It’s official summer is here! Yesterday was the last day of school for the Child Haven kids. I got the privilege to pick them up from school. They had an end of school and Christmas party. So needless to say they were so excited and on a bit of a sugar buzz. But the 5 minute drive home was fun being excited for summer.

We went over to some friends for a pool party and braai (South African barbeque). So the kids had a great last day of school and start to summer. Tonight we are going to a special Christmas carols by candlelight at one of the malls. Let the fun begin!

• One in Four South Africans are HIV+
• It is expected that there will be 3.1million Orphans by 2010 and 5.7million by 2014
• Approximately 1500 people are infected with HIV daily in South Africa
• Every Minute a South African dies of AIDS

But this isn’t just stats or numbers. These are people, families, friends…people I run into each day.  It’s dreams, vision, hope, potential that is buried with this disease.

It’s a vast, overwhelming and devastating pandemic that is swiping this nation I love. I have seen the fear it has left in its wake. Death has almost lost its string because it’s so prevalent and a daily occurrence.

Yet there is hope. God is the healer and restorer of nations.

As people have a life changing encounter with their Creator, I trust, pray and believe we will see behavioral change that will cause the tides of this pandemic to shift.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. 1  Chronicles 16:34

I have much to be thankful for…my family, health, friends, work that I love, and I could keep going on and on.

The Lord is truly so good just because He is a good, loving God and that is reason to give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I get the privilege of house/kid sitting for the week. Child Haven’s house mom is on a well deserved holiday. The first 24 hours have been great.  We truly have amazing kids that are a blast most of the time.

Yesterday we got to celebrate a birthday, lay on the grass and make shapes out of the clouds, and had a four hour dress rehearsal for the dance production on Sunday.  I’ll hold thumbs that the next few days will be as smooth and fun!

And how can you not love these adorable kiddos?

The difference between trusting God and trusting what God has done is a fine line. God is with us and for us even when His face and His favor seem hidden. Mountain-like security only comes from trusting God, not what He’s done for us or given us, however glorious and eternal those things may be. Beth Moore

God is trustworthy, period. No matter how I feel or what things look like. He has done and I believe will do many marvelous things in my life but my trust in Him can’t be based on that. He is true to His Word and promises, He doesn’t lie, fail or disappoint. So I truth Him because He says He is trustworthy and I believe Him.

I want to truth Him no questions asked, no proof needed. I know He is trustworthy in my mind but sometimes it’s hard to get that to my heart. But I’ll strive to build my faith and believe Him for who He is…trustworthy (Ps 19:7) and so much more!

It’s Wednesday so that means it’s time for another fun South African English phrase…

Howzit?: a typically South African greeting translated rough to be How is it? or How are you?

The Child Haven Gang was at McD for an afternoon of fun in the play area and ice cream. We were sitting outside eating ice cream cones. A car pulled up and some Chinese people got out. Many of the kids started loudly saying to one another “China! China!” I was mortified and turned beet red. Apparently they don’t see Chinese people often.

Thankfully “China” was gracious and thought it was funny and just smiled as they walked by us. Life with kids is never boring…

There is a war going on in the world between Christ and Satan, truth and falsehood, belief and unbelief. There are weapons to be funded and used, but these weapons are not swords or guns or bombs but the Gospel and prayer and self-sacrificing love. The stakes of this conflict are higher than any other war in history; they are eternal and infinite: heaven or hell, eternal joy or eternal torment.

I drift into a peacetime mind-set as certainly as rain falls down and flames go up. I am wired by nature to love the same toys that the world loves. I start to fit in. I start to love what others love. I start to call earth “home”. Before you know it, I am calling luxuries “needs” and using my money just the way unbelievers do. I begin to forget the war. I don’t think much about people perishing. Missions and unreached peoples drop out of my mind. I stop dreaming about the triumphs of grace. I sink into a secular mind-set that looks first to what man can do, not what God can do. It is a terrible sickness. John Piper

Unfortunately I can identify with this sickness. Even though I live on the mission field and have a strong heart and devotion to missions and people I often forget the reality of the war that is taking place and the urgency that is needed to combat it. The stakes are very high and eternal.

God please forgive me and heal me of this sickness. Break my heart once again for people and open my eyes to see the reality and urgency of the battle.

It’s been rainy, cloudy, and misty a few days this week. The fake Autumn weather in our summer made me miss some of my favorites American goodies; like caramel apples, pretty fall leaves, and of course coffee-mate pumpkin spice.

One of the things I absolutely love and overindulge in when I’m in the U.S. is flavored coffee creamer. I did have one Pumpkin Spice in the American stash so I busted it out this week and have been loving it! Although it isn’t the same without Kim we shared many, many cups of Pumpkin Spice coffee while I was home last Fall. But I’m so enjoying a taste of Autumn.

South African English has a flavor all of its own. I have picked up quiet a few different words since living here. Thought a fun way to share a glimpse into cross cultural life would be to pass on a few South African words/phrases. So I’ll occasionally do Wednesday word. Hope you enjoy!

Hold Thumbs:  which is similar to the phrase “cross your fingers” in the States

Example, “Hold thumbs for the Springboks to play well this weekend.”

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