the best laid plans...

As most folks probably know by now, we're here safe and sound, thank you, God!  It's Tuesday evening and we've completed our first work day here in SA.  Even with the travel challenges we've faced(as in a missed plane connection in Paris; 12 hour delay), which resulted in an afternoon in that beautiful city, it has been an amazing trip thus far.

Today we headed to the community to paint.  We painted the interiors of houses numbers 3 and 4 (from our work last year) and tomorrow we'll head to houses numbers 1 and 2 to do painting, as well.

Some of us spent time at the community center spending time with the children and Ma's of Wellington.  Such an amazing experience...hard to even articulate.

At every turn, we are confronted with smiles.  I'm not sure that we, in the U.S. can even translate the beauty of that.  These amazing people, in the midst of their deprivation, find joy at every turn.  Their recognition of the faces who've been here before that they recognize, are simply 'appreciative'.  Their  faces reflect joy, as they know it, and a faith that is exemplified in the midst of need and depravity that most of us have never known.  It is such a beautiful example for those of us who have so much.  We have lots to learn and much to process.

Your prayers for this team and the folks we serve are coveted.  Thank you, friends.  Know that we are well and blessed here.  Thank you for your prayers for this experience and for these amazing people.  In HIM and for the Team, vicki

Two Weeks Out

Here I sit just two weeks away from returning to South Africa.  It's hard to believe this will be the 16th time I've been there.  It has truly changed my life.  I enjoy serving at Hopewell, in the local community, and over the past few years in Crisfield, but I LOVE serving in South Africa.

I love everything about the trip.  I love the country and what the people teach me about faith.  I love building relationships with the people and sharing God's love.  I love what Mosaic is doing to help the families that have taken orphans or vulnerable children under their care.  I love sharing this experience with others on the trip.  I love the late night talks.  I love taking a break from the chaos of life in the U.S.  The South Africa trips have turned into my annual retreat where I unplug from work and refuel my tank.  I love being "in the moment" when I'm in South Africa and drawing closer to God.

Below are pictures from my last two trips to South Africa. The first one is a picture of Nielen standing in the kitchen that Nielen, Joel King, and I finished installing in December.  This is inside the shipping container that was renovated at Hopewell UMC in Downingtown and then shipped down to the Paarl/Wellington area where it was connected with the rest of the Mosaic community center.

This second picture is from my family's visit in April.  We were treated one night to a talent show, "Mosaic's Got Talent."  It's amazing to see how far things have come in less than two years.

The next two weeks will be filled with stress trying to get ready for the trip and getting my projects at work in a good shape.  But I love it because at the end of the next two weeks, I will find myself boarding a plane to South Africa.

Tony