What is next...

Many of you who read my blog would probably know this already. But I feel like it’s time for me to make this more public. I have not been keeping it a secret but just have not broadcasted it to the world yet.

After I return home to Canada I will being coming back to South Africa in October. I will be coming back for two years to work at Lily of the Valley Children’s Village. While there I will be doing a verity of different things. And as I start things will shift and my role will be come more framed.

My decision in coming back was not made lightly.  I struggled for weeks over the idea of being away from my life in Canada and all the things I will be missing out on while I am away.  I often still struggle with the idea of being away from home, but know it is where God has called me to be.  The days I question my decision the most is when I think about family and how much things and people will have changed by the time I see them again. Even over this year I know things have changed and I have missed out on big things.  One of the things in making my decision was making sure I would be home for both of my sister’s weddings.  Because there is no way I would miss them for the world!

To know my baby sisters will have been married for two years in that time and who knows could have kids by the time I get back scares me (only because I would be missing out on that part of their lives).  My family has always been a big factor in my life and I care a lot about what they thought about me coming back.  So before I had made any final decisions in coming back I talked to each one of my siblings and my parents asking them what they thought.  I have always known this but have come to realize again just how loving and supportive of a family I have, and how very very blessed I am to have each one of these people in my life!!

My decision started over the Christmas holidays while at Lily.  During the MCC Christmas Retreat I remember talking to some of the other MCC service workers who were in the middle of their terms and thinking 'I would never do that, being away from home for that long'… little did I know God was laughing at me saying 'Oh yeah wanna bet!'  It was right around a week later I mentioned the idea of what it might look like to come back to South Africa to Nikki (the other SALTer).  I had a hard time trying to get the thought out of my mouth because then I knew it was going to be more real and there was more of a chance it would actually happen.  Then over New Years I had mentioned it to James (one the MCC South African Reps) asking him if it was possible; what it might look like; when I would need to decide.  I then got back to Lily and talked with a lot of family and friends back home asking them of their thoughts and opinions.  After talking with everyone and praying about the situation I decided to tell James that if everything works out I am going to do it. So after talking with people from Lily, MCC people things have slowly been set in place.

There are still days I wonder what I am getting myself into and then go back to Lily for a weekend to spend time with the kids and I am blessed and reminded why I am coming back.  My going back to Lily during the weekends and this past Easter holiday has been to continue my relationships with the kids so when I do come back in the end of October beginning of November I will be able to pick up a bit easier.

I know things at Lily are not perfect nor will they ever be but I am so looking forward to being a part of the community there and being able to make an impact on the kids lives, and to hopefully make it a better place for them. I know I will not be the change but I can plant a seed and God will make it bloom into something better than I could ever imagine.

For these next two years I do not need to fundraise as I will be supported totally by MCC.  Though with wonderful experience of going to Bethany College I do have student loans I will be paying during my time away.  And if you feel any willingness to help me out in that way I would not object! :) But I am not going to talk anymore about this here!

While I am home for a few short months I hope to be able to see as many people as I can who have supported me over this past year here at Hope Valley.  I will most likely not be getting a job while I am home so I do have the freedom of spending as much time with family and friends in Saskatoon and Calgary.  Also to help as much with wedding planning as possible. 

These pictures through out this blog are from my time at Lily this past holiday and the fun times we had with the kids playing carnival games and minute to win it games.

Until next time…please feel free to ask me any questions about this and I will be happy to answer!