An Overdue Update

Hello! Hi. This is long overdue. Sorry.

These past few weeks have been such a whirlwind! Since my last post, a team of 21 came from my church which included my parents and boyfriend. It was such a blessing to have them here to experience life as I have been living it. Though it was overwhelming at times to have my two worlds collide, it was also so beautiful to see them understanding why I love it here so much. I know this post will not do it justice, but time is limited and there are too many words to be written.

They came on the 29th and it was such a joyous reunion. My mom got to work with me in my house, and my dad and Brooks also got opportunity to pop in on my "normal" life, as well as help out on campus and at Beautiful Gardens. We were able to see a bit more of the country on day trips and evening getaways, and those moments were so refreshing. To end the week, I joined the team for a two day safari in South Africa. Let me tell you, it was incredible! Though we didn't see everything we were hoping to, I loved soaking in all of God's creativity and handiwork. Even just the landscape around us was enough to cause awe. They left on the 7th, and though it was difficult to have to say goodbye again, it also marked me being half way! Hokey toots! I had a lot of fear that when they left I would feel very alone, but I was pleased to find out that instead I felt very encouraged. A member of the team said something that really lightened my spirit. I feel silly for not being able to remember what it was, but whatever she said replaced fear with a great sense of calm and hope in the fact that I now have an even bigger cloud of witnesses who understand and can support me. The first few days were still a bit lonely and quiet, but The Lord blessed me with such deep joy in my work here. I wish I had time to write more. Though the week was crazy, it was also such a gift to have the three people I love most experience my day to day life.

Another big event became two. The last Friday that the Haven team was here, we said goodbye to two of our precious children. Their sister called and said she was coming to pick them up, so just as soon as she called, they were taken away. This was such a hard departure for so many. For Brittany (one of my housemates) and I, it meant two less kids in the soft play room where we work in the morning. We had really been working hard with these two to reach their milestones as they are quite behind, so we had really bonded with them. For their housemother, it meant saying goodbye to her children. And for so many others on campus, it was a day of heartache, for the nature of their departure was uncertain and not very hopeful. However, now the event has become two! A week later, we received calls from their neighborhood that they were not being looked after well, so our social worker brought them back home, and home it truly is. They adjusted very easily back into life at Beautiful Gate, and though we grieve whatever they must have experienced in that week away, we rejoice in knowing that this is not defeat. God has brought them back to good hands, and now they will be on their way through the adoption process! The sorrow of the goodbyes made the joy of the hellos even greater, and I praise our Lord for His mighty plan.

Life otherwise has just been life. There are beautiful moments of joy, moments of exhaustion, moments of sorrow, but above all else, each moment is a moment of grace. For this reason we praise. I am so excited to take time during this Holy Week to just spend with my savior, and I hope you can find the time to do the same. As my kids so enthusiastically say, "God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!"