To Hope

I stumbled upon this stellar treasure while thrifting on Saturday. I must say, not a lot compares to my Ode to Power Steering; however, I did find a little Ode To Hope that I think we can all use a little dose of:

To Hope

When by my solitary hearth I sit, And hateful thoughts enwrap my soul in gloom; When no fair dreams before my "mind's eye" flit, And the bare heath of life presents no bloom; Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed, And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head.

Whenever I wander, at the fall of night, Where woven boughs shut out the moon's bright ray, Should sad Despondency my musings fright, And frown, to drive fair cheerfulness away, Peep with the moonbeans through the leafy roof, And keep thy fiend Despondence far aloof.

Should Disappointment, parent of Despair, Strive for her son to seize my careless heart; When like a cloud, he sits upon the air, Preparing on his spell bound prey to dart; Chase him away, sweet Hope, with visage bright, And fright him as the morning frightens night!

Whenever the fate of those I hold most dear, Tells to my fearful breast a tale of sorrow, O bright-eyed Hope, my morbid fancy cheer; Let me awhile they sweetest comforts borrow; Thy heaven born radiance around me shed, And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head!

Should ever unhappy love my bosom pain, From cruel parents, or relentless fair; O let me think it is not quite in vain, To sigh out sonnets in the midnight air! Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed, And wave thy silver pinions o'er my head!

...And as, in sparkling majesty, a star, Gilds  the bright summit of some gloomy cloud; Brightening the half veiled face of heaven afar: So, when dark thoughts my boding spirit shroud; Sweet Hope, celestial influence round me shed, Waving thy silver pinions o'er my head.

Translation: I pray that Sweet Hope pays you a visit and sheds some cheerful light into your life!

Have a great weekend!

You Got the Love

Have you met Florence? She is a little crazy, but I love her music. Here is a sneak peak. I am obsessed with this song right now. The Lyrics reach me. Enjoy!

Ode to Power Steering

WOW!!!! It has been too long since I have been on here. Since I returned to Cape Town I have spent many hours looking for a reliable car. Many of you have heard my car woes over the past two years. I am so excited to move on and get a better car, but that is easier said than done here in Africa. It has been a little stressful dealing with car salesman who must think I was born yesterday, and trying to sell my car at the same time. Anyway, in my excitement to soon (fingers crossed) welcome power steering back into my life, and to relieve some of the stress of buying and selling a car here, I came up with this little number. I hope it at least makes you chuckle...it is meant to. I hope this is the last picture of the 1999 CitiGolf  I ever post...

Ode to Power Steering

Remember when we first met? I was just fifteen.
You were so sweet. You were never mean.
I would turn to the left and to the right.
Never once did you give me a fright.
For many years it was just you and me.
I could drive AND sip on my tea.
I took you for granted, of that I am sure.
And now I am left wondering if there is ever a cure...

Time crept forward, and I needed to move on.
I needed to see what the fish were like outside of this pond.
But never did I dream that I would break our bond.
I am left wishing I had a magic wand.
I would bring you back into my life with one swift wave.
And never again would I misbahave.
I would put on our favorsite song.

You know the one we sang to as I drove along.

I would tap on your wheel, and we would drive away.

Now I am left wondering if I will ever see that day.

My arms are stronger without you, of that I am sure.

But my heart is dark now, and not as pure.

Will I ever go back to the days when turning was like butter?

The thought of a world without you, makes me shutter.

Power steering- I am your biggest fan, the president of your club!

Can I return back now, to my first love?

Lets hope and pray that this is the last week (of my entire life) of driving without power steering! Never again will I take you for granted!!!!!

What Have I Been Up To...

I have had quite an usual few weeks. Plans were canceled, meetings were rearranged, meetings I thought were happening weren't happening, people didn't show up, too many people showed up, people came, people went, animals came, animals went....you get the picture. Here are a few pictures and videos to give you the tiniest glimpse into the last few weeks. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. My weeks consisted of.....

                                    Trying to keep these guys out of my house

Doing a lot of this

And driving to a meeting



And looking for whales on this road



And driving to another meeting

A little bit of Kid's Club in Masiphumelele

And more Kid's Club

And loving on this CUTE little one

And the kids ignoring me

Of course there was much more inbetween all of this, but you will just have to visit to get the full picture:) And so I will leave you with one last thought, "...it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of everyday as a saint, going through drudgery, and livng an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God- but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people- and this is not learned in five minutes." Oswald Chambers

National Braai Day

Last Friday was National Braai Day here in South Africa. This means that everyone has the entire day off to dedicate to BBQ-ing. Here in South Africa, braaing (bbq-ing) is held with much respect, as it should be. The South African's love for braaing is one of the many reasons why I love it here so much. Here are the do's and don'ts of having a fantastic National Braai Day...weekend, to be exact.

                                            Go big or go home.  I got the ribs:)

                                         Create a kick back and relax type of atmosphere        

Surrounding yourself with people you love is a must.

Oh yes they did- they did the unthinkable

Dinner should be followed by delicious milk tart and tea

Note to self - take directions out before using

Nothing says party like a little  Ma- to-the-D-E-A

Cuddling with a big dog at the end of the night is optional, yet highly recommended

Exercise should be done the following day in order to work off the ribs and milk tart

Fear of deadly snakes didn't hold us back from going on a hike:)

What awaited us was worth the risk

Beautiful

Experiences are always better when you get to share them

It looks like I am contemplating the meaning of lfe, but I am really just thinking about what I want to eat for dinner.


National Braai Day = Some much needed fun and relaxation. Thank you South Africa for always being willing to slow down and enjoy life.

SA Update

Hello my friends.
Last night I was overwhelmed with American pop culture. I did not even know what to do with myself. First, I saw my first ever Lady Gaga music video. I was rendered speechless. Then at dinner, I was told that Heidi and Spencer Pratt are getting a divorce! The combo was just too much for me. That was enough craziness to last me until November.

On another lighter note, it is whale season here. I am enjoying it so much. And yes I am totally and unashamedly bragging about the country that I live in. Almost everyday I drive along the coast and see the whales frolicking and blowing water everywhere. It is mating season, and for some reason that brings them along the coastline. Where else in the world can you see whales on your way to the grocery store?

Yesterday I brought some pop rocks into Masi for some of the kids. I saw the usual group of girls that scream my name and chase my car down the street. They couldn’t stop laughing at the popping noise coming from the candy. One of the girls is a part of our Vulnerable Children’s Project. She is the youngest in her family at 11 and the oldest in the family is 19. I was shocked at she told me her 19 year old brother was stabbed to death on Monday. She told me as if she was telling me about any other part of her day. Death is such a part of everyday life for them. It seems as common and insignificant as you or I getting a cold. It broke my heart to think that this young girl does not know what it means to grieve. Now the oldest person in the family is 16. We are working to make sure they are properly taken care of. I never thought to be thankful for the opportunity to properly grieve the death of a loved one until yesterday. It means I am blessed enough to live a life where loss is uncommon.

I have been continuing with my investigation efforts over the past month. I am working closely with South Africa’s version of the FBI. For some reason we have incredible favor in their eyes, and they refuse to work with any other NGO. There are a few places in town where I KNOW human trafficking is happening. Yet, I need more proof than I have at the moment. Would you pray that I stumble upon the right information so that I can hand it over to law enforcement? I hate knowing and not being able to do anything about it. I could also use your prayers for continued energy. Sometimes just knowing this information can be exhausting.
Some other prayers requests:
1. My health- I am taking medication for parasites, and I have had to change my diet quite extensively in order to bring some peace and calm to my stomach.
2. I am still saving money to try and upgrade to a more reliable car. Thank you to those of you who have given!
3. Because of my health, I have had some unexpected expenses that have strained my finances the last few months.
4. A lot of the missionaries I work with take a break at this time of year. Many of them are home, and this has put an extra strain on me in some areas.

Thank you all for your continued support. I know I say it a lot, but I really do hope that you see me as an extension of you. I know that many of you can’t drop everything and move overseas, but I can and I am happy to do it.

Love you all.
Christina

Stories

Instead of giving you all the usual details about the past month, I thought I would tell you a couple of stories. The following three scenarios are the real stories and lives of girls that I work with, yet I am sure their stories are similar to millions here in South Africa. They are in no way exaggerated or made up. I changed names in some cases for confidentiality.

Angela:

Angela found out she was HIV+ when she gave birth to her daughter Lalitha. Her husband had left her months before Lalitha was born. He had undoubtedly given her the disease. A year and a half ago Angela’s condition worsened to the point of being bed-ridden. She had tuberculosis and could barely catch her breath to talk. Angela and Lalitha moved in with Angela’s mother so she could take care of them. Angela’s TB went away for awhile but is now back. The doctors say her condition is not good. Angela’s mother carries her from the bed to the toilet because she is too weak to walk. Lalitha calls her grandmother “momma” and it kills Angela to not be able to mother her child. Angela often breaks down in frustrated tears because she is not ready to die yet, but her body will not cooperate with her will.

Rebecca:

Rebecca is a street worker. At night she walks to where the white men live so she can sell her body. Her child stays at home with her mother. She is addicted to crystal meth and will do whatever the men want for R30 ($5.00). She knows she wasn’t made to do this. When asked why she doesn’t stop, she gets quiet and puts her head down. She is afraid to talk. Her boyfriend is waiting for her and watches her every move. Talking to you may get her in trouble. He forces her to do this every night, and if she doesn’t, he threatens to harm her or her family. She wants to go to a place of safety, but fear and addiction hold her back. What if she runs and he finds her? What if he harms her child and mother?

Thandi:

Thandi thought she got a house cleaning job. The lady she was working for suggested that she work at her friend’s restaurant instead. Thandi agrees and lets the lady take her over to her friend’s house. There is a man waiting for her and her previous employer leaves. The man says that he owns Thandi now. He rapes her because that’s what happens to the new girls. Filled with fear, she submits now to whatever she is told to do. She is forced to take drugs so she will always want to come back for more. She is forced to work the corner from dusk till dawn. If Thandi doesn’t make enough money, she gets beat with an aluminum bat or raped. She tried to run once, and they came and found her. She ran a second time, and she got away….

Thandi is now off of drugs and off the streets. She is in school and working towards becoming an active part of her community. She loves the Lord with all of her heart. She knows that she is lucky to be alive and that God must have some amazing plans for her life.

All of these girls could use your prayer. In many cases the odds are stacked against them, but as you can see in Thandi’s situation, there is still hope for freedom and for peace. Will you pray for their hearts, their healing, and their safety?

I could use your prayer as well as these are just three of the lives I am in contact with. I know I am called to fight for justice for people here who have little to no voice. It can seem overwhelming, but cases like Thandi’s remind me of why I do what I do. I could use prayer for the following:

1. Wisdom to know how to handle many of the different situations that arise. The situations with human trafficking are complex and the decisions for people involved are life changing.

2. Energy and strength for everyday

3. I am at about 10% with car funds

4. Favor with law enforcement

5. I love it here, but I miss home too

Love you all. Thank you for letting me share my life with you! I am an extension of you!

Christina

Durban

Durban

Hey everyone. I wanted to give you a quick update on my time in Durban. I also had to leave my computer behind in Durban:( I will explain why later. Anyway, I thought I would update you while I had a computer in front of me and had the chance.

I got into Durban Monday and had a few hours before my first Traffick Proof training. I hit the ground running and didn't stop until I got home last night. Everyday we had at least a few trainings to do at local churches. We trained them not only in Traffick Proof but also Intercession/What does God's Word say about justice, and Prostitution Ministry. 

It was so great to see the local church in South Africa get excited about doing something to combat human trafficking. Really, they just need someone to show them what to do, and then show them that anyone can do it. They were a bit timid at first, but I could see their excitement level raise as the trainings went on.

An example of this was when we did Prostitution Ministry. We took about 20 memebers of a local church out to a few different prominent prostitution hotspots in Durban. We had to go late at night while the girls were on the street. For people who have never done this before or never talked to a prostitute, this can be quite intimidating and scary. I had a group of five with me. We walked past a brothel where a few girls were hanging out by their window, so myself and another girl went over to chat with them. Meanwhile, the rest of the group stayed behind us to watch out for us and pray. There were three prostitutes there. One was five months pregnant. This is a turn on to some guys, and they will actually pay more for a pregnant girl. She was also smoking, but I couldn't tell what she was smoking. Then one was actually a trans-gender (a guy pretending to be a girl) prostitute named Tina Turner:) Anyway, we just chatted with them for a while through the brothel window. At the end of the conversation we asked if we could pray for them. It was touching to see them sober up a bit, bow their heads, and rest in God's presence for a few moments. Before leaving, the girl with me made plans to go back and see them. Creating this point of contact between the local people and the hurting in their neighborhood was our goal. 

The bad news is that our rental car was broken into while there. Another member of Justice [ACTs] had her laptop in the trunk. They broke into the trunk and stole her laptop and our GPS system. We were parked in a parking garage at a mall while using the internet. Therefore, I had to leave my laptop with the girls so they could continue with the presentations. I am hoping to have my laptop back in a few weeks. Unfortunately, cars get broken into all of the time here, and the police don't do much about it. We are not holding our breath for any type of justice or reimbursement. 

I just wanted to quickly update you on my time. Thanks so much for your prayers. I will get back to you again when I get my computer back. I hope it comes back to me safe and sound! Love ya's!

Christina

Latest News

Hello once again,

 

The Oscars, March Madness, Sandra Bullock’s husband has been cheating on her, Corey Haim died- am I missing anything else important? I really do miss America. I miss free refills, power steering, street signs, an abundance of feminine products and supplies, screens on windows, no need for panic buttons in every room of a house, a great highway system, phone contracts(none of this pre-pay crap), and unlimited electricity and internet just to name a few!

 

Things here are busy as usual. I am sorry if I seem a bit more unreachable since I have been back. My days are getting longer, faster, and busier with the World Cup approaching. I have been doing some specific things at the end of each of my days in order to try and disengage in work. These include running and then watching something light-hearted, like The OfficeJ  Of course, I find peaceful refuge in my relationship with the Lord. I am not sure how people survive without Him. The Word sustains me from one moment to the next, quite literally. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

 

Awhile back I spoke about Angela from Masi who is suffering pretty severely with HIV. Well, Angela and her daughter Lolita are now part of our Vulnerable Children’s project. This means they will get food to survive from month to month. We are also starting a house church once a week at Angela’s house. I told you a bit about her past with witch craft, but both Angela and now her mother, Edith, have been baptized and are serious about learning how to better follow Jesus. More good news is that the government finally started to build Angela’s house. The people of Masi have been promised houses, instead of the tin shacks they live in, for years. Well, Angela’s house will probably be finished in the next few weeks! I cannot wait to move them in to a proper house before winter comes! It is such an answer to prayer for them.

 

Things with Justice [ACTs] continue to move at an astronomical speed. As far as investigations, I do have to be somewhat secretive with the information that I share on here because of my blog and my website that are accessible to the world. But I can tell you that I had a meeting with a few law enforcement officers that are trustworthy and can use our help. It is hard to say that any law enforcement here is not corrupt or susceptible to corruption at some point, but I feel as confident as I think I possibly can that these guys are fighting for the same things that we are. This was the first and most important step in our investigation efforts. Things move slowly in this field, but it is so important to be deliberate with each of our steps. I also want to reinforce how aware I am of the reality of the underground, evil world of human trafficking. I want you all to know I don’t make a single decision without the wisdom of others around me. This is not a game, and there is no room for recklessness.

 

This past week I was finally able to do a Traffick Proof presentation in Ocean View. This was such a big deal because every attempt I made previous to this was shut down. Now, suddenly the doors are opening in Ocean View. I presented to a total of about three hundred 6^th and 7^th graders. Ya- tough crowd! To top it all off, we had them right before lunch! Overall it went really well, though. Three hundred more kids now know what human trafficking is and how to protect themselves from it. Prevention is key! Next week we talk to the 4^th and 5^th gradeJ Wish me luck!

 

Last time I wrote I mentioned Laura, the prostitute from Ocean View. She had mentioned wanting to go into rehab and leave prostitution. She was supposed to meet Ali a few days after we talked with her, and if she showed up for the meeting, then Ali was going to get her into rehab. Well, she never showed up. I have seen her on the streets again. Please pray for her as she is so bound up in drugs and the life of prostitution, though she wants to change. I can’t imagine the internal struggle she goes through daily.

 

One more reminder for all of you that send checks, please send your check to the new be:good address:

The be:good foundation

PO Box 8181

Rockford, IL 61126

 

Thanks guys! I think of home and all of you often. Your love and support motivate more than you will ever know. Come visit me!

 

Love,

 

Christina

The Daily Grind

Hello everyone. It is hard to believe I have been back in Cape Town for a month now. It honestly feels like it has been a year. I had a great time seeing many of you while I was home. Trips home truly rejuvenate me for my time here, so thank you for all of your time, love, and generosity. I am blessed.

 

Since I have been back I have been mostly doing work with Justice [ACTs]. We didn’t waste any time taking what I learned from the investigator academy and applying it here. Right away I found two brothels in town that were suspect for holding trafficked girls. All of the red flags were present, but my hands were tied as I wasn’t able to find trustworthy law enforcement to hand the information off to. I also wasn’t sure that the information I gathered was enough to force law enforcement to take action. Investigation involves a lot of research; it is incredibly tedious. There is no formula for success. Anyway, as I was sitting on the information and trying to find a law official who even believed that human trafficking was happening, I found out that someone else had tipped the police off about these two brothels. The police had in fact already raided them, and they are working to shut the brothels down soon. I had heard rumors of this, but it hadn't been confirmed yet. The man who tipped them off was a 77 year old Christian man who poses as a buyer and gains information from the girls. Although I don't totally agree with his methods, I think it is safe to say he is my hero. He already has trustworthy police contacts and we are working towards the same goal, so we are hoping to partner with him in the future. Knowing that those two brothels are already on the radar, I have moved on to two others that are highly suspect. I will let you know how that goes! DON'T WORRY- I am being smart, safe, and I swear to never kick down a brothel door.

 

Today I met with a girl named Laura from the township of Ocean View, which is about five minutes down the road from Masi. In Ocean View, the drug of choice is “tik” which is crystal meth that is sometimes laced with marijuana. A good friend that I work with has made friends with many of the prostitutes in Ocean View. Laura is a tik addict and prostitute. She sells herself on the streets of the white community at night in order to feed her addiction. I sat with her for a while today and shared about human trafficking, safe sex, and her drug addiction. Looking at her tiny little frame, I kept thinking about how much Jesus loves her. I think about stories in the Bible where Jesus stood up for prostitutes and sinners of His time. He came to set the captives free. He came to set Laura free. She says she wants to change. Ali is looking into getting her into rehab. I pray today was another step closer to freedom for her.

 

Well, that is enough for one email. Personally I am doing well. I had a pretty bad cold that made me lose my voice, and I am still a bit hoarse. I feel much better, though. My housing situation is on hold for now. It is a long story, but I can tell you that I am still in the house that I was house sitting. The car has been running fine; I am so relieved!

 

Alright, I will try not to let so much time go by before I update again. Everyday I think about what a great reality TV show my life here would make. I wish I could capture it for you! I guess some of you will just have to come for a visit!