this is nede

The many faces of Nede...

Yes, the voice that goes with this face is as loud and rambunctious as you would expect.

Also, how worried should I be with her hair fixation (at age 5)? She rides her bike while picking her hair out?

i understand just enough

Today as I drove Nede to school I felt as confused as I’ve ever been. Again, like I was looking at Africa for the first time. I realized why I’m always tired here. Because I’m constantly over stimulated and confused.

As we bounced along, to start with I can hardly concentrate over the roar of the 1960’s (or whatever it is) Land Rover I’m driving, the first thing that shook me was the man scooting himself along on his hands, his legs deformed and useless. Then there was a man wearing dress pants and a neck tie, talking on his cell phone and holding a rope with a goat on the end. Too many small children were walking themselves to school. Then I witnessed two teenage girls almost get taken out by a car that made the corner way to fast. This was just after seeing the same starving to death dog that has been threatening suicide on the road all week. There was more, way more but this is enough to try to understand today.

Some mornings, just driving to school feels like too much and then I remind myself this is the CITY. This is where people are making it. I’ve also seen off the beaten path and if I dwell on this this morning my head my implode.

Then, Nede surprised me again. As I was taking all of this, in her squeaky morning voice said, “Mom, can I pray for you?”

“Yes, dear. Please pray for me.”

And she did. Unfortunately I couldn’t really hear her over the tractor motor but she prayed with her big faith and I realized I don’t need to understand all this. The amount that I am capable of understanding is enough.

Enough to keep me going the rest of this day. We’ll see about tomorrow.

40 DAYS OF PRAYER

Yesterday the Hands at Work family around the world started 40 Days of prayer.

Sometimes, even being in Mozambique, I feel disconnected and distant from the heart of God. I’m helpless and don’t even know what I’m doing. I lose sight of the heart of God that I believe and know is to care for the poor, to defend the orphan and vulnerable, to look out for the widow. It’s my intention over the next 40 days to faithfully pray through this prayer journey. I believe that together this is a way we all can make an impact and be united for something of significance.

I’ve also felt challenged to pray less for myself (not that my needs are insignificant but there is more happening than affects just me;) and more for the causes of others around me—for the rest of the orphaned children, for the mandate that God has for us all. I’m excited about this. I am excited because when I feel alone and isolated here, picking up this prayer guide I can be confident that there are people in South Africa praying for the same things. There are people in the UK, in the USA, in Australia, in the DRC, in Zimbabwe, in Canada…people ALL OVER THE WORLD standing in the gap for the Nede’s—that gives me much hope.

I encourage you to download the prayer guide by  clicking here: 40 Days of prayer. Pray with us. Allow yourself to be moved. Allow yourself to weep. Allow yourself to break. Allow yourself to pray for another. For 40 days. Pray for the little ones.

“w”

When I arrived back home on Sunday night there was a beautiful WELCOME HOME sign hanging in my living room. Some friends had brought paper when they took Nede out for lunch, something to occupy her during a meal out. I later heard this story…

(A brief preface is that Nede seems to have a heavy dose of narcissism. I realize that in her child development this is probably quite normal but I’m slightly concerned she has a heavier dose than most, as evidenced in this story…)

While cutting out the letters someone said something about the “W”. (Obviously pronounced like “double-you.”) This apparently perked Nede’s ears up and she immediately responded, “Double me?”

It’s all about Nede. ALL!

my holiday

Here’s a brief summary of my 2 week holiday--blessed greatly.
A 12 hour layover in Nairobi, Kenya, gave me time to go out with Jessica and a friend and enjoy an elephant orphanage…
Then, on to a giraffe park to take the opportunity to feed the long neck fellows (and get a bit too close)...

Then, on to Ethiopia where I drank A LOT of amazing coffee-- from green beans to breathing in the amazing aroma of their roasting process and finally, sipping the freshly ground beans (a coffee ceremony at the guest house)…

A LOT, of good coffee…

All of this was GREAT but it was a dream come true that I was able to be with Al and Lyndsey when their new daughter left the orphanage to be with them. It was the greatest gift, and purest joy I’ve been a part of. It seemed like such a beautiful gift straight from my Father at exactly the right time when I was needing some extra support, encouragement and love. Having the opportunity to be with dear, dear friends was exactly the medicine I needed to overcome the exhaustion I have been battling.  Being there when the words “you’re finished, she’s yours” was pure joy and a perfect reminder that the promise God gives us is true. He indeed does put the lonely in families (Ps 68:6).

After the amazing week in Ethiopia I was off to South Africa to be with my Hands at Work family. This also was a gift. I spent time with old friends and met new ones. I am on such a journey of experiencing what the body of Christ is meant to be. Much of the time I feel alone in Mozambique but whenever I’ve been able to return to SA I’m reminded that I am part of a bigger body. I met new volunteers who have arrived in the last several months who knew my story. They clearly are part of my larger family who are faithfully praying for Nede and me and standing with us. When you’re far from home and in such a foreign place having people who can immediately look deep within me and get to the depths of my heartache and wounds, it’s really something special. Several people made the point to seriously ask, “Dara, what can we do to better support you in this time?” I wish I knew what to say. I wish there was something someone could do just to make life easier, but there’s not. What I do know is that there are many people standing with me. And often that’s all I need—someone to believe with me and remind me of where to place my trust. This is what it means to live in community as we’re called—to share burdens and to walk together. I’ve had a special time of renewal over these last two weeks.
All to soon, on Saturday midnight three dear friends drove me to a bus where I started my journey back to Nede. After waiting several hours in numerous places, one Greyhound, one airplane and one Mozambican mini-bus 18 hours later I finally made it home to my inquisitive, beautiful girl.
And here is where I’ll continue this next season and whatever it will hold.

(Trying on her new Ethiopian dress)