This Year Ahead

When Alicia and I came to Africa for the first time in 2009, we became very close with a couple of the kids in the community near where we stay, Floyd and Phumla.  Both of them have been through so much in their lives.  Yet they continue to blow me away with their determination to succeed.  They are such special people.  We love them and wish the best for them.  At the end of last year we found out that Phumla was accepted to go to nursing school in the college literally beside where we stay.  Also, we found out that Floyd passed grade 11, which if I’m honest I didn’t think was going to happen.  It is so exciting to watch these kids push forward.  At times it’s really hard to watch their struggles at home.  I pray that we are a good support to them.  In the past it was hard to leave these guys behind when we would return to Canada, without knowing if we would see Africa again.  Sometimes it feels like we are stuck between two worlds and always saying goodbye to people and leaving people behind.

But it’s good to be back in South Africa.  I feel a sense of peace about this year that lies ahead.  Our year starts off looking at all the work before us.  All our expectations and all that others expect of us for this year.  I know last year, especially near the end of last year, when I looked at all that I needed to do I felt completely overwhelmed.  I felt out of control and unable to face all that was in front of me.  This year seems different.  Instead of anxiety of all the work, I feel peace.  Deep inside I feel that I don’t have to be in control of everything and I can let my anxieties go.  There is so much more joy this year in my heart, because it’s not clouded by those anxieties.  So, this time I hope my year is filled with peace of mind.

Over the last few weeks it has been so incredible to be back spending time with people.  We hit the ground running, right back into the work.  It feels good to be getting back to the work that we love.   One of the other things I pray for this year is that people for home in Victoria will come visit us.  That would really mean a lot to us.  It was so special to have both sets of our parents come out here and spend time.  But last year no one came to visit and it felt hard to be away from home.

Anyways I am filled with joy and a sense of peace that is setting the tone for my year and it’s really exciting.  I hope that everyone who reads this blog (Is anyone still reading our blogs?) finds the kind of peace in their life that comes from being exactly where you are meant to be.  The kind of peace that comes from being “others” focused.  The love that comes from truly valuing the relationships in your life.  Life is so much bigger than ourselves.  I think I started this work thinking that the emotional level would be too much to take at some point.  And yes it is overwhelming some times, but there is so much more that comes from investing emotionally into other people’s lives.  I pray that my family and friends will live radical lives, and buck the trend.  That they won’t live, only concerned with bettering themselves.  Bob Marley says in a song, “If you’re not living good, I beg ya, travel wide.” Get out of your comfort zone and experience something new and challenging.

We love you guys and miss you.  Thank you for walking this journey out with us…

~T