Why Me?

I have never felt such hunger,

I have never felt such cold. 

I drive through these townships, 

and see people living in tin sheds,

not knowing where more food is going to come from,

  and wonder, 

Why me?

"Lord, why did you give me such a life?

A life that some only dream about."

Why me?

Food has never been in short supply. 

I am never so cold at night that I can't feel my feet.

My parents have never gotten so mad at me that they

throw me out on the street.

Why me?

I can only thank my Jehovah Jireh for giving me the life that He has.

And wonder why He gave it to me. 

But why He did it, I will never know. 

He certainly didn't have to.

I wasn't entitled to anything. 

I don't have any right to any of it

I didn't do anything to attain it.

Based on my entitlement, I deserve pain and suffering.

And that He certainly hasn't given me. 

Maybe one day He will, 

My life could change in an instant. 

But would that mean He loves me any less? 

But by no means. 

So, why me?

The only answer to that my friends, 

is because He wanted to. 

Because for some strange reason, 

He picked me out of the dust and said, 

"You are mine. 

And this is where I want you." 

Plain and simple.

"May I Have Another One?"

While we might have given the world the propagation of a non-phonetic language and genetically modified farm crops, all of that must be forgiven when remembered that we, Americans, have also given the world 

Chocolate Chip Cookies and Dr. Pepper. 

The latter more than atones for the grievances of the former.

South Africa has many wonderful things that 

aren’t found in America, Rusks for example

 (a lovely addition to either tea or coffee, the chocolate ones are the best).

But one of the tragedies that is South Africa, 

is that chocolate chips are only myths, 

and chocolate chip cookies, things of legend.

After having a hankering for chocolate chip cookies for days, 

I was faced with the dilemma: There are no chocolate chips.

However, I would not let this obstacle bar my path, and prohibit me from accomplishing what I had set upon to do. Sugar, flour, even American brown sugar I had in my possession, I would make these cookies. 

This was not an option.

If you don’t have chocolate chips… you make them. 

A big chocolate bar can be nicely smashed into the perfect size chucks for cookies. As a close friend of mine once said, 

“‘Chocolate’ and ‘chunk,’ that combination of words has to be one of my favorite word combos of all time.”

Making the (above) cookies for non-Americans was probably the most enjoyable baking experience of my life. For them, not having grown up with chocolate chip cookies (if that isn’t heartbreaking I don’t know what is), they are still a novelty. The expression of sheer joy on their faces when they bite into the gooey center, and hearing the sentence made up of the five words 

“May I have another one?” 

is all a baker wants in life.

Another thing that is no small feat to acquire here in the lovely South Africa is only the best carbonated drink that has ever been created: Dr. Pepper. With this being the case, think of my surprise when a friend pulled out some.

That’s right, not knowing that it was my favorite drink of all time, I was handed a can of Dr. Pepper.

It is so incredible that God cares enough, to put things into our lives 

just to make us smile, 

just because He can. 

It just goes to show, that God is part of everything. 

He didn't just leave the world alone after He made it. 

He is still actively working in and loving it. 

Our African Princess

These pictures do not do her any justice! 

She is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen! 

She is so gorgeous! 

She is passed around from one to another, 

and really is treated like royalty. 

This man, is completely in love with this child. 

It doesn't matter who has her, he'll come, and you won't have a choice to to give her up. 

I *just* missed getting a picture of her yawning. 

But isn't she one of the cutest things you've ever seen? 

She really is one of the most beautiful babies.

Little kids, I can't get enough of them! 

A Ray of Hope

These children's smiles are infections!  

This little boy is a character for sure!

So naughty, but so sweet! 

Futball, the sport of choice around here.

Living here for almost two years will make you a brother to these boys. 

Group self-pictures... not the easiest thing to do, but oh, so much fun :) 

The bakkie, which delivered food to over 21 families. 

The tin house to the left is where this woman calls home, 

her little daughter sick inside. 

Please pray that the little girl would get better, 

and they would be warm enough this winter.

 

 People were so grateful when we brought them their food.

They almost didn't know how to respond. 

 No matter where you are,

there is nothing like having a dog. 

Mamelodi is a little township just outside Pretoria, South Africa. 

Throughout Mamelodi are shacks and huts that people call home. Hunger and cold envelope these wonderful people. Meetse a Bophelo is a center which spreads a ray of hope and love for this town. Within the walls of this center there is a community, made up of at least six nationalities; working together to give these people as much as they can. They run an after school program, where children who need a little extra help can come, learn about Jesus, are helped with homework, and sent home fed and happy. The children who come range from the age of 7 to 16 (give or take a year or two). During the average day, the kids trickle in from about 1330-1400, play futball, are fed lunch, sing and hear a Bible Story, then go off to their respectful activity. Which will either be learning how to use a computer, coloring, exercising, or just having fun with one of the teachers. Following that, they are fed a snack and sent home. All to be repeated the next afternoon. 

Nick, one of the leaders here, 

slept all last week in a tent in almost freezing weather to raise enough money to buy food for the families of these children. His heart for these people is incredible and impossible to overlook. For the past two days we have been driving around the town in his bunkie (a pick- up truck) delivering the food. Not as easy at it looks; but the smiles and the tears of gratitude make it all worth while. With the food that was delivered theses families will be able to have good meals and full stomachs for the next couple days, and will have seen just what the love of Christ will do. 

The ministry that this center does is incredible, 

giving selflessly of themselves, of their time, in order to make these children's lives just that much better. It has been my privilege to be able to be part of this, be it even for just a few days. 

Hot Tea & Yoga Pants

You know it’s cold in the morning when you stay in bed 

for a full forty-five minutes after your alarm clock goes off 

to have an argument with yourself 

about whether or not you should brave the cold and take a shower. 

This was unfortunately my lot this morning.

Sweatshirt pulled over, yoga pants thrown on, 

scarf tied up, hot beverage of choice in hand; 

this is how you will find me at any given moment. 

Today, well at the moment, hot tea is the desired libation.

Several gallons to hot tea and coffee past through my mug during the day; 

I think the count is up to thirteen now.

(In the 5 days I've been here so far)

With no central heating, here in South Africa,

 being warm starts being an art. 

Wearing things not because they’re cute, 

but because you’ll freeze to death without them, 

is something that we, Virginia Beachians, don’t understand very well.

But I think that I'm starting to get the hang of it.

As far as I can tell I have frozen yet;

not all the way through anyhow. 

I need to go brew myself another cup o' tea, 

Cheers! 

Cuz this is Africa!

The clouds, I can't describe how amazing the clouds are here. 

Pictures will not do them justice. 

But I'll try and give y'all a little taste of it.

We were stopped for traffic: little photo op. 

A squatter park, right behind a huge 1st world church.

It's a strange thing, two worlds being so close. 

The lighting was so pretty! 

I have made it to the beautiful country of South Africa. 

And already feel like I will leave part of my heart here. 

The voyage to get here was no small feat however. 

20 hours all together, if you get the direct flight from JFK. 

Then you arrive at 0745 and have a full day to explore. 

Let me tell you, 60 hours with only 5 hours of sleep sporadically spread throughout

is not the easiest thing to do. 

Surprisingly I managed to stay quite energetic throughout. 

(well, except for those couple hours stuck inside a dark metal tube for 14 hours)

Here I am, and here I will live for the next month. 

Doing this, that and the other. 

Taking pictures wherever, whenever I can. 

Because when you leave a place, 

all you take back are memories and pictures.