Special Times

When our holiday started on 8 December, I had every intention of blogging daily - posting loads of photos, downloading new backgrounds in line with the season, etc. Then it just seemed as if there wasn't enough time in the day to get to everything. I just loved watching George and the girls interact with Samuel and the impact of their "full time" stimulation & attention.

Samuel loves the beach and the water no matter what the weather!!!! The girls are so good with him, building sandcastles, digging water trenches and just enjoying him enjoying the water.

The girls go for early morning runs with their nephew, who being in the British Armed Forces, is a hard taskmaster. Samuel just loves the wind and being on the beach.

This being Samuel's first Christmas at home, we really had to work hard at not spoiling him too much! It has been so long since we had a little one in our home for Christmas, that we spent hours in toy shops just "window shopping"! Just when the girls & I had our spending under control, the bug bit George who wanted to buy & buy! In the end I would like to think that we spent wisely, that his first Christmas home was about the Right Gift and that he would remember it as a time when he was loved to bits.

In this photo Samuel is with my brother and his son. Samuel loved his new t-shirt - an amazing gift from the two buddies at his side.

Late afternoon we went for a walk on the beach - yes, the wind was blowing more than normal and the water icy, but we loved being outside. The girls got cameras for Christmas so I will post some of their photos tomorrow. In the meantime, George took this photo at Gordons Bay - so awesome and amazing.......Only the Master can produce a picture this perfect.

Thinking back to last Christmas, we never in our wildest dreams could think that our lives this Christmas would be so different, so blessed - absolutely beyond what we deserve!

Thank you Lord for ......

- The greatest, most precious gift of all , Your Son;

- The gift of our son, Samuel;

- Our 3 daughters, who during this year had to adjust to a new country, school, new way of life and stood strong in You throughout a very difficult time at school;

- For our family, loved ones and friends.

How can you not.......

After last weekend's very "lavish" Father Daughter banquet and all that went with it, this weekend was quite the opposite.

On Saturday George's work had an outreach to pre-schools and orphanages in and around Harare. The outreach comprised of general cleaning up around the facilities and then handing out some donated items. George took these photos of the creche where they sanitized toilets, cleaned windows, etc. The photo above is of the children, that attend the creche, doing a "dance of joy" at the end of the morning to say thank you.

The toilets are a hole in the ground with a shelter around it for privacy.

How can this not stir our hearts?

The afternoon brought about a Christmas party at St Joseph's House for Boys, a house in Harare that have about 75 boys of various ages - some are orphans, others just "unwanted" in their society. The message of the service prior to the festivities was all about hope and being special. The Pastor from Zimbabwe for Jesus explained to the children that they were precious; fearfully & wonderfully made and that God has a future planned for each of them - God created them for a reason and they are an important part of God's plan for this country.

Then it was time for gifts and snacks! I was touched beyond words at the pride & joy of a little boy when he found his own tube of toothpaste as part of the gift package! So simple..... yet life changing for him. The package also included other toiletries, a new t-shirt, a new schoolbag & school items.


I was unable to take any photos, only because it was too emotional for me. Each child there reminded me of all the others out there that had no shelter, no food, no love. Each child there also reminded me of those waiting for forever families and those who had found their way home.


After a day like that, how can you not be touched by the plight of the children of this world - the estimated 147,000,000 that need love above all.........

I know adoption is not for everyone, for a long time we didn't think it was for us either. However it was a decision that has changed each of us in the family forever, for the better.
I don't think its ever to late to change a life or make a difference.


How can we make a difference:
- We can pray for God to open our eyes, to see the need;
- We can pray for paperwork / court dates / passports for those waiting to go home;
- We can pray for forever families for those still waiting;
- We can contribute to / support / sponsor an adoption;
- We can give our time to help at a place of need;
- We can love unconditionally..........

Father Daughter Banquet

Last week was hectic crazy, yet great!

First there was the fundraising Golf day with a Gala dinner - we raised U$ 9055!! Early morning saw only about 60 people for dinner, which made that we almost cancelled - a final head count during the evening: 130 people!! Due to the economic circumstances in Zimbabwe, fundraising is never easy - we know that we would never have achieved this on our own and thank the Lord for the success of the entire day.

Then there was the preparation for the Father Daughter banquet on Saturday. Monday morning saw me in "downtown"/"cow's guts", similar to Makola market in Ghana, buying fabric for the twins' dresses. Sheree worked wonders during the week and we had the final fitting on Friday - all still well on track for the next day. All the decorating issues were taken care of; despite rain and plenty of errands that needed to be run during the afternoon, Friday night promised to be spent doing nails, etc. prior to doing the airport run to collect George coming back from South Africa.

Then the phone rang .........

George's flight was cancelled due to the fact that Harare airport was not clear for the night landing, landing lights not sufficient as we had lots of rain. A mild panic attack and then waiting for news of possible flights the next morning. After further delays the next morning, they eventually landed at 9:40am. Rushing home to drop off; to venue to help decorate in need; back home to collect girls for hair appointments (had a great hour with other moms & girls as we shared many coffee variations!!); back home to drop off & do special flowers for dads to give the girls as they arrive at venue; back to venue to drop off and then back home to help dress. CRAZY!!

Then it happened..........

As we zipped Ellen up, the zip was no longer!!! Marina panicked, Ellen was to shocked to say anything and my brain went into overdrive!! There was only 10min to fix this wardrobe malfunction, thus out with needle & thread. I started sewing Ellen into her dress, whilst Marina finished up. I must say Ellen handled "the crises" in such a mature manner. In the end you couldn't even tell there was a problem. They both looked stunning and to me far to grown up. They eventually left at 6:45pm, arrived in time for 7pm and had a great time.

Thank you Lord for this opportunity for George, Ellen & Marina and the other fathers & daughters.

George, Ellen & Marina thoroughly enjoying this very special evening.

Ellen, Hannah, Marina

After George & the twins left, I admit to falling apart. And into this gap stepped Yvonne.

She had been absolutely amazing the entire day. As she is so close to the twins, she felt very left out on this occasion and there had been some tears (prior to the day and earlier on the day itself). Yet, she was the one who drove with me in the pouring rain to collect first the dresses and then George. As we got stuck in traffic, she prayed that God would take control of our chaotic morning and help us to get everything done on time. She helped me do the special arrangements that the girls received at the venue; played mother to Samuel most of the day and then picked up the pieces after they left. She made pancakes for us while I fed & bathed Samuel, delicious! When Samuel was in bed, we could cuddle up and watch a "chick flick". Sunday morning after church, George took her for her favourite: waffles!!

Thank you Lord for Yvonne and the place she has in our family.

21 Nov.... 2 special birthdays

Today was the birthday of 2 special ladies that have enriched our lives beyond belief and they're both on the above photo taken in May 2008.The first is George's sister, Lizzie (on the left) and the other is the sweet little on the right (purple headband).

Well, what can I say about Lizzie: she came to stay with George and the girls when I went to Ghana to bring Samuel home. This despite the fact that her own daughter from Johannesburg was visiting them in Mozambique, where they live! There is very little, maybe nothing(?), that Lizzie hasn't tried her hand at - give her a glue gun, staple gun, needle & thread and she can fix anything! She has a heart for other people; is always ready to help in need and has broad shoulders if you need one to cry on. When I arrived back from Ghana, she had left enough food in the freezer for a month, which gave me lots of bonding time without having to worry about the routine of everyday life.

Happy birthday Lizzie, may God bless you with many more. Thank you for the special person that you are. Love you lots!

And then there is "Girlfriend" as her Mommy called her when we first met them in Ghana. She is 2 years old today and is one of the many little ones that were a part of our adoption journey. Together with her parents and sister, this little girl will always be in our hearts and prayers. Her parents taught us what it is to love and wait at the same time. A painful journey at times, but so rewarding when the little ones come home.

Happy birthday "Girlfriend", 2 today!! Mommy & Daddy, we know how much she means to you and for this new year we pray for continued blessings. May her days be filled with love and laughter as she continues to blossom in her family.

Stressed???........

At the end of today I felt exactly like the napkin ring that Samuel chose to play with today - yes, the one on the right. I hope to bounce back to the left one by morning!

This morning brought about various stress related issues:

• All 3 the girls need temp passports & Samuel needs a visa before we can leave for holiday. To achieve this the entire family has to visit the South African Embassy for fingerprints, etc. Not as easy as it sounds with a Dad travelling.
• Ellen & Marina are attending a Father Daughter Banquet on 21 Nov and we are still "dressless". After 2 weeks of limited shopping options/inappropriate dresses/"arm & leg" prices, we have decided to go the dressmaker route. Now pattern and fabric hunting!
• Decor for this special event became my responsibility, those who know me know decor / creativity / art in any form is not my gift. Thus a coffee appointment with a friend who is! Thank you Lord for giving us different talents and gifts!
• Oh yes, did I mention the school's fundraising Golf Day with Gala Dinner on 17 Nov? I still need to "sell" 2 golf teams (U$200 per team) and 10 dinner tickets by Friday(U$25 pp)!!

So Samuel and I went started early on our wacky Wednesday errands...... and after my coffee / decor meeting I felt quite ridiculous about my stress issues. My very talented friend, who by the way offered to do all our decor for the special Father Daughter evening, is a close family member of the couple brutally attacked on their farm (blog entry 3 Nov).

This couple are still very much in need of prayer. The husband is still not fully conscious and the full extent of his injuries is still unknown. The wife's severe head injuries have left her partially paralysed and then there is the emotional trauma. Please continue to pray for physical and emotional healing.

As I left my friend's house I knew why she and the rest of the family have been able to stand strong and go on with their lives:

Isaiah 40:29-31 declares: "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

One of the best ways to counteract stress is to pray for others. -Anonymous

Times of crisis

Today my biggest crisis had been Marina coming off her mountain bike whilst training with Dad and her sisters.

However elsewhere in Zimbabwe things are very different....

Pastor G from our congregation had to bring a message of hope to a farming community today. This community is about 50km outside Harare and they have been standing strong in Christ in both a spiritual and physical battle for a long time. They were given about 2 months to get off their farms and are now in the last 2 weeks. Some have been there for generations and despite being brave, reality is now taking its toll.

How do you pick out a few things that represent your entire life?

How do you start over at the age of 76?

How do you do "life"?

The questions of "why"and "how" are many, the only answer on where to turn: GOD

Another family tonight are in prayer for a father/brother/dear family member who goes on trail tomorrow. Again a man who loves God, who loves the people of this country despite of what he and his family have been through. A man who knows that God can turn events even at the eleventh hour. We are praying for protection over him and his family and divine wisdom for all involved in the trail.

Both groups of people above have family members in our church and as we thought of them whilst worshipping this morning, our hearts cried out to God to strengthen them. At times like this, God calls upon us to be faithful in our prayers.

James 5:13 "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray."

Jeremiah 29:12 "Call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you."

Whilst in Ghana with Samuel's adoption, my friend Maria gave me Psalm 20:1-5 as an encouragement. Tonight I want to share this and ask you to pray with us:

"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.

May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.

May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious

and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests."

Prayers needed

From the first to the last............ each one watching for "the one that follows behind". Samuel has now discovered that he can "stand" on his head and look through his legs. He loves the way the girls copy him and laughs when we ask him what he is looking at...... Ellen laughed so much, she couldn't keep standing!

On a more serious note.

I'm sure most of you have seen the recent Zimbabwe headlines regarding the stalemate situation again in the government. There has also been some violent attacks on some of the government officials, not high ranking ones, but rather those who are a soft target - the latest being a woman on her way to work.

We have also received various prayer requests for safety and healing of farmers that had been attacked on their properties not to far outside Harare - the last couple attacked on their farm are still both in intensive care. Lots of prayer for wisdom is also needed in terms of land reform.

As we draw close to the end of the year, people are feeling despondent and apprehensive about what the new year will hold for them. Promised change is not taking place and people are turning to all kinds of practices in an effort to find an answer. Please pray that as the "Zimbabwe for Jesus" mission group go into the rural areas, their message of hope will take root in the hearts of the people. That the forces at work in turning the people away from Jesus, will have no power. That the Spirit of God will move in a mighty way.

"Lord, today I want to bring Zimbabwe and its people before You. You love the people, the country and the plans You have for them is to prosper in You. Thank you Lord that You never leave or forsake us."

3 Months.....

It has been 3 months of hectic activity, but we've found our "groove".

This photo was one of the last taken in Ghana - at our farewell braai / BBQ.

It was also our last weekend with Charlie / Samuel before he moved to Michael & Mariette.

This photo was taken this past weekend, 8 months later.

Samuel loves music, especially the drums.

There is only one thing he loves more than music, no not food, WATER!!!

Marina trying to slow him down in getting to the pool.

Ellen keeping a close eye on his "swimming" abilities.

Especially trying to drink the water!

Yvonne is the Bubble Queen!! Nobody can get this many bubbles in one go!!

Truly an amazing ride so far!

Heart breaking decisions.......

I wasn't quite sure where I was going with this entry, but here goes.....

This train of thought started late September, when I received an e-mail from Ghana concerning a new baby and the difficult circumstances surrounding the little one. The request then was for prayer for the family involved. The past 2 weeks this little one's name has cropped up in more than one conversation / e-mail with friends in Ghana. Our prayers for the little one and family became "broader" as we started praying for foster families and wisdom for the officials involved, both Social Services and BH.

A very special blog posted by a friend in September talked about the act of love when families make the decision to have their child / children adopted. Having lived in Ghana, witnessing the desperate conditions under which some of the families live, this is their ultimate gift to a child that would otherwise not have much of a chance. Despite what the world says of Samuel's biological mother, I choose to believe that she loved him very much. Social circumstances and age old beliefs (throughout Africa) can force a family into making tragic decisions, thus my belief that her choice for him was life.

My heart aches for this specific father, and every other family member anywhere / every where, who has to make the decision of letting a child go because they want more for them. Our prayer for each of them is that they will find God's peace in their decision.

At the same time there are a host of people working in the trenches, finding a loving home for each of these little ones that cross their paths. They are passionate about God and what He expects of us in terms of the orphans of this world. They deal with authorities, red tape and more paperwork than you can imagine. And... they encourage, provide a shoulder to cry on when court dates, passports, etc.. don't happen as planned, help raise funds for adoption costs and deal with even more paperwork!

"Lord, my prayer today is a prayer of thanks for each of our children that you place in our homes. Let us never forget Lord that You had a plan for them right from the moment that they were created, despite worldly circumstances. Strengthen those Lord that walk alongside an orphan; fill them with Your wisdom as they guide families (biological and forever) and open doors as they deal with paperwork. Lord, open our eyes and hearts to recognise a need and stir in us a desire to make a difference."

"Adoption granted" .....words that change your life forever!

Early morning coffee at Vic Falls with Dad & my sisters

On the 17th we celebrated 3 months of Charles Kojo becoming Samuel Charles Kojo Versfeld. Looking at Samuel's journey home and it being the anniversary of our adoption date, I would love to share some details of his adoption. I know that this is "old news" for some, but for us it will always be an awesome story.

I'm 1 today

On our first Saturday back after the Christmas holidays, Romana and Heather asked me at Youth whether I would just come and have a look at the "new baby" from Tema who was special needs and in need of lots of love. Although we had no intention to foster another Ghanaian baby as we were on our way to Zimbabwe, God had other plans. Samuel came into our lives on Sunday 11 January 2009 as the "new baby" from Beacon House and he was like a newborn - unable to hold his head up, sit up or even really interact with people. His paperwork showed that he would turn 1 on 4 February and my heart ached for this little one. The girls enjoyed arranging his Teddy Bear picnic party with some friends from Beacon House, and Samuel was able to sit up in a special foam chair - for us a huge step forward after only about 3 weeks of stimulation!

The Paul family who loved me so much

After we left Ghana in early March, Samuel was fostered by a loving family who continued to stimulate him. Mariette continued to keep me informed on each milestone and sent regular photos. During this time George and I felt God calling us to commit to a longer term "promise" for a little one, than just a foster home. After much prayer and various doors opening and others closing, we were told in early June that we could proceed in adopting Samuel. The entire June was spent running around after a Social Welfare document and on the evening of 30 June, we made a decision to take a leap of faith. I booked my ticket for Ghana, departing Johannesburg 4 July and returning 25 July - I know, 3 weeks time limit for all Ghana documents is crazy!! BUT those were the dates we felt God giving us and asking us how far we trust Him to make it happen. I met Samuel again on 4 July and I was amazed at his rate of development! The Paul family played such a big part in Samuel's life and it was a huge privilege for me to be able to stay there for my first week in Ghana, as it made the transition for Samuel so much easier. Samuel just loves to be loved and they did that and so much more for him. They are forever part of our family.

As with everything the first week was pretty much meeting with the lawyer, Social Welfare and Immigration for all Samuel's paperwork, but nothing happened in terms of the finalization.

Corrie & Johan
The rest of my 2-week stay in Ghana was spent with the Bekkers - prayer warriors!! This was that period of time that most adoptive parents dread, waiting for your court date and passport. Despite having had the benefit of going through this with our foster babies and having been "trained" well by Romana during our time in Ghana, it still got the better of me. Corrie and Maria rallied the prayer warriors and this kept me standing. After "losing" 2 court dates, I was told our date would be 17 July at 11:30. At about 9:45 I received a phone call from the lawyer stating that the clerk of the court had informed him the judge would not be coming in and our case had to be carried over to the Tuesday. I was devastated and started trying to send out text messages for urgent prayers, when the lawyer phoned back and said if I could make it to town by 10:30, the judge would see us. For anyone knowing Accra traffic on a Friday, its almost impossible!! Yet, in the back of a Muslim taxi, me singing "What a mighty God we serve" and "Step by step You'll lead me and I'll follow you all of my days" to Samuel, we reached town by 10:15. The lawyer did not want to believe we came all the way from Airport Residential! After another 10min through centre of town traffic, we were seated on a wooden bench in front of the court.

With the lawyer & Social Worker after "Adoption granted"

The judge hardly gave me time to put down the nappy bag, took one look at Samuel who was busy "doing Mommy's hair" and said "Its OK". Then I asked if he would please say the words "Adoption granted", and although they all started laughing, he obliged. He then proceeded to collect his documents and left the room with us. As he closed the courtroom door, I realised how mighty our God really is - the judge heard only 1 case that day, ours!! By 11:00 I had shared the wonderful news with George and the girls in Zimbabwe, family in South Africa and was on my way to have coffee with a group of ladies from the Bibile study. They were still going to pray for our time in court at 11:30!!!

We enjoyed coffee, Samuel and Jana enjoyed life!

Sunday, 19 July, Samuel and I stood in front of our congregation as they prayed for us for tavel mercies for Saturday, 25 July. Samuel had no passport, no court order yet and thus no visa or ticket. Tuesday morning brought about yet another passport interview and I admit I was beginning to worry that I would have to "go and come" without Samuel. Our prayer warriors from around the world prayed that God would continue to do what humans perceive as impossible. On Wednesday morning I was handed Samuel's passport, we bought his ticket and I applied for his South African visa. On Thursday the lawyer provided me with a one page document as proof that they were busy with our court documents, but he said that the chances of us getting the signed and sealed court document by Friday was slim. Friday morning brought about Samuel's visa as well as the sealed court order! The lawyer stated very clearly that this was truly an exeption! God had done amazing wonders!

I'll make a plan to get what I want
So here we are, Samuel is becoming more and more confident each day. He has some definite ideas about naps and bedtime - not his favorite activities. However anything involving water is always a winner, trying to get him out of the bath, shower or pool is a challenge.

At the Matopos with Granpa & Granny

Samuel is loved and adored by family and friends. We are blessed to have him as part of our family!

Thank you Lord for those precious ones that You bring into forever families!

Joy is …….. red lollipops!!

It’s amazing how 4 red lollipops can "make your day"!
Since Zimbabwe has changed over to USD, small change has been somewhat of a problem, as we don’t use coins. So your choices are either a "change voucher"(which you present next time as a prepayment of purchases) or you take your pick from the array of small sweets at the till for the balance of your change – thus today 4 red strawberry yogurt lollipops for my 84c change.
The girls are in the midst of exams, so this unusual treat on the way home, quickly hit the spot and reduced stress levels, whilst shooting the sugar levels sky high. Samuel could not believe his luck – when Marina handed him the lollipop in the car, he let out an excited shriek. By the time we got home, Samuel was almost too sticky to pry loose from the car seat. Since the clean kitchen floor was also in danger, Samuel went into a storage container and the rest of us girls on the kitchen floor. As you can see, we truly enjoyed watching him enjoying his lollipop – he loves to share and when they shriek "nooooo", he doubles up with laughter!!
Whilst sitting on the kitchen floor with the girls watching a very sticky boy, I thought of how God’s love is so much like a red, sticky lollipop:
- It comes from deep in His heart and is so sweet ;
- His love sticks to all of us, even to those who don’t want to accept it straight away, its there for when they need it;
- As the lollipop layers change colors until you hit the soft core, God changes our layers and work away the hard outside until we are soft to His touch and voice;
- Sometimes the lollipop falls and breaks, but unlike the sweet which can’t be fixed, God can fix those that are broken due to "sticky" life situations.
Oh what joy, to take time out on a kitchen floor for a red lollipop!!
Thank you, Lord!!

One of those days

I really intended to post this yesterday, but then what can I say - it was one of those days.

I woke up with a feeling of being blessed way beyond what I deserve. George and the girls went for an early morning cycle and Samuel had a sleep-in, so Mommy had time to have her coffee in the garden and enjoy the quiet. Sitting there I remembered a time when doctors told us would never have our own children, God had blessed us with 4! I also remembered the discussions George and I had about bringing Samuel home and how great it would be if he was here for Christmas, God brought him home in record time! God had provided us with all we needed in this new country and way, way more in terms of "non worldly goods".

Our church service normally starts with testimonies and here my "warm, fuzzy" feeling was dealt a dose of reality. The lady wrongfully accused of theft and imprisoned, gave a testimony of God's protection during the past few weeks. She again shared how she led 2 women to Christ and how she followed up by visiting them after their sentencing. She then shared a bit about her appearance in court and how she felt standing in the dock - " Standing there, I suddenly realised how Jesus must have felt. I know my most overwhelming feeling of shame and sadness can never even be compared to what He had endured for each one of us." How quick we are to wonder how God can allow things to go wrong for His children, yet in her time of shame and her sharing thereof, she made all of us more aware of the greatest blessing ever.
After this appearance in court, she and her husband were attacked in their home last weekend! This time her testimony centred on the power of prayer. She said the initial attack was filled with aggressive behaviour and anger. Whilst being pinned to the floor, she started praying and told her husband to do the same as God promises that there is power in prayer. From wanting to kill them, their attackers decided to lock them up - they even gave her her Bible when she asked for it! She testified to being intensely aware of God's presence during this time. She endured severe blows to the head and God had protected her from any damage! God is always present, always protecting, always loving each one of us, despite of what the world does to us.

I made a few new resolutions after the service:
- spend more time with those I love, really take time out with them (the dishes and washing will still be there when they each want to do their own thing);
- look for more opportunities to help and support others, small things go such a long way;
- and lastly but most importantly to be more aware of God's whisper in a world of loud noises. To be able to make the difference in a situation when He calls on me, no matter how difficult it might be at the time.

Watching Ellen, Marina & Yvonne play volley ball against Dad & Samuel, again brought overwhelming feelings of thankfulness for a God that truly loves me for who I am and blessed me way beyond what I deserve.

We continue to pray for change for this beautiful country, because as the song says: "Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, nothing is impossible for Him."

Sunday Blessing

Sunday morning saw us not dressing in our normal "Sunday best", but rather taking a more casual approach with shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops (if you really felt the need for some shoes). Together with our Bibles went fully stocked picnic baskets, blankets, umbrellas and everything short of the kitchen sink - any outing with a little one involves lots more than what we were used to. About 45min out of town, we met up with the rest of the congregation out on one of the farms. It was a truly stunning summers day and there under the trees, we had our morning service and fellowship.

As our Jnr Pastor was turning 50 on Monday, our Snr Pastor (just over 50) based his sermon on the saying "how time flies". He spoke about how in the past this was a saying often used by more mature people, but that of late it has become almost an excuse for the young. Due to our very busy lives, important things are left on the sideline whilst "we do life". He reminded us of the importance of recognising and acting on opportunities that is from God; taking time in spending time to listen for His voice; making sure that we are examples to our children in using our time wisely; and lastly to enjoy the time that you are in at the moment. Our lives change daily, God is timeless and our time on earth is but a breath of what is to come.

There under the trees, we got to know most of our "new family in Christ". Some of them had been forcefully removed from their family homes by the war veterans - leaving all worldly possesions behind. They know when there is no fresh milk or cream on the shelves, its not because of logistical problems, but rather dairy farmers not being able to milk due to intimidation by outside forces. The "loss" of children and family members as they move to other countries is heartbreaking, many have not been able to visit at all due to financial constraints.


These people have been through so much, yet they remain steadfast in the Lord. They carry each other in prayer through heartache and disappointments. They accept the wordly challenges (wrongful imprisonment) and see it as an opportunity to spread the Word. Last week one of the ladies spent some time in a police cell and was able to lead 2 other female inmates to the Lord! God is using every one of them and they are willing to be obedient in their calling "Zimbabwe for Jesus". As their voices raised in songs of worship, some with tears streaming down their faces, I realised what a honour and privilege it is to be out in the open, in God's presence, in His time!


The farming community is close to our heart as many of our church members were once farmers and some have been able to get some of their land back. We continue to pray for God's Spirit to move through Zimbabwe and change hearts. We pray for protection over all the families that are seperated due to circumstances beyond their control. Lastly we pray that we will hear God's voice when He calls us to do our part in His plan for this beautiful country.

Where were you 25 July?

I know exactly where I was!
Today 2 months ago Samuel and I started our journey home. We left Ghana at about 11:30pm on Saturday night the 25th and arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday morning at about 7am. Samuel was still very sleepy when he greeted his Daddy and sisters after an absence of almost 5 months - lots of hugs and tears brought out a shy smile from him though.

We were very aware of God's hand over our adoption journey and for our trip home, God provided one of His helpers by the name of Chris. Whilst getting ready to pack Samuel's things, Corrie and I realised that our weight allocation of 40kg would never do - Samuel was blessed with so many things from his foster family and then there was the other gifts from Ghana for future birthdays as well! With the walking ring, definitely way over 40kgs!!
As packing started a day early, we declared that God knew of our need and trusted that He would send an answer. On Friday afternoon Rene, another "Ghana family sister" phoned to say that a a good friend of theirs were booked on my flight and offered to help with luggage, etc as he had very little luggage. Chris was truly sent by God - he got a proper weight workout with helping with wrapping; booking us in with him (joint luggage 70.4kg; allocation 70kg!!!); then the whole immigration and boarding process followed. At Johannesburg airport, Chris made sure I had all the luggage and walked with me all the way to the arrival lounge - all this prior to his flight to Cape Town.

I would definitely have to rate my "coming home" flight with Samuel as one of the most emotional homecomings ever. Looking at him asleep on the seats next to me, I thought of how blessed we were to be chosen to raise this special boy. Yes, the responsibility of it all as older parents are overwhelming at times, but I also know that God is right there with us, giving us all we need to help Samuel be who God wants him to be.

Its hard to think that the little man has only been home for 2 months, he has been in our hearts since day 1 (11 January) and it feels as if he has been part of our family forever.

"Thank you Lord for bringing home all those precious new children into forever families. Thank you for the love You pour into each forever family in order to overflow into new lives. Thank you for being a loving, protecting, awesome Father to each of our children. Thank you for the plans You have for them in Your Kingdom."

At last!

WOW, I never thought it would take me this long to get settled!
Here we are, almost 6 months into our stay in Zimbabwe and what an awesome ride it has been!
During our 5 years in Ghana, God had blessed us with many friends and especially with "a family in Christ". Some very precious children crossed our path and through them our "family" grew even bigger. We still have "Ghana days" - no, not the type of no water or electricity and backed up traffic - rather days when we look back in love, affection and missing those whom we've grown to love so much.
Coming to Zimbabwe in a time like this, was a crazy move in the eyes of the world, but God knew and He has taken us on a journey we never even thought possible! Settling into a proper school and a work environment so different from Ghana, has been challenging, and we still have borderline days.
However God has blessed us with an absolutely precious son and like Marina loves to say: "Samuel's smile and laughter just makes my day!". As a 19-month old, he keeps us on our toes - or should I say knees (prayer and play wise). More later on this little man and his journey home.
Zimbabwe itself is a beautiful country and the weather ideal for George and the girls who love golf, cycling and of course late afternoon walks with Samuel. We visited Victoria Falls with my parents during the August holidays - will definitely post some photos.
Well, Mommy's alone time is up as he is awake.