in need of homes and families.

This is the desire of my heart: to show them love.