Adoption?!

So this is not our new baby in Lou Lou's arms! But I thought it might get your attention.

We are in the process, or I should say have been in the process of expanding our family through adoption. Since before we were married (over 7 1/2 years ago!) we have talked, dreamed and planned of adopting some-day. Well some-day just became very soon!
Over the past year we have been working with Durban Children's Society and specifically with a social worker named May. She has talked us through the process, interviewed us, visited our home and asked us some very tough questions about adoption, ourselves and what we are hoping for as we adopt our new baby. It wasn't always easy and it made us look deep and not just dream of this perfect family.
I'll update more as the day's pass because we hav now entered the placement process. That is, we have been aproved by the Durban Children's Society to become parents and now they will put us on the list of parents to be matched with babies.
Oh yes, and their next meeting to match is Thursday (tomorrow). And yes that does mean it is possible that we are matched this week!

Many people have great questions for us in this process and we welcome them. Please us this blog to poss them or email us to get some more insight if you would like it. A couple of FAQ are:
1. Why? 2. HIV/AIDs.... will the baby have it? 3. Isn't this expensive, and arn't you on "gift income," can you afford it? 4. Does this make you cliche? ie too wraped up into South African life?
Yes these have all come our way, so over the next couple of days I'd like to answear them here, for you and for us! thanks for checking out the blog, please post a comment if there are other questions on this process you would like to know.

Things are getting crazy!

Only a few day's until the Medical School is up and running with first-year students registering and discovering, for most of them, what life is like with no elders around telling them what to do! It's scary for some, exciting for others and a wonderful opportunity to develop relationships and enter into peoples lives in authentic ways.
I'll be updating the blog on what we are doing, how we are doing it and the students we are meeting.
These photo's tell a bit of what we've been up to as we prepare for the students to come.
Our first step was in thinking of ways to get into conversation with the students... how about an upside-down Myles?! Our full of life 2 year old is always up for adventure, danger and interacting with the students. As I've been working hard at building our financial partnership base over the past month Myles had made sure that I took time out to just be a bit crazy.
Kristy, Myles, Thobe and Lou Lou took a day to go visit our good friend S'the and her new baby boy Nhlanhla. Myles made a fast friend (as usual) and a greatly encouraged S'the received some much needed support as mother, intern Dr., and help with living back at her parent's home.

What's next? A gathering of the core team next weekend to look into our personal contributions for the year and to launch into the 2009 school year!

Isaiah 30.21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Timely read verse I found as I read and look at the promises of God.

Thobe is Back!

Our great friend, co-laborer in Durban, and vying for favorite aunty (and person) in the world to Myles.... Thobe. After 5 months in the USA working with The Navigators People Resource Team in Colorado Springs Thobe has come back to us!

As we have talked and debriefed the trip, we have found that many of Thobe's family and friends didn't expect her to return to South Africa. It seems that many South Africans, given the chance, would love to travel outside the country and never return(legally or not). Jobs and money are the key factors to this. That and working and living conditions. As safety, political fears and economic world wide recession grip the minds of many here in SA, we see a growing need to develop individuals and communities trusting God and living missional lives. It's interesting times. It's going to be an interesting year.
Watch this space in 2009 as I hope to dive into some of the issues, hope's, dream's, and fears that are rippling through South Africa.