Foundation Backbone and Helping Hands

Being back in South Africa has certainly driven home a few realities which are easier to ignore when you live on a different continent. Being faced, for example, with the issue of AIDS and the implications it has for our country. For most of my life AIDS was something we were taught about and which we heard about and basically that we read about in the news. We knew about AIDS orphans, but we never really did anything about it, after all, what can one person do? But since I've been back I have realised the seriousness of the issue as if I were encountering it for the first time. I have felt a burden for these children since my housemate started telling me more about her involvement with an orphanage called Helping Hands. My heart has been stirring to do something productive since I heard about these beautiful children and the seemingly hopeless situation they find themselves in. So we have been compelled to act. We are in the process of registering as a section 21 company- that is basically a non-profit organization- and we are calling ourselves Foundation Backbone (which was inspired by Joyce Meyer saying we need to have Backbone, not Wishbone). Our vision is ultimately to partner with as many charities and organizations as possible in order to help the children in our country that are affected by AIDS. You have no idea how it affects you getting involved in the lives of these kids. They are just gorgeous. So full of life and hope and joy that you can't believe that they all come from backgrounds so horrible they are enough to make the strongest of you feel sick to your stomach. I know I have never felt so full of life and yet so broken and humbled all at the same time. Take a look at a few of these pictures. They might give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.

Now where have I heard that before?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what you're gonna say- it's just another excuse! Where have I heard that before?
But this time it's TRUE! My internet SUCKS!!!!!! I can't possibly stay up to date on wonderful blogger and stay in tune with my blogosphere family if my internet doesn't work.
But lo! What light at the end of yonder tunnel shines...? Tis' the east... and soon to be the end of internet problems is the solution! Hopefully, anyway. As soon as the new internet is up and running I will be BACK IN ACTION!!!!!

In the meantime- Did you miss me? (say yes, even if you don't mean it, just say yes.)

Word to ponder for the day: Random.
It's a word I love, it's a word I use all the time... But WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It's so... what's the word I'm looking for? Oh yeah. Random.

The Old Has Gone, The New Has Come.

Today is the 31^st of December 2006. It’s 8pm. There are only 4 hours left of this year.

I have to say that today was a fantastic finish to the year. We went to the Cape of Good Hope, which is the most South Western point of South Africa. It’s a beautiful nature reserve with a little cable car called a funicular that goes up the mountain. We had an early breakfast there and went up to the top where there is an old lighthouse that is no longer in use due to the fact it is 259m above sea level and it often used to be under cloud cover so boats couldn’t see it anyway. They rebuilt the lighthouse further down at a height of 87m above sea level.

From the top of the mountain there is an incredible view of the Cape. You can see for miles and miles and miles in all directions. Today was windy, but very sunny, so the sea was the deepest blue you can imagine. We saw dolphins in the water having a grand ole time. Now imagine standing on the edge of a cliff and seeing the ocean crashing over the rocks below. There are seagulls surfing the air currents about halfway between you and the water. The mountain tapers down to the sea and on a rock pinnacle there stands a single building – the lighthouse. It looks lost and lonely with only the birds and breakers to keep it company. In the distance you see mountains silhouetted on the horizon and right beside you climbs a sheer face of rock that is so straight it looks as though it has been severed with a knife. The sun is basking on you but the fresh sea breeze cools you down perfectly and you can actually taste the salt in the air. It is as close to heaven as you can get. That is definitely a highlight of this year.

At the close of the year and another chapter it is always a good time for Selah. Pause and think. Think about life and what events have shaped and formed you. Think about what direction your life is taking and to reassess if you are where you want to be. Are you satisfied with turning the page and closing off this chapter?

The last 12months have been…eventful, to say the least. I don’t think I have been through so many emotional highs or lows in any other 12 month period. I don’t think I have ever grown as much either. It has been a valley of weeping and a place of refreshing springs. I must admit that I am relieved the year is drawing to a close. I’m grateful for all it has achieved in my life, but I am looking forward to a new season and a new beginning.

I pray for you that 2007 is a year of new beginnings. A year of dreaming big. A year that meets and exceeds every one of your expectations.

Fare thee well 2006.

Bring it on 2007!

FINALLY - a few pics!

I know these are only a few, but I finally managed to get them uploaded.

Merry Christmas

This is an old favourite, and has become one of my most loved carols, simply because I took the time to really listen to what was beng said. It is so easy to just sing along to the familiar tune without thinking about it. Hope you had a very merry Christmas!

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
"Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem

"Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

The Psychologist

A Sample of Ewe.

The Psychologist. How original can you get?!?!

The Story of Ewe

Ann Gadd - The Story of Ewe

Once upon a time Ewe worked for a large IT corporation. She quickly climbed the corporate ladder to success. One day there was a big corporate merger and Ewe was"left to pusure other interests," and was replaced by Shawn, who had more RAM. Ewe felt like a lost sheep until she realised that what she really wanted to do was to shear spiritual heights - to seek the answer to "Who are Ewe?"
In her quest for The Truth, Ewe has studied the great philosophers - Plato and Socrates became her pals and Jung her astral analyst. She listened to every bleat of her guru, Sigh Baabaa who preached regularly to his flock and wrote a best seller: “Rams are from Mars and Ewes are from Venus.” She attended workshops in “Creating Ewe” and “Finding your Inner Lamb.” She experimented with grass, became a vegetarian and locked horns with conventional beliefs feeling that most sheep have had the wool pulled over their eyes.
Finally one day she realised: Gee, Ewe are Ewe. (Guru)

This is the brainchild of a local Capetonian artist called Ann Gadd. I fell in love with the idea, and though her philosophies are sometimes a little 'left field' I cannot help but admire her originality and fabulous sense of humour. Please, check out the site and see a bit more about her.

Hadassah

Have you ever been in a place you didn't understand? Or been put in a situation you couldn't come to grips with? I often find myself questioning the reason or the motivation behind so many of the places I end up in.

I am currently reading Hadassah - One Night With The King, by Tommy Tenney and it sometimes feels like I'm looking at my own life, or my own struggles. Ok, my physical circumstances are nothing like hers, but her emotional struggles and the obstacles she must face and overcome with no explanation why ring true in the deepest part of my soul.

If you currently are, or ever have been, 'in the desert' with no water in sight, I would highly recommend this book. It might just stir your faith into believing that God is still (as He always has been) God. And nothing will ever make that less true.