A Masterful Celebration!

Last night, around 9 p.m., I turned in my final paper, drank some champagne with classmates, and walked out of my LAST class, marking the conclusion of my masters program. As I breathed in the brisk night air, I was flooded with a mix of emotions. I was happy to be done, relieved to not have papers and reading hanging over my head anymore, sad to say goodbye to my cohort, excited to be starting a new chapter (as a non-student), and nostalgic about all that I have experienced and learned in the past few years. I am so thankful for my time as a grad student! I am thankful for new friends, new perspectives, new questions, and a new passion!

Below is a note from one of my favorite professors to our graduating class, along with his famous sunflower brownie!



My wonderful cohort-- we climbed the mountain together!!



As happy as I am to be done, I know I will miss this season in my life and look back fondly on this time that I had to learn, grow, and be stretched.

wow. I am really done.

Savory Santa Barbara Summer



A picture is worth 1,000 words, so here are some snapshots of recent summer happenings...



I LOVE summer, and...


The beach



Playing volleyball with friends



BBQ's



Surfing



Playing



Laughing



This weekend I am taking a required seminar class for my master's program that is all about counseling "older adults" (a nice term for the elderly), and learning how to help them process "end of life issues". Tonight I was sitting near the window in the classroom, looking outside at the setting sun from time to time-- thinking about what it would feel like to know that I was nearing the "sunset" of my life. Being young, I rarely stop to think about this, but tonight it was hard to not think about. In class we watched a video of older people (all of whom were over 100 years old!) sharing about their lives. The essence of what they all shared was, "Savor each moment" because it "goes by so fast". We have all heard this before, but tonight it really hit me! I want to live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment! Throughout the duration of the class I found myself so thankful for my youth, and for my health. I felt this new urgency to really grab life by the horns. While I should have been taking notes on the professors lecture (detailing the "issues" older people face-- the loss of loved ones, failing health, depression, incontinence, dementia...) I was busy writing down all of the things that I want to do and see in the coming months. I made a list of all of the things that I love, and vowed to spend more time soaking up life's precious moments. Below is what filled my page of "notes" after I had already written the heading "Helping The Elderly Deal with End-of-Life Issues"--

SAVOR EVERYTHING!!!!

Surfing, the wind in my hair, children, service, the beach, trader joes, tennis, driving with the windows down and sunroof open, laughter, sunshine, music, iced coffee, beach volleyball, my pink beach cruiser, cozy rainy days, fruit, free time, playing, teaching, listening, relating, family, travel, roommates, books, friends, meat, fun hats, DANCING, running in the rain, chocolate, jumping in the ocean, weekends, weekdays... Yes... SAVOR EVERYTHING, and enjoy each moment!


I know there are many great things about getting old-- I just don't want to experience them quite yet!

FUN IN WASHINGTON-- and other updates...



It has been a long time since my last post! So much has happened since then that it really seems silly to try to recap. I will hit some highlights from these past 9 months!
1) A fun trip with close girl friends to Washington! In November we traveled to the Northwest to visit a close friend living in Olympia. We enjoyed rain (of course!) as well as crisp fall weather and colorful leaves falling to the ground. We had quality time catching up in coffee shops, and even paid a visit to the very first Starbucks. The highlight of the trip was connecting with girls that I cherish and being able to reminisce about the past, enjoy the present, and dream about what the future might hold. All of the pictures below are from our time in Washington.
2) I started graduate school in the fall, and embarked on the first steps of my journey in becoming an M.F.T. (Marriage and Family Therapist-- which is admittedly a bit funny since I am not married and definitely don't have children! haha!)
3) I moved to a house on the mesa! I am living with two friends from Westmont and enjoying a more spacious living situation (I have my own room!) and closer proximity to my favorite surfing spot! My new address is 409 Flora Vista Drive, Santa Barbara, CA. 93109.
4) I am continuing to enjoy my job, tennis, surfing, beach volleyball, hanging out with friends, and walking on the beach. I love what I am learning in school about humans -- our brain functioning-- which influences thoughts, feelings, tendencies, and behaviors. So interesting! I also really enjoy being a part of Ocean Hills Church.

A little of this, a little of that!


Above is a picture of my ideal morning scene. I got an espresso machine a while back and have really been enjoying a nice latte in the mornings (in my Starbucks mug, of course) and some quiet moments to just be still and think, pray, question, read, and dream. Sometimes we get fresh flowers from the local farmers market that really brighten up our apartment. I am really enjoying living in Santa Barbara. I appreciate the beauty of this city and all there is to see and do. Even more, however, I enjoy the people here-- old friends, new friends, families, and co-workers. I have loved the chance to get outside for a tennis match, a morning surf, a beach volleyball game, or the weekly, organized, 5-k run at the beach that draws over 100 people (last week a man running with a stroller full of three hefty triplets breezed past me mid-race! Needless to say, that was motivation enough to pick up the pace!! Giddy-up cowgirl!!)

The Bahamas! A few months ago a family that I know invited me to join them on a trip to the Bahamas to help watch their two little girls (ages 2 and 5). Above is a picture of the little 2 year old, Lucy. It was a business trip for the parents and so they needed someone to be with the girls while they were at meetings and corporate dinners. They twisted and twisted my arm until I finally agreed go (okay, okay I guess that is not how it actually happened-- I really didn't need that much convincing!) It was a week full of beach time, warm tropical weather, palm trees, fruity drinks, great food AND a crying 2-year-old, poopy diapers, more spills than I could have dreamed of, handfuls of spaghetti thrown at me, and morning wake-up calls at 6 a.m. (not from the hotel front desk, mind you, but from the cutie in the bed next to me yelling "potty time, Jen!!! I have to go potty!!!" :-) I am so glad that I went on the "vacation", but at the end of the week concluded that I am not quite ready for this whole "mom" thing. It's hard work!! I called my mom as soon as I got off the the plane in Santa Barbara and THANKED her profusely for raising me loving me in spite of the messes, crying, spills, and...did I mention MESSES?! Thanks Mom! :-)

Above is a photo of me with two of my co-workers at a recent "girls night out". I really love my job! Not only do I have many co-workers who I like, but I also have three clients (ages 5, 11, and 14) who I enjoy spending time with. Every day is different and has it's own set of drama and challenges. I like it that way-- keeps me on my toes! Most of my client's are working on goals revolving around anger management, school-attendance, and household compliance. My job is to meet with them daily and provide tools to help them reach their goals. We provide sticker tracking charts and incentives for good behavior as well as lots of praise and encouragement for making good choices. Many of my days are filled with conversations about coping skills, self-soothing techniques, triggers, and feeling identification. I have come to really value the relationships that are developing and am encouraged by the change and growth that I see (however slow and gradual it may be sometimes).
So, that is a little snipit about what I have been up to and how I have been doing. I want to hear from YOU soon! :-)
* Here are some thoughts/subjects that have been on my mind that I hope to write about in upcoming entrees (and get your feedback on)

1) living in community
2) what it means to thirst for "living water"
3) grad school?
4) our global responsibility

What's Happening Now?!

Well, I have been back in the States for a good three months now and have yet to update my blog with what is going on in my life post-Africa!! A friend asked, "Jen, are you a retired blogger?" and though I was considering hanging up the blogger hat I decided against it and opted for a post with a few updates!
First and foremost-- soon after I arrived home my brother got ENGAGED!! He proposed to his girlfriend at 12:01 on January 1st and they are getting married this summer! The picture you see above is of Amy (his fiancee) and I. It was taken in mid-February when she and her sister drove from their home in Arizona out to Santa Barbara to come and spend time with me. I think my brother is making a great choice and I am excited to have Amy in my life. Yeah!

Other updates... I am now living in Santa Barbara (for those of you who didn't know) and working at a non-profit organization called Casa Pacifica. My job is kinda hard to explain, but I like to try to sum it up by saying that I work with kids who are in crisis situations. I work with a staff of people doing what is called "Therapeutic Behavioral Services" which means that we go to kids homes and try to help them by equipping them with tools. we hope to modify behavior so they can succeed at school and in the home with their families. All of the kids on my caseload have pretty severe "issues" (bad family situations, behavior problems, developmental difficulties, or emotional disturbances) and my job is to meet with them frequently (close to every day) for a period of 6 months to counsel, befriend, guide, and coach them. I am LOVING it and am so thankful for a job in my field of interest (counseling/social work). I am definitely learning a lot an appreciate the experience I am gaining.
I am enjoying living in Santa Barbara (you can see a picture of a sunset above that I took a few weeks ago)! I am getting plugged back in at Ocean Hills Church and have enjoyed reconnecting with friends who are still living in the area. I am living with my awesome friend Michelle who I have known since our freshman year at Westmont and we have been having a lot of fun rollerblading, going to the beach, and having people over to our apartment.
Overall, I am feeling much more settled and stable than I was when I wrote my last entree (thank you, Lord!) I still miss South Africa SO, SO much but the longing and pain is far less intense. I am glad to be back and am thankful for all of the many, many, ways that God has taken care of me and provided for me!

TOUGH TRANSITIONS...

From teaching kids how to swim in the hot, South African, summer, sun...



... to Colorado's "HOLIDAY BLIZZARD 2006"



This past week and a half have been hard for me. I left South Africa a week ago, Tuesday, and after about 26 hours of flying arrived back in my home state of Colorado. I was truly so excited to see family and friends again, and be in the comfort of "home", but I haven't been able to shake this pervading sadness. So much changed in my life in just one day (where I live, the people I spend time with, my job, my physical surroundings, the weather, how I spend my time, and the food that I eat). I am trying to get my feet on the ground and figure out how I fit back into this American culture that I have been so removed from. The truth is, I am mostly just sad. I am sad that I had to leave and say goodbye to the kids that I love so much (and a country that I love so much). It isn't that I am not excited to be home, or excited to spend time with my friends and family (who I also love so much), it is just that I am mourning the loss of what was. Change is hard for me, I think. Perhaps it is hard for all of us. So, I am trusting God and leaning on Him. I have peace about my decision to leave South Africa and come back home-- I know the timing is right. However, the transition is still hard. Some things have been pretty exciting though-- like the recent snow storm, or shall I say, BLIZZARD!
Let me share with you a bit about what is being called the "Holiday Blizzard of 2006"...



The top picture you see is of the door to our back yard (which my mom very carefully opened in order to take the photo). Two days ago it started snowing, and snowing, and snowing, and snowing! The wind was blowing quite strongly and soon the blizzard warnings were in effect for most of the state of Colorado. The snow kept falling and only late yesterday did it finally stop (but only after close to three feet of snow had fallen)! Above is a photo of Dad and I after our attempt at trying to clear away the thick blanket of snow that covered our driveway.




The airport soon closed down (with close to 5,000 holiday travelers stuck inside for the night). The governor called in the National Guard and the Red Cross for assistance. By the end of the night all the highways were officially closed down. This is a picture of our house taken from our back yard!




This is a picture of one of the doors to the outside of the house after all the snow had fallen. Don't think we will be going out that door anytime soon. As of yesterday the blizzard warnings had been lifted and the roads were beginning to be cleared. However, all the malls were shut down yesterday, as well as schools, the postal service, government offices, restaurants, and most other businesses. We were quite literally "snowed in" which made a great excuse to stay in pajama's all day, eat soup, and spend time watching old family videos!

It feels a lot more like Christmas here in Colorado, but I still miss sunny South Africa and the all of the precious kids there from Orphan Support Group. Please keep them all in your prayers as Christmas can be a sad and lonely time (reminding them of what they do not have). Thank you!

Love,
Jen (from snowy Colorado!)

p.s. Please also pray for stranded travelers who have had to spend two nights sleeping on the airport floor in Denver waiting for flights out of town.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL-- Angels of God Summer Camp 2006



The following are some pictures of this year's summer orphan camp, which was held at the new farm! It was such a wonderful week full of great teaching (thanks to Dennis Wadley as well as Mama Lulu, Babalwa, and Refiloe), art, crafts, ping-pong, volleyball, jumping on the trampoline, swimming lessons, free time in the pool, a talent show (the talent coming from all of the kids!), horse back riding lessons, and a visit from Santa Claus on the last morning of camp. Each of the children received a new soccer ball from Santa as well as Christmas cards with personalized letters from people in the States which were particularly meaningful to the kids. I really enjoyed spending time with the girls in my cabin, who ranged in age from about 8-11. My favorite times were at night when we all retired to our rooms and I got to tell the girls stories, laugh with them, and go to their beds-- one by one-- to tuck them in and give them a goodnight kiss. Many special memories were created at camp-- for campers and leaders alike. I will never forget moments worshipping with the kids, beading necklaces with them, throwing a ball around outside while waiting for dinner, splashing around in the pool with excited swimmers, seeing the kids play with their new soccer balls, and helping them create Christmas crafts and ornaments to give to loved ones. Thank you for all of your prayers during this week of camp. Lives were truly changed and I believe the kids (and the leaders) left with a greater understanding of just how much God loves them. Many of the kids also came to know and truly believe during this week of camp that God wants the best for them and has great plans for their lives.



This is a photo of two of the older girls working on making beaded slinky bracelets. Notice the camp T-shirts they are wearing!



This is Ben, a Bridges of Hope co-worker of mine, with a group of kids shortly after Santa had visited their rooms. The World Cup soccer tournament is being hosted by South Africa in 2010 so a case of "soccer fever" is spreading like wild fire throughout the South African youth!



Some of the younger kids enjoying time spent jumping on the tramp!




This is Anita, one of the youngest (and newest) girls in the Angels Of God orphan support group. She was in my cabin group and I really enjoyed the chance to spend a lot of time with her and get to know her better.



This is Dennis Wadley taking a group of guys on a ride through the farm on the 4-wheeler (it is amazing how many kids can fit on the back of that trailer!!)

Precious Kids...

Today, more than 6,000 children will lose a parent to AIDS

This past Friday (Dec. 1st) was World AIDS Day. It was a day to bring AIDS awareness worldwide as well as fight the stigma that is tied to the disease. I thought a lot about the kids that I work with in the Orphan Support Group (most of whom have lost their parents to AIDS) and was very aware of the fact that the pain, suffering, and sigma associated with AIDS doesn't just affect the person with the disease, but it affects his or her children as well. Many, many, children are left parent-less and alone to trying to make it in this harsh world. I know that God desires that we care for the orphans and it is so exciting to see people all over the world proactivly working to protect and care for orphans. I recently read the following in an article written by Chuck Colson:

"The United Nations reports that some 143 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents. That's roughly equal to the population of Russia. In 2003 alone, 16 million children were orphaned. Every fourteen seconds, a child loses a parent to AIDS. Genocide, war, famine: These are just a few of the reasons for so many orphans. And in our own country, more than 800,000 children pass through America's foster care system each year. Some 120,000 of them could be adopted.
This month, Focus on the Family, Family Life, and Shaohannah's Hope, founded by my good friend Steven Curtis Chapman, along with nearly fifty other organizations will join together in the Voice of the Orphan campaign to raise awareness and encourage Christians to become involved in this issue of global concern. If we truly value life, what better way to show it to the world than by caring for life in its most vulnerable forms"

Please pray for the kids around the world who are orphaned. Also, please pray for the group of 56 kids in the Orphan Support Group who are coming to camp this week! We have been working hard to get the farm ready for the kids and it is now prepared (bunk rooms, trampoline, playing field, library, game room, big worship room, ping pong, pool, etc.) I am very excited for this upcoming week and would love your prayers for each child and leader who will be present. Please pray that hearts would be softened and that lives would be changed. Pray that healing would occur, walls be broken down, and that the kids would know and experience the deep love of God. The children have all experienced a lot of hurt in their lives (more than I have ever known) and I hope and pray that God would meet them in their suffering and draw them to Himself. The theme of this year's camp is "Love Conquers All". I know it will be a memorable experience for all involved. I can't think of a better way to spend my last week in South Africa than with the kids that I love.

Thanks for your prayers!

Love,

Jen

Cultural Experiences

I have had many fun opportunities recently to enjoy Xhosa culture; music, festivities, food, and traditions. Let me tell you a bit about the church dedication ceremony in Philippi-- but first an explanation of the white face paint you see below...

In Xhosa culture, the face is decorated with white paint during times of celebration or for traditional festivities and ceremonies. We have had a lot to celebrate lately! Most significant is the new church building in Philippi that was just completed! Let me tell you about the church and the recent dedication service and celebration of this new building... The photo above is the interior of the new building taken from the top balcony looking down. This church is one of the tallest buildings in Philippi and the cross on top of the tower can be seen from long distances away. This building serves not only as a strong and beautiful structure for the people of Philippi to worship, but also as a physical symbol in the community of hope, growth, peace, change, and development. "UZUKO KU THIXO" means "Praise be to God"
Directly following the dedication service we enjoyed a Xhosa feast which we helped prepare the day before. A cow was slaughtered right on the church grounds (after being led over to the church on a rope). A man leaned over to me and said, "...this is the freshest meat you will ever eat!" I was fascinated to see how every piece of the cow was put to use. The "mama's" (older women in the community) traditionally get to enjoy the brain while the eyes are saved for the oldest and most respected man. I got to see the whole process of cleaning, scraping, shedding, cooking, and serving-- it was really something! I now know that there is a lot of work that goes into making those nicely cut slabs of meat that are cleanly packaged in Saran wrap for us at our local grocery stores. As I was sitting in the kitchen of the new church peeling potatoes with a group of mama's I was shocked to see a pile of about 15 goat heads under one of the tables on the kitchen floor (right next to where we were working). One of the girls in the room must have seen my shock because she smiled and picked up one of the heads without even thinking twice! I couldn't believe it! Needless to say that little goat head is now in the stomach of a nice, happy, church-goer who celebrated with us the new church building God provided in Philippi! "Celebrate good times, come on"... (African style!!!)

Beautiful South Africa

Lately I have been profoundly aware of just how beautiful South Africa is! Last weekend I spent the day at the beach (pictured above) and enjoyed watching people play volleyball, wind surf, and casually walk along the waters edge.
These past few weeks I have spent the majority of my time working at the farm (Bridges Academy/Retreat Center), which is shown in the picture above. Each day that I drive out to the farm I am struck by the brilliant green of the vineyards and hills complemented by the magnificent blue sky. It is so beautiful!
This is a photo of some of the mountains ("hills" if you are from Colorado) that surround the town of Stellenbosch (where I live). At night, when the sun sets, the hills turn pink and purple against the darkening sky-- it is amazing! I have a view of these hills from the window of my flat just above my kitchen sink (which makes doing the dishes a little nicer)!
This is another picture of Bridges Farm where we have been spending a lot of our time painting, scraping, tiling, and remodeling to prepare it for the upcoming orphan retreat in December.
Above is a picture of the coastal route which runs along the Southern edge of South Africa. Tomorrow I am leaving for a long weekend get-away to enjoy this stretch of beach. Three friends and I are taking this road and stopping along the way to surf, eat at fun restaurants, enjoy leisurely walks on the beach, play volleyball, and maybe throw the frisbee around. Our final destination is a beach town down the coast. I am truly so blessed to live in this beautiful country and experience God's creation by going on road trips, hiking, backpacking, camping, working on the farm, and looking out of my kitchen window!

Stuck in Stellenbosch

--Taxi Strikes in Cape Town--

Yesterday was the first day that we were advised by our Philippi staff not come into work, but instead to stay at the office in Stellenbosch due to heightened violence, tension, and chaos in Philippi and around the Cape Town area caused by a large taxi strike. Today things have escalated and the unrest gotten worse because the strike has gone national. Please pray for the Bridges of Hope staff who are in Philippi. Pray for their safety as well as the safety of all involved. Please pray for a quick and peaceful resolution to this strike. Selfishly, we are bummed to be missing things that are going on in Philippi (a CHE monthly meeting yesterday, orphan support group today, and possibly a committee meeting on Monday), but really just desire that no one gets hurt and the whole strike ends quickly. We will have to wait until the roads have reopened and we have received word that it is safe before we go back in (and we hope that is sooner rather than later).

FROM THE LOCAL PAPER...
Chaos as CT taxi drivers strike 26/10/2006 12:24 - (SA)
Cape Town - A bus was set alight and two hijacked during a violent protest by taxi drivers in Cape Town on Thursday morning, the Golden Arrow bus company said.
One of the hijacked buses had been used to block off the N2 highway.
"There have been numerous stonings and several bus passengers and drivers have been injured by shattered glass," said the company's general manager, Francois Meyer.
Because of the danger, the company was currently not operating in the Nyanga, Khayelitsha's Site C, Potsdam and Du Noon areas.
Police were not immediately able to confirm reports that members of the force fired rubber bullets to disperse drivers as they embarked on an illegal march from the Cape Flats to Cape Town.
In a memorandum of demands distributed to the media, the drivers protested against what they said was harassment by law enforcement officials.
"Officers must stop hiding behind bridges and bushes," they said.
They said no taxi driver should be arrested on the road as this left commuters stranded.
'Sick and tired'
They also asked for "separate cells" at police stations, and called for the cancellation of all outstanding traffic fines and warrants "as they were accumulated because of the problems we are highlighting.
"City police must stop assaulting and harassing taxi drivers should this continue taxi drivers will be forced to defend themselves," the statement read.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association spokesperson Alfred Maseti told Sapa that when drivers began marching from ranks including Nyanga and Khayelitsha, the police stopped them as the march was illegal.
"And then the rubber bullets fly," he said. He had not received any reports of injuries.
He said it was the drivers themselves who had decided to go on strike, rather than any of the recognised taxi associations.
"We did try to stop them on several occasions, but at this point in time it was beyond our power. They said they are sick and tired," he said.
Law enforcement officials said one of the roads blockaded with vehicles by taxi drivers was the Borcherd's Quarry road, which is the access road from the N2 to Cape Town International Airport.
There was a strong police presence at various points along the N2.
Democratic Alliance provincial spokesperson for transport Robin Carlisle said the taxi blockades and demonstrations had to be dealt with firmly and as a matter of urgency.
"The public not only expects the police to disperse the taxis, but that arrests are made and taxis are impounded," he said.
"Both provincial and municipal officials have at last commenced with regulating the taxi industry. If they lose their nerve now the industry will be out of control for years to come."
Cape Town - Police fired rubber bullets on Thursday to disperse protesting taxi drivers on the N2 highway outside Cape Town, SABC radio reported.
About 200 protesters were on their way to an illegal meeting in the city, and many were armed with pangas and sticks.
The road was cleared after the police action, and traffic flow restored by 07:00.
A few taxi drivers were arrested.
The drivers intended marching to city to show dissatisfaction with the way they were being treated by the police and metro police.
Meanwhile taxi ranks at Khayalitsha were empty as commuters used buses to get to work, the radio report said."

FUN TIMES!

These past few weeks have been full of many fun events and experiences that I wanted to share (complete with photos!) fundraiser, dances, playing with cute kids, weekends at the new farm, and nights spent laughing with my awesome roomie! I am a lucky one! Here are some things I have been up to...

My friend, Siviwe, and I at a fundraising dance/dinner/auction for a local charity

My tennis bud and all-star doubles partner, Riette, and I having fun at the end-of-the-year tennis dance and awards ceremony last week
Myself enjoying time with the kiddies at Tuesday's orphan support group. The little kids (6-12 years) come on Tuesday afternoons and the older kids come on Friday's. On my lap are twins-- Zinthle and Zimkhitha
Myself and the other staff members (and visiting potential staff members on their "exposure" trip) at the farm dedication weekend where we celebrated the new farm that we recently purchased in Franschhoek. This was a fun weekend of good food, games, laugher, late nights talking, and a time of communally praying over the property and dedicating it to God.

My roomie, Lizette, and I having fun in our little flat one evening. A local who is studying at the university here in Stellenbosch, Lizette has a lot to teach me about South African language (how do you pronounce that word again?) , culture (you mean it's not polite to eat burgers with my hands? Oh, come on-- you know how much of a mess I make when I try with my fork and knife!), music (what is that noise I hear coming from the other room?) and foods (banana, hamburger meat, and mushrooms on pizza, what?! ...are you sure?!) We have a lot fun together and I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful roommate!

Building a Bridge

Above is a photo of a bridge that I drive over every day on my way to work. Most days I mindlessly pass over this bridge, thinking about nothing of great importance-- perhaps little details of the day ahead or about the cup of coffee soon to be made. However, this morning was different. As I drove over the bridge I was inclined to pull over and take a photo! So, I impulsively jumped out of the car and traversed through some tall flowers and bushes near the bank to get the angle that I wanted (the students walking by on their way to class must have been curious!) As I continued on my way to work I thought about the function of a bridge and remembered back to when I was first arrived in Africa over a year ago and the strong desire that I had to help build a bridge between the "haves" and the "have-nots", between you and the people I work with in Philippi. I don't think I have done a very good job thus far and for that I am sorry. I want to thank all of you for the ways that you have been involved with Bridges of Hope so far (through prayerful, financial, and emotional support) and I also want to provide opportunities for those who are interested to get involved and connected in some new ways...

1. Scholarship fund: There are a group of about 25 South African facilitators who live in Philippi and volunteer many hours each week to work with the children in the After School Program and Orphans and Vulnerable Children ministries that Bridges of Hope runs. Most of these facilitators are young adults (21-30 yrs. old) who have finished high school but find themselves jobless and at a dead end. They love working with the children, but many of them are yearning for the opportunity to pursue college, trade school, or a university degree in order to gain the necessary skills and credentials to get the jobs that they want. These are extremely gifted individuals who are driven and ambitious but are stuck in a system that is still so limiting and confining to the poor and underprivileged. By contributing to the scholarship fund you can help pay for the tuition of one of the facilitators (who will have to go through a Bridges of Hope application process) and I will make sure that you get connected with the selected person and can maintain email or "snail mail" contact if you are interested. This would be a great opportunity for you to provide a young adult who has a lot of potential the chance to gain the skills and hopefully the job that he or she has always dreamt of.

2. Construction teams: We are in need of teams who are willing to come over and work on various construction projects on the farm which will be a retreat center and eventually an academy for orphans. Right now the needs are demolition, irrigation, clearing and planting of a grassy playing field for the kids, and various other building and remodeling projects. If you, or a group of people from your church or workplace are interested in coming to South Africa to stay on the farm and work for a few weeks that would be a huge need met!

3. Sponsoring a staff members salary: We currently employ 5 Philippi staff members who live and serve in the community. Mama Lulu is employed as the area director of Bridges of Hope and Mama Elizabeth is the project coordinator. Refiloe is the director of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children ministry and support group and Manelisi (soon to be a dad!) and Babalwa coordinate and facilitate the After School Program. If you are interested in sponsoring one of their salaries, or contributing to this fund please email me and let me know. I would also be happy to pass along their email address to you and help you build a relationship (as much as possible half a world away!)

4. Sponsoring food parcels: Every second week the children of the orphan support group receive a food parcel which contains food that will sustain them and provide vitamins and nutrients for them as they grow. If you feel inclined to sponsor these food parcels a contribution can be made to the Orphans and Vulnerable children fund and the money will go directly towards meeting this very real physical need for these children.

5. Long term staff: One of the most significant needs currently is for long term staff. Bridges of Hope is in need of individuals or families who are willing to commit at least 18 months to live in South Africa and work on the farm (retreat center/orphan academy) as teachers, curriculum designers, program managers, farmers, care givers, administrators, and retreat facilitators. Sound Fun?! Oh Yeah! Pray about it... :-)

6. Soup for clinic: Right next to the church in Philippi where we work, there is a brand new clinic that just opened. They are in need of donated soup to serve those who walk in the door sick and malnourished. If you desire to donate money to go towards this cause, please email me. I would be happy to email you some photos of the clinic and of the neat ways they are meeting the needs of the hurting people in Philippi.

7. Teams to host retreats at the academy: We desire to offer training retreats to be held at the new retreat center and would love it if people were interested in coming over and hosting a training workshop or seminar for people in Philippi to attend. The subject of the seminar could be something that you know a lot about, or that you are passionate about. For example, 3-4 day seminars on parenting, marriage, managing personal finances, conflict resolution, health care, counseling, etc. Would be much needed and appreciated.

8. Continued prayer support: We are moving into a new phase of ministry with the purchase of the farm and the development of new programs, dreams, projects, and staff. We could really use your prayers! Also, please pray about ways that God may be calling you to get involved (and perhaps coming over for a visit!) :-)

My deep desire is to bridge these two communities that I care so much about-- my "home" back in the States and my new "home" here in South Africa. I want to try and create ways for needs to be met, relationships built, and meaningful connections made.

Love,

Jen

p.s. As I was driving to work after tramping through the tall shrubs to take my bridge photo I felt something on my leg. As I looked down I noticed this brightly-colored WORM peacefully crawling down towards my knee! Ahh! I frantically swept it down to the car floor and luckily it stayed there until I got to work and could safely evacuate! Below is a photo of the sneaky perpetrator-- looks dangerous, huh? (okay, okay, maybe not!)

FIRST DAY OF SPRING

Get out your hats, sunscreen, and flip flops, folks-- winter is officially OVER!!! (okay, okay, I know...for most of you it is yet to come, but for all of us here in the Southern Hemisphere, it is over)! September 1st marks the first day of spring according to South Africans. It is known as "Spring Day" and is celebrated by many who walk around town with floral printed clothing, shorts, sandals, and flowers or ribbons in their hair. I could not be more excited for the onset of spring, especially because this winter has been particularly cold and wet. I am also excited because, in a way, I have felt quite "wintery" this past month-- emotionally I mean. It has been a hard month for various reasons (explained below). However, things are warming up and I am feeling better. Spring is here, indeed!
As I mentioned in my last email we have been dealing with a very difficult, sticky, situation involving the caregiver of one of the orphan homes that Bridges of Hope supports, who we discovered was abusing the children living in the home (physically and emotionally). This was a huge blow to us because we thought that we knew this caregiver well and we really trusted her. (Side note-- I just realized that it has been a month since my last blog update in which I explained this situation to you. I am sorry for being so "absent" and taking too long to get back to you with an update. Thank you for praying none-the-less!) We ran into many dead ends as we tried to find a safe place for the children where they would be cared for and loved-- no one could (or was willing to) take them in. We found ourselves in a tough spot with two bad options-- 1) leave the kids in the abusive home, or 2) send them to live in overcrowded government institutions (that statistically tend to produce gangsters and prostitutes). We were way in over our heads and out of options. So, we handed the whole case over to Child Welfare Services who are qualified to deal with situations such as these and who promised us they would interview the kids, discover the extent of the abuse, and try to work with them to find a good "third option" so the kids could stay in the community, yet be safe. This is where the situation stands, out of our hands, but being dealt with in a way that will hopefully benefit all involved and bring about justice and healing.
This situation has weighed heavily on my heart. We weren't dealing with children who were unknown to us, but we were dealing with 7 children close to my heart who we have come to know and love. I was so hurt to hear about the extent of this abuse and even more hurt to see some of the ways that the kids have been acting out in negative ways due to the abuse. Please pray for healing and safety for these children and pray that they would be brave enough to be completely open and honest with the social worker that will be meeting them at school to talk about this situation. Also, please pray for the oldest boy in the family who, it was discovered, has been sexually abusing his younger sister (3 years old). Pray that "safe" houses would be quickly discovered in the community and that all the children can receive the love, nurturing, and counseling they so badly need.
This has been such a hard thing to deal with this month, but also hard has been the fact that all the US staff left to go back to the States (except for my directors Dennis and Susan). The office suddenly became a very quiet and lonely place. There were also lots of details to take care of that had usually been dispersed between all of us, but that became the responsibility of those of us who remained. I think it was good that I had a lot to keep me busy, but I still felt lonely. With this devastating uncovering of abuse, the mass exodus of staff, and the cold, rainy weather I found myself pretty down. My usual enthusiasm seemed to disappear and in its stead was a general "blah" feeling. I wish I didn't get down. It would be nice if I could be happy, enthusiastic, and joyous all the time. But I am not. I am optimistic, though, that things will get better--in fact they already have.

Staff member Grace Chisholm returned back to South Africa just last night from a month long holiday in the States. I am so happy to have her back. The office is brightened by her fresh enthusiasm and I love the extra activity. Tennis has started up again and I am enjoying the opportunity to get out on the courts after work each day and play with the team again. The weather is getting warmer and the days longer. Spring is coming and flowers are in bloom. My heart isn't as heavy, and I don't feel as down and "wintery" anymore. Thank you for your prayers and support. Thank you for allowing me to be "me"--the good, the bad, and the ugly! I appreciate all of the love and prayer you offer.
Some people have asked me about ways that they can become more involved with Bridges of Hope. I have thought about some ways to get those involved who want the opportunity-- but at the risk of boring everyone with a really LONG entry I will make that the topic of my next update (and I promise you won't have to wait a month this time for the next one!) Thanks again for your love and support!
Gratefully Yours,
Jen (with a flower in my hair and flip flops on my feet!)