Dear Friends and Family,

It has been three weeks since I returned home from South Africa. There is still so much to process, yet life has a way of pulling me back into the flow of daily living. Since I returned, Niko and I have had a five day flu, Sam caught a cold which became walking pneumonia, he fractured his wrist, got his first cast and lost his first tooth. It has been a busy time.

Each of you have been on my mind daily, both while on the trip and since returning. I am so grateful for your generosity and support. Some of you sent money, some of you sent prayers, some of you read the online journal and stayed a breast of what was happening each day, some of you did all three. I cannot thank you enough. Your support allowed me to follow a dream and to have my heart cracked open by the people of South Africa. I am forever grateful.

While I was in South Africa, we visited 4 orphanages, 2 hospices, 3 home based care programs, 2 hospitals, a rural clinic which serves 55,000 people, an elementary school and a feeding program. We also spent 2 days at a game park marveling at the beauty of the land and its animals, a day at the apartheid museum and a day at the Freedom Day Celebration, which celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the end of apartheid. The people were so beautiful and welcoming. Consistently, I felt them draw us right into the center of their celebrations and their lives.

Your generosity not only provided for all my fixed expenses of this trip, but because of the outpouring of your support I was also able to donate funds in honor of you to the following organizations and individuals:
Mother Theresa’s Aids Hospice $550.00
Cotlins Orphanage $200.00
Soweto Hospice $500.00
Orthowandi Orphanage $365.00
Franciscan Missionaries $500.00
Cora’s program in the townships $435.00
School Fees for children in Lawley Township $235.00
School fees for children in KwaZulu Natal $365.00
Backpacks for home health care workers in Kwazulu Natal $200.00

I also distributed the following item you donated and I took with me in my suitcase:
350 Beanie Babies to the children
590 polaroid pictures to children and adults – many whom were moved to
giggles or tears at seeing their picture develop.
80 boxes of crayons to the elementary school in KwaZulu Natal
30 bed protectors to individuals and hospice programs
75 sheets to individuals and hospice programs
10 finger puppets to Cora’s program
Beautiful Scarves and Jewelry to over 50 of the heroic women we met

I made sure that these individuals and organizations knew that these donations came not from me, but from all of you. They were very moved by your kindness and generosity.

Again, I thank you. You are a people of hope, a people of compassion, a people of light. I am so grateful for your bright and beautiful presence in my life.

May God Bless You,