Mom's Mosaic

MARCH MADNESS!

2011-03-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s been a pretty crazy month! I have made a commitment to attend as many as possible of the children’s extra murals as I can. It keeps coming up that the kids feel I have seriously lacked in this area in the past. So I am trying to make amends. When I manage to get there, I truly enjoy it! It’s just getting away from all the chaos here at TLC that makes it rather challenging. But it is worth the effort.

Happy Birthday Dominique!

We started out this month with three birthdays. There was Dominique on the 28^th February. She turned 12. (And I know I told somebody that she turned 10, but that was a mistake. I got mixed up with Murphy!) Dominique really enjoyed her day, and Pippa took her to the Boma for her birthday outing. Actually we combined this outing to celebrate both Murphy and Dominique's birthday. It was a special request from both of them! They all really enjoyed themselves and came home with bloated tummies, because there you can eat as much as you like for a cover charge. But it cost Pippa a bomb, and so we won’t repeat that offer in a hurry!

Happy 12th Birthday Dominique!

Then there was Murphy on the 5^th of March. She turned 10. She followed me around for about a whole week beforehand, to make sure that I didn’t forget. It was such a hectic week, that it is just as well she did, or it might, indeed, have slipped my mind! The day before her birthday Pippa and I managed to slip out for a couple of hours and grab some gifts for her. On the actual birthday she was absolutely delighted, especially with her clothes! She is such a clothes
junkie! :-)

Happy 10th Birthday Murphy!

Next was Erin’s birthday. He turned 13 this year so it’s his “Brotherhood” birthday which is a special one. He was therefore allowed to go out with Mommy for lunch. After that we had a good time together, spending money! He was allowed to choose a number of clothes for himself, including shoes, which is always a huge treat!

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY ERIN!

He had been nagging me for a PSP, which of course was rather out of my budget range, even for a 13^th birthday. But then when we got to the shop, would you believe it, there was a PSP that had been a demo model and they were selling it cheaply. I was very worried that there might have been something wrong with it, but it was fine and it even included TWO GAMES! It WAS missing the earphones, though. But that was very easy to fix. When we got home with that treasure, Erin was the most popular boy in the family for about two weeks!

Heidi and Christian left us earlier this month. We were all very sad, especially the two boys, Kieran and Benjamin. But many of us were very mournful after they left. It is really one of the greater downsides to TLC. Losing people you love, one after the other! The kids really take strain on that one.

Pippa graduated from her Social Entrepreneurial Course with Gibs. Joanna and I went along to celebrate the evening with her. It was a really lovely evening, meeting all her friends that we’d never met before and enjoying the magnificent spread of food and drink that they put on for us all. It was a very special and memorable event for all of us.

Congratulations Pippa! You are now a Social Entrepreneur

I have been trying to get lots of pictures of the kids so that I can put them up around the house. But look at this adorable picture I managed to snap of Reuel. We were kind of squabbling about the camera and taking the picture, when all of a sudden he started to giggle ... and went all kind of soft and mushy and just look at this lovely expression. I will really treasure this one!

REUEL ~ MY LOVELY BOY!

We also received our new mattresses for the lion’s beds. I am so relieved about that because it was beginning to bother me horribly. Now I have a couple of people making fitted sheets and under-sheets for them, and hopefully by the time winter comes the beds will be looking gorgeous ... the way they did when MY kids were toddlers. And now I need to find some time to get that little room painted again.

LION'S NEW MATRESSES

One of my really big highlights this month was a visit from our wonderful Xenex (now Karl). I wonder how many of you remember what an incredible little boy he was when he was at TLC. Well, I have news for you! He is even MORE incredible and gorgeous now! He speaks English which is such a big bonus. We could actually sit down and have a proper conversation and he could tell me all about his life. He has been staying in New York for a while, and that is why his English is so fluent. He really made my day! Thank you Karl!

Karl with Mama Thea and his Daddy, Klaus

Last Saturday Carlton, Brett and I went to watch Joshua play Rugby. He is in the First Team now. I was very sad when I learned that Reuel was also playing, but he is in Second Team and he played just before Joshua did. AND WE MISSED IT! That was so tragic. Sorry boy ... I will make it up to you, I promise! There will be many more games before this season is done, so I will get many more opportunities, I am sure.

Joshua - St. Davids against St. Albans

Here is a picture of Joshua. Doesn’t he look scary? He played really well. I think he must be very intimidating for his opponents because he is getting so big! Just as the second half started, the rain poured down in buckets. But we were all brave and sat through the whole thing. Joshua’s school, (St. David’s) played against St. Albans from Pretoria. Unfortunately we lost ... 18-20 but it was a great, nail-biting game and very exciting.

Amy getting ready for her race

Then St. Katharines also had their school gala in that same week. It was lovely to see the girls and how well they are doing with their swimming. They won quite a few of their races and their little faces shone with happiness when they saw me sitting there amongst the spectators, watching them. I was a very proud mommy! Here are some of the pictures I took:

Amy the victor! Wins her race

Amy swam so well! She has an interesting style, but never mind ... it gets her to the other side before anybody else ... so who's complaining!

Khensi getting ready for her race

Khensi did well too. She swims really well and you can see she really enjoys it. It's so wonderful to see these girls doing so well. She came second in this particular race. But it was very, very close. I think there were just a couple of second in it.

Girls discussing the race

Yes, you are right! I saved the best for last. My little Theresa. Oh my goodness, I giggled my heart out watching her. Can that kid SWIM! She beat them all by far and she's smaller than all of them. It was such fun to see that little thing fight for her place.

Theresa getting ready for her race

Just look at that little pixie! Look at that ear! Ha ha. She's just oozing confidence. And then she gets on that springboard and watch this ... have you ever in your life seen SUCH a fantastic diving technique?

In she dives!

And there she goes ... swimming her little heart out and winning first place. What a star! I was so proud of her!

And off she swims ... like a little mermaid!

Then I also attended St. Katharine’s musical morning, where Amy did a drum solo. My goodness, that little girl does have talent on those drums. I was so surprised! She really gave it stick and you could see she her audience were completely delighted with her performance. Afterwards, she also joined the rock band and looked very cool up there on the stage.

Drumming Amy delighting her audience!

Amy in the Rock Band

Unfortunately the academics are sliding again, so we have to start doing something about that. But ... we will do our best to get her back on track again. It’s hard for the ones (like me) who weren’t born “clever”. But you find out later in life that God does not leave anybody without a gift ... not a single one. I would never have guessed that I would end up doing such a wonderful and fulfilling job that made me wake up every morning with a big smile on my face!

It’s funny, I often remember all the days of my youth when I was really angry with God for not making me stunningly beautiful. Now, with the wisdom of hindsight I can see exactly what a terrible curse that would have been. I would have missed God’s best ... his very, very best. I am so grateful he just made me, me. Exactly the way I am. And he made you YOU too. Absolutely perfect and equipped for his faultless will and plan for your life. You just need to relax and allow God to mould and shape you, so that you can fit perfectly into his divine design.

Last week I was very privileged to have a really sumptuous day at Postinia and it actually ended up being TWO NIGHTS! It was really fantastic. The only downside was that there is STILL no water so I was back to using the bucket, for dishes and stuff. But never mind. It was all good. There’s nothing in the world like waking up NATURALLY. No slamming doors, no creaking footsteps on the floor above you ... no yelling voices ... nobody emptying the night’s leftover formula out into the pig-slop bucket outside my bathroom window.

None of that! Just sliding out of sleep and slowly surfacing into consciousness ... with the far-away moo of a calf or a little peep of a bird just outside the window. What luxury! And then there’s no leaping out of bed and rush-rush-rush ... quick bath ... quick dress ... quick breakfast ... and quick-everything for the rest of the day. No! No! You can just go with the flow ... take it all slow and in silence. I don’t even like to put on music or anything. It’s so nice to NOT HEAR anything. Just silence. I’m going to try to get back there this coming week.

Jerome's birthday picture with Mommy

On the 24^th we had Jerome’s birthday. He had a whale of a time. Everything we do with Jerome is always great fun because he enters into all celebrations with such gusto and such high spirits. It infects everybody. He is my lovable, adorable boy! He is just so special. So we all started by singing Happy Birthday to him, in both song and sign. He loved it and was grinning from ear to ear.

Monster Rhys stealing all the chippies!

Then it was time to tuck into the food and cut the cake and everybody was so excited. Jerome let us all know in no uncertain terms that HE was to be thanked for this great occasion and would not let any of us forget it. HE was boss of the day!

So, here is Monster Rhys, stealing a whole bunch of chippies and Jerome was not impressed and made no bones about his displeasure! That didn’t stop Rhys from taking yet ANOTHER handful, just to make Jerome extra cross. But he DID put them all back afterwards, and Jerome was mightily relieved about that.

Pippa explains how his hot water bottle is going to keep him real warm!

Then of course came the most exciting part of every birthday ... THE PRESENTS. And Jerome was so happy. We can’t afford wrapping paper, so we put the presents into pillow cases. This was Pippa’s ingenious plan last year and we have been doing it ever since. It is also a great time saver, because we don’t have to wrap all those gifts!

The favourite present. A fire engine!

Jerome got a beautiful set of finger puppets from his favourite aunty in England (Helen Carter) and he was absolutely thrilled with these. But his most favourite gift ever was the magnificent fire engine he got from his Mommy Pippa. He wouldn’t let any of this brothers come near that one. He kept pushing them away and even knocking them down when they came too close.

Finger Puppets from Helen Carter

On Saturday we had the greatest fun ever! We had signing classes. And this grandma was the happiest grandma on planet earth. I have longed for signing classes since Jerome was just a teeny weeny little boy. It broke my heart when he would have long, signed conversations with me and I had no idea what he was trying to tell me. At other times he would be upset about something and would be sobbing and signing at the same time and I would feel awfully guilty. I would think ... “Oh I WISH I could sign!”

Our First Signing Lesson - See Jerome on the left
Leaping up and down with pure joy!

Then Pippa and I thought about asking St. Vincent’s (Jerome’s school) if we could bring the whole family to do signing lessons there once a week, or once a month. Very suddenly, God answered our prayers.

We had to queue for our test and got a reward if we were right

Pippa went to Paul’s Open Day at Frances Vorwerg, and there she met a signing teacher that she learned to sign with. She asked her if she would be willing to teach us and she said YES! She had been thinking about it for a long time. Not only that, but she will come to TLC which makes life SO much easier.

Christian munching his reward

So, she came on Saturday. We had such a lot of fun. The children loved it. Carol (Nicholas’ mother) also joined us and the children were absolutely thrilled to have her there and she just joined in all the fun too.

And then right in the middle of everything, Joanna and Pippa started bullying Zoe! Ag shame man ... they should pick on their own age! :-)

(Only joking ~~ Joanna wanted to rob her of a kiss!)

MARCH MADNESS!

The teacher made a party and we learned all about party things. We learned our colours in sign, we learned to count. We learned everybody’s name. THAT was fun! And then we all had to line up and she tested us, and if you got everything right ... you got a BIG piece of cake. Even Ruthi passed her test, legitimately! She is such a sharp little sausage! J No flies on her, that’s for sure!

Even Ruthi passed her test and got her reward!

Then, lastly, on the 28^th I had the enormous pleasure of going to see the St. Katharine’s girls concert. It was absolutely magnificent. And Amy had another chance to play the drums, which was really lovely. The only one sad thing was that most of the pictures I took of Amy and Khensi were a flop because the background and the lighting was so dark you couldn’t see their faces. I managed to fiddle with one of the pictures and they are okay. So here it is:

Amy back row, Khensi front row. A really beautiful show!

And then Theresa was absolutely stunning and she danced beautifully. I was so proud of her. This is the first time she actually performed on stage. Before, whenever she went on stage she seemed to get stage fright and stood there like a lifeless statue! But today she participated in everything perfectly and I was so happy and so proud of my little girl.

Theresa in orange as a butterfly

We are still waiting for our Lotto funding to come through. Please, PLEASE pray that it comes through because we are getting a little tight again, and I can’t bear the thought of going through another bottom-scraping period like last year. It’s just too scary to contemplate. It’s just sitting there, but for some reason it’s not coming through. I know that prayers will bring it out.

So, I know we have another two or three days to go before the month is over, but I am going to publish this post now and if anything incredible happens in the next three days of March, I will be sure to add it in at the beginning of April.

Big, big hugs to you all and lots and lots of love!

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS

2011-03-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

This was a speech made by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Anna Quintile
at the graduation ceremony of an American university where she was
awarded an Honorary PhD.

"I'm a novelist. My work is human nature. Real life is all I know.

Don't ever confuse the two; your life and your work. You will walk out of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has. There will be hundreds of people out there with your same degree: there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living.

But you will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk or your life on a bus or in a car or at the computer. Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank accounts but also your soul.

People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit. But a resume is cold comfort on a winter's night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you've received your test results and they're not so good.

Here is my resume: I am a good mother to three children.

I have tried never to let my work stand in the way of being a good parent. I no longer consider myself the centre of the universe. I show up. I listen. I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say. I am a good friend to my friends and them to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today, because I would be a cardboard cut out. But I call them on the phone and I meet them for lunch. I would be rotten, at best mediocre, at my job if those other things were not true.

You cannot be really first rate at your work if your work is all you are. So here's what I wanted to tell you today:

Get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger pay cheque, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so very much about those things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon or found a lump in your breast?

Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze at the seaside, a life in which you stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over the water, or the way a baby scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a sweet with her thumb and first finger.

Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work. Pick up the phone. Send an email. Write a letter. Get a life in which you are generous. And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted.

Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money you would have spent on beer and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a big brother or sister. All of you want to do well. But if you do not do good too, then doing well will never be enough.

It is so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours, and our minutes. It is so easy to take for granted the colour of our kids' eyes, the way the melody in a symphony rises and falls and disappears and rises again.

It is so easy to exist instead of to live.

I learned to live many years ago. I learned to love the journey, not the destination.

I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get.

I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back because I believed in it, completely and utterly.

And I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned. By telling them this: Consider the lilies of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear.

Read in the back yard with the sun on your face.

Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness, because if you do, you will live it with joy and passion as it ought to be lived".

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Maybe it has something to do with the tremendous human tragedy in Japan. The sheer horror of the images on TV ... Last week this time, their lives were 'business as usual'; just like ours are today. I feel profoundly changed by what has confronted us since last friday, the 11th March, 2011.

At the same time, this little speech by Anna Quintile also touched me deeply when I read it this morning. It showed me my failures ... and made me want to do better. I always say this ... "God is in the details!" I always try to fill the tiny details of my life with all the things Anna has mentioned. But in spite of my most valiant efforts I often fail. It's not so easy swimming against the tide every second of every day. The tide of constant demands and pressures. There will inevitably be failures because, apart from our own weaknesses, we are affected by other people's choices. The more people in your life, the more choices there are, that affect you.

Nevertheless, and in spite of all ... I resolve to do better today - and for the rest of my tomorrows!

See you soon.
Love,
Thea

TLC'S BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN

2011-03-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

For the past three months we have enjoyed the company and amazing services of a volunteer couple who have been really, absolutely amazing. There are no words to describe how much in love everybody at TLC is with this amazing pair.

They leave tomorrow morning. They take with them our hearts ... they will never be forgotten. They have left indelible fingerprints of love and care; and precious memories.

As a parting gift to us they gave Pippa and I each a stunning collage of each of our children. The pictures are current and up-to-date. You can see them on their website at:

http://www.menniss.co.uk/tlc-children-450

ENJOY!

All my Love,
Thea

HUMILITY

2011-03-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

Included are some wierd and wonderful pictures

of the world around TLC

and some of my favourite sights.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Our African Dawn

Humility

Introduction:

A lot of this post was written while I was down at the coast in October. I don't believe it was really intended as a blogpost, but rather as a kind of 'muse' or journal entry. It so often intrigues me how our lives and those with whom we have relationships are folded into each other so closely that even someone who lives 8000 kilometres away, might sometimes go through an identical experience as mine.

Often I get letters and I think ... "Oh, I know that feeling!" or, "Gosh, I have just had to deal with that myself." And if there is any good reason why we need to endure hardships, I feel sure it is for this reason. That we are able to give comfort and counseling where needed. Not theoretical, but experiencial.

So, with this in mind, then, I am going to upload this post. It's quite unique as a blogpost. But I really feel that somewhere out there, somebody needs it and will be greatly helped by it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Having first arrived and settled down in my little seaside cottage in Ramsgate, in October last year, the foremost problem I encountered was the serious matter of having forgotten my bible at home. This created a dilemma for me because a large part of my enthusiasm for going down there was to spend time in prayer and reflection which, as you would expect, requires a bible. Or so I thought. Quite naturally, I firmly believed (and still do) that the very best way to hear God’s voice is through reading his Sacred Word.

Our African Sunset

So now, here I was – three weeks of peace and quiet ahead of me and no bible! Of course it would be a short answer to go and buy a new bible. But that would not be my bible! ‘My old friend’, as I like to call it. Fully practising Christians will relate to what I am saying.

So therefore, I did not consider it a co-incidence in the least that on my second night there (when maintenance man, Chris, had already fixed my TV) that I watched a movie called ... something like “Healing Hands”. It was a beautiful and true story about a poor, black boy in the USA who, against all the odds, becomes a famous neurosurgeon. That aside, somewhere in the story the boy’s mother tells him robustly ... “You don’t need the book! You have the book within you!” And right there, God takes those words – shapes them to fit my need of a bible – and delivers them directly into my heart!

Bronkhorstfontein Area where we live

Actually, what liberty I gained from this! Of course, I always knew that “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee”, and that God's Word does, indeed, do its mighty work right there inside our hearts, and from there translates itself into our lives every single day. That’s not to say that it was time to throw away my bible. No! By no means; but I now fully realised, more than ever before, that I didn't need that material book as the answer to my every need, for I do have that living word inside of me.

A double rainbow over volunteer cottages

So then, what did occupy my mind in that time of solitude?

The answer would have to be, without hesitation, that it was the subject of ‘humility’. Yes, I agree ~ a hefty subject, indeed, and you often find the most inappropriate people trying to deal with it.

Therefore, I touch the very subject with fear and trembling, lest I am judged inappropriate myself! At the same time, I am reminded of my dear friend, Fr. Gregory, who once shared with me this deep truth: “You need to be wary of your fellow Christians, for when they sense the slightest humbleness in you they will immediately set about fashioning a badge, so that you may be proud of your humility!” J

Nevertheless, I felt that if I did not deal with the subject that had so thoroughly been my contemplation and meditation in at least two of my last three weeks at Ramsgate then I should have ceased writing immediately because there would have been very little left to say! J

Our first and last snow fall in 2003

Only now, 4 months later, have I plucked up the courage to re-read this piece, edit it and actually post it on the blog.

So, how did it happen that I should stumble upon ‘humility’ as the source and subject of my preoccupation? Well, it happened like this:

For the past seven years I have carried around with me an unceasing, enduring and agonising pain in my heart. People have given it a whole litany of names and many have gone to great pains to explain its origin (such as heredity, etc.) and how to deal with it to affect a sure cure.

A beautiful snow picture

But still, in spite of all, I lumber on through life with this excruciating pain in the depths of my being. I have come to believe and finally accept that I will take it to my grave. That I have somehow acquired a love, so extraordinarily strong, that once it takes possession of someone or something, I simply cannot let go, no matter what.

As tragic as this sounds, and even more tragic as it is to accept – acceptance, indeed, seems the only hope of exercising any kind of mastering over it. I am speaking of course, about the failure of my marriage.

In my exercise of pondering humility, some clues began to present themselves, not only as possible explanations for my present condition but also its cure. Could it be that this detestable, agonising pain had found its perfect seat in the pride of my heart? What a big question!

A Watery Sunset

The reality that the situation occurred and that it was unavoidable is, of course, a settled matter. But what is unrealistic and unnecessary is the fact that it is being dragged along with me like Christian’s (of Pilgrim’s Progress) oversized burden, as if it were a crippling penance.

In retyping my book, (before I decided to relinquish the task), I came across this paragraph:

‘I was deeply aware that the big “I” had managed to become much smaller and more insignificant, and Jesus was able to take up much more of the slack. I was able to place every new day of my life into my Saviour’s hands. I could say, with all my heart, “Take it, Lord, and make it yours.”’

I clearly remember that day at Bible School when the massive revelation first hit me ... that humility was the only means by which to honour and serve God. Indeed, humility was the only path and door by which we can even discover God in order to commune with him. Humility! ‘The ability to make yourself small and insignificant’. Completely emptied of self. Completely emptied of self. I became convinced, this was the key.

Neighbouring Squatter houses (Since been removed)

As the lecturer who brought the message stood in the lectern that day and preached, I marvelled at the receptacle; the bearer of this message. For here was a man not given to humility by any manner or means. In fact, Humility was a subject little preached in that church as a general rule.

But clearly, in a Bible College, the subject needs to be covered as part of the syllabus, even if it is not actively practised by any of its hierarchy. I have realised since then, that we should never judge the messenger ... and this man was merely a messenger. When our hearts open freely to the Spirit; like a flower opens effortlessly to the call of nature; in acknowledgement that a message is inspired by God, we will know it is safe to receive from that message whatever gift and grace God wishes to bestow. "I am the Good Shepherd. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" John 10.27"

One of my favourite sights : A well attended local church in the veld

The funny story is often told about how God once used a donkey through which he spoke to a man called Balaam. Balaam is what we call a “seer”, a pagan prophet for profit, hired out by Balak, the king of the Moabites. He was a very influential sorcerer who, although aware of the true God, made his services available on a freelance basis. Very interesting, isn’t it? More to that than meets the eye particularly in view of my experiences in Rhema which was so much a part of my book.

Nevertheless, the point I am trying to make is that the ears of our hearts should be ever listening for that still, small voice with which God so often speaks through any vessel. Sometimes the most surprising, unpredictable and seemingly inappropriate. Many times little children! (“Out of the mouths of babes and infants I have ordained my praise”) Psalm 8.2

Another TLC Sunset

I think I have often mentioned to my blog friends, that I don’t simply type up my message on the blog and post it immediately. No, no! Would that it were that simple! There is a lot of reflection, deliberation and editing that goes into this process. And God, too, must have his say.

For instance, I have an old A4 diary from yesteryear that I carry around with me and I write all the little things that God speaks to me on a daily basis, in there. Sometimes these are just small insights. It could be a great personal revelation, which, to someone else, might be a “ho-hum” fact! They could be useful lessons I have learned through another person. There might be wise sayings I received from any source; a homily, an inspirational quotation, something from the TV or radio ... just about anything that touches my mind or heart that I deem significant.

A Bronkhorstfontein Dawn

I don’t always write them in that diary directly. Sometimes I jot them down on paper, and pop them in the book when I’m tidying up, clearing out my handbag, or whatever. I just think it is important for you to envisage how all this occurs and gets put together.

When I am immersed in serious thought and writing, I very, very seldom type something directly onto my computer as a first draft. For some reason, God seems to speak to me much more clearly and eloquently through the written word. So I write my first draft out by hand and my most successful time for doing this is nearly always first thing in the morning, before anything has been able to turn my mind to worldly things, however insignificant.

I usually write it into that very same old diary. When that diary gets filled up, I find another old diary. (It’s really funny because I buy a diary every year with good intentions, but I rarely use them for their real purpose, past January.)

Then, like fixing together a jigsaw puzzle, I start to assemble the work making use of many of these small bits and pieces. The jotted down verses, paragraphs, quotes, parts of homilies, etc. that pertain to my subject. God somehow never fails to make something valuable come out of all that. (Well, I hope it’s valuable). It seems to me at least ... usually, to have great value.

A wierd, UFO-Looking thing behind the outside fridge taken from our kitchen

So, in the course of this process I have come to see humility again, through fresh eyes. What both life and study have taught me about humility so far, is simply this:

It is the sense that only through our smallness; no, actually, through our entire nothingness, we are able to come to see how completely God, as our creator, is all and everything. This realisation of our nothingness is the state of being that enables us to give way so completely that it makes God free to be all.

In the life of sincere Christians ... of those who pursue and profess holiness ... humility ought to be the chief mark of their uprightness. Sadly my dear friends, in my experience, that is too often not the case. Yet there should not be a single reason why, in the teaching and the example of the church, humility does not have that place of supreme importance.

Farm labourers' accommodation

3M X 3M rooms that accommodate

whole families with no running water

It is owing to the neglect of this truth ... that as strong as sin is a barrier against humility ... there is a motive of still wider and mightier influence. It is that motive that makes the angels; that made Jesus; and that makes the holiest of the saints in heaven so humble; it is that first and chief mark of their relationship to God ... which is also the secret of our blessedness. Our humility and nothingness, that leaves God free to be all.

The driving force that led me out of the “Faith Movement” and back into the Catholic Church was the discomfort I experienced with the lack of meekness and lowliness of heart, which are subjects scarcely touched upon in that environment. In fact, they are almost scorned. I have to admit that pride and arrogance are not preached either, but they are certainly practiced.

Our famous Willow Tree

Yet, what, as a child, I had imbibed from my Catholic upbringing was that meekness and humility of heart were expected to be the distinguishing feature of the disciple, as they were in the life of Jesus. Still more importantly, I learned there that this humility is not a ‘something’ of itself to be easily possessed, but that it had to be made the object of special desire and prayer and faith and practice.

Even as we diligently studied the Word of God in Bible College, we saw for ourselves in God's Word not only the clear model of Jesus’ life of humility, but also the very distinct and often repeated instructions Jesus gave his disciples on this point. Yet, I frequently marvelled that in spite of seeing how slow Jesus’ disciples were in understanding him, so too, my fellow classmates and even the lecturers and hierarchy of the church seemed incapable of translating these clear messages of humility, into practice.

At that stage of my life I was searching, you see, for a role model. A living example. Someone I could emulate. In the Catholic Church we have these examples in the lives of the saints (albeit that they are historical examples). But in the Rhema environment there were no such examples.

Sunset through the bluegum trees

So I came to realise that human souls were not the answer. Maybe they were never meant to be the answer. For I learned that only when we diligently study the character of Christ until our souls are so filled and infused with love and admiration of Jesus’ lowliness, will we come to fully comprehend his message. When we have become completely broken down in the sense of our own self importance and pride and our own inability to cast it out, only then will Jesus Christ himself come in to impart this grace too, as part of his wondrous life within us.

The Lane Across from our Road

When we realise that this is our true nobility and can sense it enough to make every sacrifice to allow it to take root, then it can become, combined with our will, our mind and our affections ... the very form, or the vessel, in which the full life and glory of God will work and manifest in our beings. Then we will also see clearly that humility is simply acknowledging the truth of our position as creature and yielding to God his place. Not only this, but the most beautiful realisation is that Jesus, as true God, was, in his true humanity; humility personified.

Only a fool would ever assume that attaining this true nobility is a simple task. Or even one that, having once possessed it, it is yours forever. No, I wish it were that simple, but if it were, then it would not be so precious! It is this fact of the pain in my heart that I mentioned before, and the likelihood of it’s having found a seat in the pride of my heart, that makes me once again attentive to the constant aggressing factor of pride at work in our lives at all times.

It also clarifies, once again, how little we understand humility even to conclude that it would have been a simple case to have emptied myself of my “self” much earlier. No, what we need to realise and admit is that there is nothing as natural to man, nothing as insidious and hidden from our sight, nothing as difficult and dangerous as pride. If we can only fully realise that nothing but a very determined and persevering waiting on God and Christ will reveal how lacking we are in the grace of humility and how impotent we are to either obtain or defend it without our constant perseverance and waiting on God and Christ as our daily act of worship.

My prayer is this ... that God may grant light to this little message on humility so that, if there are any of you reading it who have gained some useful insight, he may bless you and hasten your deliverance and healing, as he does mine. And as I persevere in my pursuit of the peace that is the fruit of humility, I will attempt to bring you some of the lessons I am learning along the way in the hope that they may encourage you on your journey also.

God bless you all!

With all my love,

TLC SOLDIERS

2011-02-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

Alanna Aughenbaugh

Alanna left University in America, to come to South Africa. She arrived at TLC on the 1^st October, last year. She came for six months and is leaving again on the 31^st March. She has really been a volunteer that offered the babies her own, very special brand of TLC. Alanna is a lovely young lady. So gentle, especially with the Lions (toddlers) which is where I have seen her most. In her normal life, she loves reading, socialising, swimming and playing soccer! When she leaves TLC she will continue with some kind of ministry work and will probably go on another mission trip of some sort.

Ann Vivier

Ann is one of the very few French volunteers that TLC has had. I think I can count the French volunteers who have crossed our threshold on one hand. Ann is a returning volunteer and is an incredibly special young lady. She finished her Master’s degree in Geography and spent some time travelling before she returned to TLC to become our Volunteer Manager. She really does an incredible job. I have never heard her whine or complain and she is always prepared to go that extra mile for a volunteer that needs it; the babies or even the Jarvis family. Anne loves reading, socialising and spending time with friends, photography (she is a GREAT photographer!) and she loves trekking around the country. I think she has seen more of South Africa than I have! And she loves listening to music. Ann says she is not planning on leaving anytime soon. She loves TLC too much and really wants to stay on and help us for as long as she can.

Ellie Neubert

Ellie joined us from Germany and is staying for a whole year. She came here directly after leaving school! What a wonderful sacrifice for a young person to make. I am really in awe of girls like that. Ellie joined us in September, 2010 and will be leaving in August. Before she came to TLC her life consisted of lots of family time, socialising with friends, taking long walks and volunteer work. When she has finished her course with us in August, she will be starting university and will be studying Social Work.

Felizitas Brinkmann

Felizitas joined us in August last year. She came from Germany. She will be staying with us for 9 months, returning home in June. Felizitas is the niece of a good friend of mine so I had full confidence in her abilities from the start because she came so highly recommended. She came to TLC directly after leaving school and has really turned out to be an incredible trouper here at TLC. In Felizitas’ ‘normal’ life before she came to TLC she was very fond of sports, handball being her favourite. She loves to read when she has the time and she is very sociable, enjoying time out and having fun with friends. When Felizitas is finished at TLC, she will be returning home to start university to study Social Work.

Francisca Chengula

Francisca has been with TLC since November. She came to Africa straight after finishing school and then spent some months working in Tanzania before coming to TLC. Francisca is also from Germany. She is a lovely, fun-loving girl with a great heart for children and keen volunteering spirit. I have never heard about her complaining or feeling sorry for herself. She has a great smile that captivates everybody here at TLC. When she is at home and in her every-day life, Francisca loves sports such as playing tennis and basketball. She is fond of playing the piano and singing. She also enjoys reading and travelling. When Francisca has finished her term here at TLC, she hopes to study Tourism. And of course, Francisca has a special place in my heart, because one of my names is also Francisca. You find many Francesca’s in this world, but I have never met another Francisca! J

Joshua Aughenbaugh

Joshua joined TLC in October of last year. What a special young man we have here! He came from America and arrived at TLC with his cousin, Alanna Aughenbaugh. Joshua is a really tender hearted, Jesus kind of person who really cares deeply for the babies and children. He has the true heart of a volunteer and will never pull his nose up at any job that requires his energy. Joshua loves to play the guitar. He enjoys reading, rock climbing and having fun, just chilling with good friends. Like me, Joshua doesn’t believe in running ahead of God. So for now he has no idea what God has in store for him when he returns home to America. Surely, we will all miss him and the time is coming close since he will be leaving in March. Just around the corner! L

Kaila Sweet

Kaila’s surname says it all! SWEET! She is a lovely girl who really has a servant heart and always has a big smile on her face. Kaila is also American and is a friend of Joshua and Alanna. She also came to TLC for 6 months and will be leaving at the end of March. Kayla’s scrapbooking talents have been a great asset in the making of our memory books beautiful and special for our little babies who are soon to go out for adoption. She also loves photography, sewing, quilting and hanging out, having fun with friends. Some of the jobs Kaila has done before she came to TLC were being a nanny, working in an elevator and painting a house! My kind of girl. She is also simply following the lead of the Lord and will wait until she gets home before she decides what she will do with her life after TLC.

Keshia Bedard

This is the second time that Keshia has volunteered at TLC. This time she came for a full year and has been an incredible blessing. She arrived in May 2010 and will finish off here at TLC in May, 2011. Keshia has been responsible for the more ‘senior’ jobs such as taking care of the newborns and distributing medicines to all the children at TLC which is a huge and very important daily task. Keshia is half German and half American. She has a big heart and really loves the children passionately. Before coming to TLC she studied biology and was an English teacher. She loves reading, watching movies, but mostly she just loves hanging out with her friends and having some fun. Keshia’s dearest wish is to stay in South Africa and to continue doing something valuable and fulfilling, probably to do with children.

Laura Ramm

Laura came to TLC straight after finishing school. She arrived here in August and left on the 18^th of February. Unfortunately she has aleady gone home to go to university and study social work. She takes with her all our love and best wishes for the future! Thank you for all your love, Laura!

Maria Hoffmann

Maria joined us in October last year and she will be with us until April of this year. Maria is really one of our Star volunteers. She is amazing and I have never heard a single complaint from her about anything. I think she is an angel, inside and out! In Maria’s normal life she loves reading. She enjoys going to the Theatre. Cooking is one of her favourite pastimes and she also takes great pleasure in nature walks and taking time out to relax and have fun with friends. Before Maria came to TLC, she worked as a social worker for disabled and special needs children. When she goes home, she will start her Master’s degree in Social Studies.

Mathilde Lund

I was supposed to have done this blog about two weeks ago. Unfortunately busyness kept me from this job and then I got bronchial pneumonia which left me in bed for about a week. So I have unfortunately also missed the boat with Mathilde who was with us for 5 months. She came in September 2010 and left in February, 2011. She was our Danish volunteer and was very well loved around here. We send her all our love and good wishes for the future. She has gone home to start working so that she can save to go to university and study psychology. She is a very special girl and I know that she will make a great success in anything she sets her mind to. Good luck, Mathilde!

Sandra Niggemann

Sandra, like Mathilde above, unfortunately left before I managed to finish this post. Sandra was a great volunteer from Germany as well. We have really had our fair share of German volunteers this year. We do sometimes have imbalances in the numbers of different nationalities, but this year it has been unbelievable! Understandably, this sometimes leads to tension amongst volunteers, but it really hasn’t been too bad this year. Sandra arrived at TLC in August and went home on the 18^th February. We are so thankful for all the hard work Sandra put in here with our babies. She was a true warrior for our cause and always stepped up to the plate when extra hours or energy were required. Thank you so much, Sandra. We wish you well as you start university and we know that you can be assured of success in your course of Social Studies as you really do have a heart for the betterment of humanity. God bless you!

Sue Platt

Sue has been a returning volunteer for the past several years. She is a true volunteer and an incredible trouper! She is a Main House volunteer meaning that she helps with the children of the Jarvis family. In this case she takes care of Pippa’s non-school going children. There are 7 of these, so it is really a big job. One scarcely knows where to start to describe the work and life of this wonderful lady. She came to TLC, leaving her job as a Deputy Manager of a nursery school in England. In her spare time she loves reading, doing embroidery, building jig-saw puzzles and taking walks. She loves going out with friends, relaxing and having a good time. She really enjoys the outdoors. She is also due to go home to “retire” in March. She intends doing talks on behalf of TLC, raising awareness and encouraging prospective volunteers. We have no idea how we are going to manage without our beloved Teacher Sue! But she will always remain in our hearts which of full of deep gratitude for the magnificent effort she has put into TLC over the years.

Tamara Stojanovic

Tamara joined TLC in November, 2010. She came here straight after finishing school and has really managed well considering her youth. She will be going home again in April, 2011. She is a wonderful, gentle young lady who is deeply loved by all the babies. She loves Volleyball and Yoga. She enjoys reading when she has time and always looks forward to spending time with friends, going out and having a good time.

Tom Callaghan

Tom is a fine young man. Always polite and respectful. He is a former St. Bede’s student. St. Bede’s is a school in England that has supported us for many years and we have enjoyed receiving many of their boys and girls who have come as really magnificent volunteers. It speaks volumes about the kind of education St. Bede’s offers to its students. We always feel that a healthy complement of boys added to our volunteer programme really helps to keep the girls in check! J Somehow when there is only a bunch of girls with no lads, one finds a lot more hen-pecking going on. At the moment we have several boys and the atmosphere created by their mere presence in the nursery can definitely be felt.

Tom joined us in October, 2010 and will, sadly, be leaving us in March. When he is at home, he loves playing football, swimming, going to the cinema and visiting museums. He is also a very sociable young man and enjoys going out with friends and having a good time. He will be going to University to study psychology.

Sarah McGrath

Sarah is one of the cutest and sweetest little girls who has ever graced the nurseries of TLC. She is a quiet little person. Never gets involved in the controversies that sometimes beset TLC. She just loves the children ... ALLL the children ... not only the babies and the nursery children, but also the big children. Every single child here absolutely adores Sarah and she is truly an adorable little person. Sarah is also a returning volunteer. This time she is only here for three months. She arrived in December and will be returning home in March. She loves singing, writing and painting. She also enjoys reading. She loves the outdoors and enjoys going out and spending time with friends and having a good time. Before Sarah came to TLC she was a Nanny. She is not quite sure what she will be doing when she returns home in March.

Cheyne Whitney

Cheyne has only been here for a very short time. She arrived in January and will be returning home in July. Now here is a really sweet and special young lady! She is just too dear for words! She is so great in the nursery. Gentle, sweet and kind to the babies and never whining or complaining about her lot. She gets on with every job like a real little soldier! She came to TLC straight after finishing high school. We know how hard it is for young people like this ... it is such a culture shock, coming to South Africa and having to cope with long hours of hard work. But Cheyne is simply taking it all in her stride. When she is at home and having a normal life, Cheyne enjoys art. Painting and designing. She enjoys reading. She loves the outdoors and of course, being a normal young girl she loves to go out and hanging out with her friends and having a good time.

Sarah Murray

Sarah Murray has also returned home already, She was with us for 6 months and really did herself proud. She was a graduate in Psychology and now that she has returned home she intends going to the USA to work as a nanny and earn some money so that she can return to TLC for another stint with her beloved babies! We miss you Sarah and thank you for all the hard work you put into the babies, and much more besides. Take good care of yourself and we wish you all the best!

George Wagg

George! "Georgy Porgy, pudding and pie! Kissed the girls and made them cry!" J Do you know when George walked in the door here at TLC, nearly every girl in the place almost fainted! LOL! But he took it all in his stride. Never let it go to his head. And now he is “just one of us”. He is a great fellow with a huge heart and a super sense of humour. The kids adore him and he is really excellent with any age-group. Back home he loved to play rugby and this makes him a great friend of my son, Joshua, who shares that same passion. He also enjoys tennis, cricket and it seems like he just loves sports in general. He very much enjoys going out and having a good time with friends and it sounds to me like he is often the life and soul of the party! Back in England he was the manager of a restaurant! Imagine! And now he is changing nappies. That’s a good indication of the kind of Dad he is going to be one day. At university he studied Physical Science and Geography. When he is finished here at TLC, he would like to go into Environmental Construction (which is interesting because that is also the career that Joshua (Jarvis) is leaning towards.

Michael Rogers

Michael is from the UK and is back at TLC for his second stint. This time he has come for 6 months. He arrived in January and will be going home in July. We are so grateful to have him as he has already proved himself to be a great volunteer. At home Michael is a student in Journalism and English Literature and also worked as a Camp Counsellor in the USA. At this point in time, Michael is still in the planning stages of his future and he is not really sure what he will be doing when he goes home in July. Michael is involved in his church and enjoys church activities. He is fond of reading, enjoys tennis and really enjoys travelling.

Helen Ennis

Helen has joined us from her homeland, New Zealand. She arrived in January and will be with us for a WHOLE YEAR only going home in December. She had a bumpy start, health wise, (which is why she preferred not to put up a photo) but now she is settling down well and seems to be very happy looking after the babies. I always spot her walking around with a baby in her arms and a big smile on her face. Helen loves outdoor sports, trekking and climbing. She is also fond of reading. At home Helen works in the family business. I am sure they are missing her terribly and it will be quite a while before she is home again!

Roswitha

Roswitha joined us as a very special, Mature Volunteer. She came for 4 months. Arriving in December, she will be going home in April. Roswitha came as a retired nurse. She loves swimming, cycling, reading, knitting and crafts, as all good Austrians do! J Roswitha is really in love with the babies and manages to stay the distance every day. Volunteers like Roswitha are asked to stay at a nearby Bed and Breakfast so that they can come and go as they please and operate as casual local volunteers. If they hit a day where they can’t manage it does not affect our normal volunteer schedule and they can take days of as they see fit. If you are reading this and think this might be an option for you, you can write to Sue at applications@tlc.org.za for further details. You can also visit Misty River’s Website, http://www.mistyriver.co.za/. The owners of Misty River are always kind enough to give our volunteers special rates and I have never yet had a complaint concerning the service provided by the Misty River Bed and Breakfast.

Caytie Davis

Caytie arrived in February with her friend, Katie Carroll. She is a very quiet but confident young lady. Caytie is spending 4 months at TLC and is already doing a really great job. Before coming to TLC she worked as a nanny to save money for her trip. At home she likes to read and plays soccer. She is very interested in American football and enjoys most sports. She plays the violin and one of her interests is refinishing wood furniture. Caytie doesn’t really have an inclination what she would like to do when she is finished her time here at TLC.

Katie Carroll

Katie, like I said, came to TLC with Caytie. The two of them seem to be very close. They both arrived on 1^st February and will be returning home in June, 2011. Katie is also rather shy at this point, but I am sure as soon as more new volunteers arrive they will feel more comfortable. Katie likes reading. She enjoys volleyball and the outdoors. She enjoys knitting, doing crafts and journaling. When she was still at home, Katie did odd jobs and worked as a nanny to save for her trip to TLC. When she is finished with her volunteering at TLC, she thinks she might considering saving again to do a similar trip.

Adam Tollit

Adam arrived at the beginning of the month. He is another past pupil of St. Bede’s. A very nice young man. He will be staying at TLC for three months. Adam likes listening to music and enjoys reading, playing snooker, football and cricket. He also enjoys walking and climbing. Adam enjoys going out and having fund with friends. Adam saved money to get to TLC by working at Tesco’s (a Supermarket). When he is finished at TLC Adam is going home to study Medicine at University.

Then last but not least we have the most amazing volunteer couple whose energy, capacity and generosity of heart is second to none. I am speaking of course, about Heidi and Christian. From October last year, when I first heard that Kieran would no longer be able to attend public school due to his heart problem, I started worrying and praying fervently for help regarding Kieran's homeschooling. I made adverts, job descriptions and dozens of phone calls looking for a solution.

Christian and Heidi were already here at TLC before school started and I never twigged that they were the perfect solution I was looking for. They really do understand TLC and all our needs and emergencies. They are always ready and on standby to step in and come to the rescue.

Benjamin, Heidi and Kieran proud of their boat-making abilities!

It turned out that it was not only Kieran who needed homeschooling but Benjamin as well because the school we were advised to enrol him into, was simply much to expensive. Then I discovered that Heidi is a TEACHER! And together with Christian they then came to the rescue, not only regarding the morning homeschooling lessons, but they also took charge of the homework in the afternoons, which is simply unbelievable! God is really awesome! Of course, they will also be going home in March but it is clear that God is already making a way for that problem. A young gentleman called Nicholas, will be taking over Christian and Heidi's duties when they leave, and hopefully George will be able to fill in the other gap that will be left.

Christian and Kieran very happy with their raft!

I don't think I will ever be able to thank Heidi and Christian enough for all they have done for TLC. But I hope that the know that this is not a "One man show". That I could not manage a single thing without the incredible energy that all these amazing volunteers perform every single day. Their investment will materialise one day, in a form that they will recognise and the value that they have added to these lives will one day manifest to gladden all our hearts.
I am hoping that from now on I will be able to keep up to date, at least with the arrivals and departures of the volunteers so that everybody can be kept up to date. I would like to do it for the babies also.

God bless you all,
All my love,
THEA

Jessica MacKenzie

Jessica has joined us from England. She has come for six months and will leave us again in June. Jessica is a calm and quiet young lady. She really seems to be enjoying her work with the little ones and is very gentle in her ways, which is very good for them, especially the very small babies. Before coming to TLC, she was a secretary at the university. When Jessica was at home she enjoyed dancing, shapping, reading and going for long walks. She is not 100% sure what she will be doing when she is finished here at TLC. She says she is going to play it by ear, to see what turns up. Wise girl!

AFRICAN AIDS ORPHANS

2011-01-30T10:05:00.000-08:00

Hello dear Friend!

I appreciate your hospitality and I am honoured to be a guest on your computer today. Thank you for being willing to read my story. I hope our relationship will be long and fruitful!

Well, my guess is that you have read ample sob-stories to fill an ocean with tears when it comes to this subject. No doubt you have also studied enough statistics on poverty and HIV/AIDS to fill the annals of perpetuity. So, I don’t want to waste your time with more sob-stories and statistics today. Maybe another day; but not today.

Rather, I would like to tell you a happy tale. The story about our TLC babies. Granted, each one arrives here at TLC with a desperate story. But because they are tiny and newborn, it is easy to leave that past at the door. We don’t discard it (however skanty), because we respect each individual baby’s roots and background. We realise that it remains an integral part of who he is. We file it away safely for when he is of an age where he can assimilate and understand all that happened in his little life, pre-TLC.

Where did it all begin?

I established The Love of Christ Ministries (TLC) back in 1993, after spending a year or two volunteering in orphanages and witnessing for myself the heartbreaking experiences of those babies and small children. One day I will give you an account of some of those stories. We brought home two abandoned baby boys in April of that same year.

Newborn Joshua in my arms. 1993

It was a difficult time, politically, to do something like this. Our country was insecure and in turmoil. It was one year before our New South Africa was born.

We were not hailed as hero’s when we started this work. In fact, we were severely criticized by just about everybody. The Welfare Authorities; our Christian brothers and sisters; even our closest friends and some of our family members. Ironically, these were all people from whom we had expected approval and support. We were shocked when it did not turn out that way.

The common thread of argument was that it would be politically incorrect to bring those little babies into our white home. Support was only offered to us if we were prepared to do our work in a separate place, removed from our family home. The church we belonged to at the time offered to purchase a derelict building for us.

Newborn Reuel in my
daugher, Pippa's arms
1993

But I am a mother. First and foremost. And every mother knows that babies need that care and nurturing of a mother’s unconditional love, 24 hours a day. She knows that all children need a home; and that a home is more than just food and shelter.

With a home, of course, comes a family. A home and a loving family bring order into a child’s life. They are essential because a child is not born knowing the difference between right and wrong. He needs a place where he can begin to develop a moral sense. The transmission of values and virtues is one of the most important reasons for a home. Constant attention to those values is one of the important ties that bind a family together.

We would not be defeated. Eventually, and after much turmoil, we had to wave our friends, some family members and even our church, goodbye and set out on our mission to save the little babies of our nation!

Our first two little boys were called Joshua and Reuel. Joshua, as you might know, means "God Saves". Reuel (pronounced Roo-well) means "God's Friend". Two minute morsels of humanity; only three weeks old. We found them in Baragwanath Hospital amongst 40 other tiny, abandoned babies.

Tommy 1994

Tommy HIV POSITIVE 1995

A little Albino boy, Itumeleng, AKA Tommy, followed a year later. He stole and melted all our hearts. Then at two years of age those stolen hearts were melted down even further and poured out into buckets of tears when he tested HIV Positive. That was our initiation, and first taste of the very bitter cross we were going to have to carry in this ministry.

Brendon Pre-Op

Brendon Post-Op

After Tommy came a little boy with a hare lip and a cleft palate and we called him Brendon. It was a name his biological Mom had already picked out for him. Our choice would have been Benedict. In fact, we had already been calling him Benedict for a while before we discovered that his mother had named him Brendon.

He was abandoned in Johannesburg Hospital at birth.

Soon after Brendon followed Crispin, who was born to a 13 year old street child/prostitute. She already had a one year old to cope with. A second baby was too much for her.

Not long after Brendon and Crispin had joined our family, God put the ministry into full throttle and more and more babies started finding their way to TLC. In 1998, our spacious, 4 bedroomed home in Mulbarton was bulging at the seams and no longer spacious enough with my 5 biological children and the 12 little ones that God had added to our family.

Crispin 1996

I was a 'Cradle Catholic' to begin with. Now I was contemplating a return. But I had sojourned in extreme Protestant pastures for 10 years. Could I go home to the Catholics once more? Would we be shunned or welcomed? Through my experiences, I had come to fully realise that the Prosperity Message was severely flawed, to say the least. Yet, I had learned to despise Mary. I had been brainwashed into believing that the Pope was evil. Only those who have walked this path can fully grasp how traumatic this situation is.   It was a serious dilemma.

Here, I found myself without a church but with a ministry birthed in my love for Christ. It was impossible to remain without a spiritual home in which to raise the little ones that God was daily adding to our family. After much soul searching and prayer, memories flooded into my heart and convinced me that if there was one church that understood ministry to orphans and widows better than any other, then it had to be the Catholic Church.

Feeling worse than a prodigal child,  I sneaked into our local parish one day, and fell in love with the rather unorthodox priest celebrating Mass that Sunday evening. Instantly, I knew in my heart that I was in the right place. After many subsequent, clandestine visits my whole family joined and would you believe, it was a Charismatic Parish. One of the very few in Johannesburg!. That was a distinct aid to my re-introduction into my Catholic faith.

Fr. Barney (an Irishman) was that unorthodox priest. Yet he is, at the same time, 100% authentic and I personally believe he is a saint in the making. He never takes credit for anything. A very humble man. Yet the investment he has made into TLC has brought us where we are today. I believe with all my heart that without this champion, TLC would not exist.

Was it plain-sailing returning to the Catholic Church? By no means! For many years I was regarded as a "Rhema Plant" by my fellow parishioners.  That meant that they suspected I was an underground agent, sent to misdirect Catholics to that 'fastest growing church in the North of Johannesburg'.   Some of these people held key positions in the parish. Their paranoia caused much heartache and many tears. In the beginning even our Bishop would frequently refer to my "chequered past". But in the end he became a fervent friend of TLC's and sadly, he has since died.

With the help of The Knights of da Gama, (a men's organisation and fundraising arm in the Catholic Church), we purchased a farm in Eikenhof, just outside the southern border of Johannesburg. This farm had a huge house on it, with more than enough accommodation for everybody. Or so we thought! Since that time, we have been growing in leaps and bounds. I have personally adopted 19 children. My eldest daughter, Joanna, has adopted 4 and has one biological son. My next daughter, Pippa has adopted 6 little boys, with 4 in foster care. So, there are plus minus 30 adopted children at TLC who belong to our family forever.

Here we have the whole legitimate family together on holiday

Then there are also several others who have ended up with us and for various reasons have permanently joined our family, though they are not adopted ... yet.

It was never our intention to become a huge orphanage. My experiences with institutional orphanages demonstrated that with quantity, quality will inevitably diminish. So our efforts became more focussed on streamlining the adoption process in order to place each individual baby with its own, loving family. By God’s grace we have been incredibly successful in this venture. To date, we have managed to place more than 800 babies into wonderful, strong and loving families where they can grow into all their God given potential.

Unfortunately the New South African Child Care Act started operating last year, but far from aiding adoptions (which was its intention), it is really hampering them. The year of 2010 was a dismil year for adoptions. There were several reasons for this, but we will go into those another time. Suffice to say that delayed adoptions can only ever have negative repercussions on a baby's life.

Volunteer Motivational Weekend "Away"

We received registration from the Department of Social Services as a Baby Orphanage in 2003. But the funding was a different story. We usually have 46 small babies who are accommodated in a beautiful nursery complex adjoining our family home. Baby care is done by a troupe of young volunteers who come from all over the world and provide long hours of laboursome work with these tiny ones. Volunteers was the only option open to us, without sufficient funding from the government to employ staff. Happily, it has really worked well for us.

"NEST" Newborn baby Section

We have a beautiful little school complex on the farm consisting of a nursery school for 20 children, and several other rooms that used to be classrooms. This was because the majority of our children were home-schooled until January, 2009. Since then they have all been mainstreamed.

We have recently converted these classrooms into offices, to make more space for the accumulating toddlers due to the slowing down of adoptions.

Five of our children were blessed to receive Private School scholarships and sponsorships in some of Johannesburg’s best schools, such as St. David’s Boys High in Inanda and St. Katharines School for Girls in Parktown.

Our eldest boys, Joshua, Reuel and Tommy turned 18 this year. The others are all following close behind. I feel so proud to be able to say that all the love we have lavished on these children is now bearing fruit. They are all growing into wonderful, noble young men and women and I feel incredibly honoured and privileged to be called the mother of these amazing young people. We are all waiting with baited breath to see what contribution they are going to make to our wonderful country. Was it easy? Certainly not! The doors in our home bear sad testimony to the tyrants adolescents turn into. But we recognise that it is a phase every human being has to endure. And endure we did! And overcome we did!

I prepared this document as an introduction, so that you may have an idea of how these children have been ... and are being, raised. I understand that it is not your usual family setting, neither is it your ordinary African Orphanage. But I believe with all my heart, that by God’s grace in these past 19 years, I have done my best to give them my utmost.

All the children you see in the above mosaic still live at TLC, although not all of them are babies anymore. Some of them have grown somewhat ... but the baby pictures continue to stir my heart and are a delight to me. That is why I preferred them to current ones. If you become a consistent blog-reader/follower, you will be introduced to the big ones soon enough.

I would like to use this blog to simply tell short stories about my experiences of the past 19 years of ministry. I believe that the information I share might be of interest to many people. However, I also need to use this blog as a fundraising tool. Many, many NGO (Non Government Organisations) in our country have already closed their doors. Others are facing a critical and life-threatening financial situation. Many have lost government grants they became accustomed to and simply collapsed when they were removed. We have all shared the debilitating experience of fallout from the global financial crisis.

In 2008 when the financial crisis first hit, we were afraid. Very afraid. We are amongst the most vulnerable people in the world. We and our babies. A baby cannot help himself. He cannot even scratch his own itch. We cannot "earn" our own keep in any conventional sense. At first the crisis seemed to die down without any dramatic changes to our work. Everyone became optimistic once more, that we could weather the storm.

But the financial demise was and still is insidious and it is very real. From the beginning of 2010, we began to see NGO's falter, fail and fall. Since that time not a month goes by without us hearing of another important work that has had to close its doors. We are fellow soldiers, and we feel for them. It's tragic.

A Bundle of Babies!

Imagine sitting in our position. In our over-crowded little life boat, wobbling precariously. 78 children to care for, 46 of them infants. You have to watch brothers and sisters ~ or colleagues some would call them ~ crumbling financially all around you because they simply cannot survive in the present climate. When the final fall comes, where do they find alternative places for their charges .... there are none. We cannot assist because we simply do not have that extra capacity and have had a few hair-raising months ourselves. The thought is ever present. 'There but by the grace of God, go I.' or 'Will it be our turn tomorrow?'

These poor affected children end up in over-crowded state orphanages which belong to an unsympathetic government that cares little about the poor. I look at my 78 ... and I think: "No! No! NOT MINE!" I vow ... we will stick together; we all eat porridge together, if necessary. Living on a farm certainly helps! I have always said that my babies will only leave if their situation is improved by their departure.

I still have one last tool in my pocket. God has not left me without hope. He has provided me with a gift to use in this crisis. It is this gift of writing. The gift of sharing my heart with the world. With you!

And so here we are, together. You on that side of the world. Me and my little tribe, on this. Yet thanks to this miraculous technology we have found each other! Would you like to be friends, with an (oldish) lady on a little farm in Africa with 78 children to take care of? You could be more than a friend. :-) You could be a partner in our work, for I have always maintained that this is not a 'one man show'! All it would take is for you to push that little donate button and make a small donation.

I am not expecting anybody to make a huge sacrifice. I just know in my heart that if everybody who reads this blog just makes a small offering these 78 children will be safe again.

All because of you!

Or perhaps you would like to be a volunteer?

Do you ever feel like you lost your passion for your daily life? Would you like to "give back" to society or make a valuable investment into the lives of little children? We run a very successful volunteer programme. We are always looking for caregivers for our babies, or teachers to help with the older children. People who are safe drivers. People who might be interested in helping with other work, such as maintenance work or vegetable gardening, etc.

We also run a "Granny and Grandad" programme for retired couples who still have enough energy to offer love and service to little ones who respond so beautifully to love and care. If you would be interested in that particular aspect I suggest you take a dip into the website of Lynn and Ron Heitritter who worked with us most successfully for four six month stints over four consecutive years. Their website will give you a good flavour of TLC.

http://www.ronandlynn.com/

If you are interest in volunteering, please drop a line to home@tlc.org.za and we will answer all your questions and send you all the information you require.

Dear friend, you have not heard the last of me. If you will welcome me, I will be back! :-)

God's love to you,
Always!
Thea

PAUL'S ARTY PARTY ~ AS THE DEER PANTETH FOR THE WATER

2010-10-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

Now that I have moved past the INTRODUCTION part, I have given some consideration regarding the form this blog should take. There are a lot of options. One could go the strictly historical route. In other words, writing about the past and doing it kind of successively, from the time of my birth. Since I also have in mind to write an autobiography, hopefully pretty soon, I’m not so keen on that course.

On the other hand, one could simply do random short stories, which was an idea I rather liked. However, I think it’s quite important to include the present as well because obviously my most vivid and significant experiences would be the current ones. They have great value because they continue to shape my character and personality as my life’s journey continues. Most importantly, they include YOU!

It’s been a long-held belief of mine that each decade is marked as a firm milestone, 10 years, 20, 30, 40 etc. It holds a particular significance in who you are at that time, and where you find yourself. In your 10’s and 20’s you are mostly looking forward. By the time you reach your 60’s you are mostly looking backward.

So, I have decided that I will simply break my blog posts into two sections. THE NEWS. This will deal with the current affairs in my life. and ... THE STORY. Herein I will share stories from my past. My childhood. My teenage years. My original family life. The ministry, and whatever else yields itself to my memory. Most of all, though I don't want to get stuck on any kind of 'regime', so if I feel the need to change things, then change them I will!

I deeply hope, though, that I will succeed in benefitting your life in some way and that our journey will be a long and mutually satisfying one for each of us. The internet always intrigues me greatly because minds can meet in a very special and intimate way, yet they might be miles and miles apart.

Concerning this mutual aspect, I also hope that you will feel free to use the comment section to give feedback, because this will be very valuable to me. Obviously, having had some experience with the Slobberdogblog, I have come to realise that one simply cannot answer every comment. But every single one is read and seriously considered. There is great value in feedback because it gives shape and form to one’s future writing. Particularly, the autobiography.

It is such a unique privilege, actually, to have input into an author’s writing when you think about it. There is no other writing medium that allows that to the same degree. I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to suggest that my writing will be a fantastic success, but if you have added value to it by your comments, then you have increased its chances of succes, and it has become a partnership of sorts. Those of you who know me, already know that I am a great advocate for partnerships. I think it is the way God would have us live and share our lives.

Now that the preamble is over, I will start with this week’s news!

MY NEWS

PAUL'S 11th Birthday

Other posts concerning Paul
http://slobberdogblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/president-jacob-zuma-keeps-his-promise.html
http://slobberdogblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/could-paul-meet-president.html

Paul Wearing his Birthday T-Shirt from his Biological Mom

My son, Paul, celebrated his 11^th birthday last Sunday, the 3^rd October. This presented an enormous problem for me because Paul is a very compulsive and highly strung little boy. The word “little” here also has significance because he is very tiny for his age. He is probably about the size of a 7 year old.

He awoke extra early on Sunday morning and when I heard the clip-clop of his soccer boots marching down the passage at 4.45 am, I suspected trouble was at hand. The last time he marched down the passage with such fortitude was the day he was expecting President Jacob Zuma to accompany him to a soccer game. To demonstrate his excited anticipation for this event, he marched up to my bed and blew a vuvuzela into my sleeping face as loudly as possible!

So last Sunday morning I was duly warned by the marching of the soccer boots and already perched on my elbow when he arrived at my bedside. Thankfully without a vuvuzela! He immediately peered around the room and his face collapsed into that sombre scowl I know so well. I also knew the reason for it. There were no presents.

“Do I have any presents?” he asked.

Paul suffers from Selective Hearing. What he chooses not to hear, he simply does not hear. I had been warning him all week that his birthday celebrations would have to be postponed because there was no money in the bank for such special celebrations.

“No Pauli. I told you we will have to wait until there’s a bit of money in the bank!”

“How long is that going to take?”

“I have no idea, my boy. But I do have good news for you. Your Mom is coming to visit you today and she is bringing your cousin along. She called last night. She’s very excited because she does have a nice birthday gift for you.”

His face brightened like the sun in an instant. Then he asked curiously:

“Cousin? I have a cousin?”

“Yes, your Mom is bringing him along today.”

He did a little tap dance around the room and the lack of presents was temporarily forgiven.

Paul’s biological mother is called Bridgette. We have a “gentleman’s agreement” if you can call it that, concerning Paul. Paul is basically a special needs child. He is on all kinds of medication to keep him stable emotionally. These medicines are horrifically expensive and they would not be made available to him through a State Hospital. So he stays with me because I also have access to the most perfect school for him, called Frances Vorwerg here in Johannesburg. The story is very long and intricate and will have to become one of ‘MY STORIES’ sometime in the future.

We all traipsed off to Mass and had no sooner arrived home, or Bridgette called to be fetched from the “4-Way” as we call it. It’s basically a bus-stop about 3 Kms. from TLC and we fetch families and other friends or guests from there by car, as a courtesy.

Paul was missing when the call came, so I decided to fetch her myself and surprise him on our return. I was introduced to Cousin Dixon. A fine young man working for a Film Company here in Johannesburg.

PAUL, SHOWING ONE OF HIS MANY COMPUTER WORKS OF ART

Arriving back home with our guests I had no sooner introduced Paul to Dixon or he leaped up into his cousin's arms and was hugging and kissing his new-found, long-lost relative with great passion. The two of them were inseparable for the rest of the day. Dixon was absolutely amazed by Paul’s ability to draw incredible pictures on his computer by using the mouse. Everyone who has witnessed this talent has been amazed. Yet Paul cannot write his name ... P-A-U-L! Dixon immediately offered to give Paul a job as soon as he left school, because in the film-making environment artists with such abilities are highly sought after.

Bridgette had fortunately softened the blow of his birthday disappointment by buying him a Bafana Bafana Soccer t-shirt with his name printed on the back. He was absolutely thrilled with this gift! It delighted me too, then, that he didn’t receive any presents from me for a change. If he had, it would have outshone her humble gift, which it probably did, in all the previous years. I actually felt thankful at that point, that the situation was as it was.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR PAULI! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

When Bridgette and Dixon heard that Paul had not received any gifts as per usual, and that we were not able to have the usual party for him, they were really distressed. They asked if I could run them to the local Pick ‘n Pay so they could buy a birthday cake and some goodies to celebrate with.

Of course I obliged. Paul came along and snuggled up very close to Dixon, on the back seat. I thought once again, as I do so many times a day .... You just never know what the day will bring ...

We had a great party. The kids tucked into their treats and we all sang happy birthday and Paul was pleased as Punch. We smiled all day long and danced and laughed and was deliriously happy as only Paul can be.

Two days later, Paul was fidgetting and fidgetting with something all day long. Eventually he seemed at peace but was actually nursing a blue and very colourful object. I called him over and said:

"Paul, what do you have there, my boy?" and he skipped across the room and showed me the most beautiful, hand-made gift box with a largish soccer figurine inside, a couple of miniture soccer balls, and some small charm-sized soccer figurines, all against a backing of some green felt. On the outside it was stunningly decorated. On the top right hand side was a picture he had drawn himself, and all around the box with pictures of soccer figurine toys that he had taken out of a magazine. I was stunned. I said ... "WHAT is THIS?"

PAUL'S HOMEMADE BIRTHDAY GIFT TO HIMSELF

Paul gave me one of those sweet, innocent smiles of his and replied.

"I made myself a present ... so that I could stop feeling so sorry for myself!"

Dear God! How does one answer THAT?

We still have not managed to buy those gifts and he nags and nags and nags every day. But to be fair, my children have Carte Blanche permission to nag. If you don’t nag, you won’t get. It’s simply impossible to have your finger on each and every individual pulse. So I tell my kids ... once I have agreed to something, but with a time-lapse ... don’t stop asking. I won’t mind. Keep asking until you have it in your hand. It’s a standing agreement.

MY STORY

AS THE DEER PANTETH FOR THE WATER

Today’s story is going to be a very current story.

As you know, we are in a financial pickle at the moment. So many mouths to feed ... (More than a hundred, actually!) There are 43 babies in the nursery they need nappies, formula, medication and all the other basic things that babies need. Then we have thirty bigger children who have needs too. School items, food, extra murals, birthday gifts. You name it. If you have children or have had children you will know what I am talking about.

Then, we have 24 volunteers. Wonderful young people who come from all four corners of the world to give their energy and love to our babies. But they need to be fed and they also have needs that come at a financial cost.

We have STAFF. There are salaries to pay and salaries are always my greatest priority because people have commitments and they have families to care for, and you cannot just leave them without their wages.

Well now, I believe that I have been squealing loudly enough to make my anxiety known to the world! And I had honestly and truly, (probably very naively) believed that making these blogs will somehow alleviate my problem. At the time, I had received only one donation through Paypal and that was $5 from Taqueesha Lightfoot (used to be Boyd). But I was telling myself, very bravely, that it WAS going to take time and I had to be realistic.

Well, you might have heard all my squeeling across the world, but what you were probably not aware of was that there were a huge amount of questions going up to God at this same time.

Sometimes it seems that when you first start out in a ministry, everything just goes well. You ask God for something, and practically immediately your request is granted. As life goes on, you have to wait somewhat longer at times but you get to know that the answer will eventually come and that is what FAITH is all about. I’ve lived this life for 18 years, and I know the drill. I should have learned by now how God works with people like me.

Now, I sometimes wonder how people look at me when I am in such a tight situation. Maybe they think that I have upset God in some way? Maybe I have become selfish in my walk with God? Maybe arrogant? If I was really pleasing God would I be in such a predicament. Is God punishing me?

You might be very surprised to discover, my dear friend, that I ask those questions myself! But I’m a MATURE Christian, right? I’ve walked a long walk with my Saviour and He has never ever let me down. Why would He start now? Why would he treat his MATURE daughter in this way? Then I find myself saying things like ... If I prayed more ... if I fasted ... if I give more to the poor ... if I put more money into the collection basket on Sunday ... did I have anything to confess that I missed, somehow ... if I put more energy into my children ... but mostly I just ask ... “GOD? What the heck am I doing wrong?” And, you know ... God always has his very special way of answering.

So, I am sitting quietly in front of my computer in the office last week and down come my e-mails and there is one from my good friend, Susan, in Canada. I open it up and this is what I read:

For those who aren't familiar with the view - it's the downstream face of the dam and those dots are bighorns WALKING ACROSS IT. They're licking the surface - salt, maybe?

And immediately when I look at that word SALT I suspect that God is around. Then I study this picture and it is of The Buffalo Bill Dam on the Shoshoni River at Cody, Wyoming....

And suddenly I am in awe as I study these pictures!

If you can believe it? These deer are standing on an upright wall of a bridge!!!

Then, as clear as a bell, God speaks in my heart and He says this:

My child, you might be 60 but you are not ready to come home yet. You still have some growing to do. I am not going to give you the challenges I gave you when you started our work with the babies in Mulbarton, am I? What spiritual challenge would there be in it for you? And back then you would have collapsed under the burden you are carrying now.

But now you CAN face the challenges I set before you and you CAN carry the burden because I am the one who makes it easy and light. If you don’t believe that right now, you only prove that you still have some growing to do.

I know it feels like you are in a drought. And I know how afraid you are. But trust me. There is truly enough spiritual nourishment in those licks of salt, and you will survive on that steep wall. And you know that I will never let you fall. You are mine. I am with you, as I am with those deers on that wall. Trust in me. I am Faithful.

I wrote it down in my little journal and I smiled.

God is Faithful. And sometimes I am a big coward!

THANK YOU SUSAN!

AS THE DEER PANTETH FOR THE WATER

As the deer panteth for the water

so my soul longeth after thee

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship thee

You alone are my strength, my shield

To you alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my real joy-giver

And the apple of my eye!