Africa Wrap Up

Friends, it's been a rough week. We had an unnerving late-night incident at our home (that involved the police), my hard drive crashed, Rusty's truck quit, and we have had 2 very discouraging phone calls with 2 different adoption agencies.  I had planned on writing an adoption update today, but I just can't put my feelings into words yet. I will tell you that we have prayed a lot and I have shed a lot of tears. We would appreciate your prayers for our adoption journey right now. When I can find the words to express what we're struggling through (and when I have a better understanding of everything the agencies have told us) I promise I'll write an update - but until then, you will probably just get some fun blogs that I have been meaning to post for a while! 

We'll start with a "wrap up" of our time in Africa! I shared most of these photos on our Sound of Hope Blog, but thought I would repost them here for all of you too. This is a great summary of our work during our month in Swaziland. If any of the photos interest you, check out the caption. A lot of them have links to videos, blogs, and donation info for certain projects! :)

One of our first days in Swaziland! We loved watching the sun set over the traditional Swazi huts made of mud, sticks and grass.

Check out the new Children's Library we started in the preschool at the Nsoko Carepoint!

This little girl was SO excited about the new books! THANK YOU to everyone who donated to this project!

Working in the Community Garden with Phindile. To find out more about this project CLICK HERE.

Nutritious spinach! Just one of the many healthy vegetables the kids will soon be eating!

School's out! The children are quick to run to the carepoint at the end of each day. Year end donations to The Sound of Hope provided the funds for 112 children in Nosko to go to school this year!

Here are a few of the older girls, hanging out together at the carepoint after school.

This beautiful bowl was a gift from my precious new friend Saulinah. It took her 4 days to weave it by hand! Her son Mdeni was one of the students who got his school fees paid through The Sound of Hope. We loved visiting his homestead and meeting his family!

Thanks to a generous donation, all the preschool kids got new Auburn clothes! You can see the video HERE.

There were new shirts for the Swazi staff we are partnered with too! Our work would not be possible without the help of the Gogos that cook for the children, the D-team, the facilities supervisors, the Clinic Assistant, and the Preschool Teacher!

We're also grateful for the American family we're partnered with that lives in Nsoko full-time. THANK YOU Jen, Eric, Claire, and Jacob for the hard work you do around the clock!

We loved seeing some traditional Swazi dances at the Cultural Center in Ezulwini! I even got a quick dance lesson (video here!)

Only in Africa can you see a Journey of Giraffe on the way to lunch! The wildlife in Swaziland is truly unique!

This is Sotja, a 3 year old double orphan who spends most of his days at our carepoint.  I absolutely fell in love with him!

When we see smiles like this one, it makes all our work worthwhile!

We also posted 7 videos from Africa (and we've got a couple more still to come!) If you missed any of those - you can check them out on our vimeo page HERE.

Thank you to all of you who support us financially and in prayer! You make our work in Swaziland possible!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Brillard!!!

I just wanted to share a quick post from Jackson, MS. We came this weekend for the wedding of my dear friend BJ Agnew, and it was an absolutely beautiful (and fun!) day!

BJ and I have been friends since our first week of college at Auburn, and we've made so many wonderful memories together. From SGA, to the summer we were roommates, and the time she drove me at 4am one morning to Mobile for a Miss Alabama Preliminary pageant complete with themed "road trip music" (what a friend!)... we have "been there" for each other through so much. She is one of my sweetest and most thoughtful friends, as well as one of my CRAZIEST and most fun friends! (No one else could talk me into doing something that almost got us arrested! HA!) We've never had a dull moment together!

I was honored to be asked to be the soloist for her special day, and also to serve as an honorary bridesmaid. The Agnew family is so precious to me, and I was glad to be able to contribute something to her wedding. I sang "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" during the ceremony, and it was truly a privilege!

When we found out they didn't have a videographer, Rusty and I shot some footage (which we're hoping to put together after our trip overseas). For now though, I'll leave you with a few of my favorite pictures that Rusty snapped yesterday afternoon!

 

 The Happy Couple!

BJ and her sweet Daddy...

Don't the moms look beautiful in their orange and blue?! 

I loved this shot of everyone laughing together! It really was a day overflowing with JOY!

With the other lovely "honoraries"... I really enjoyed getting to know these ladies!

 

I have no idea what we were laughing at, but this picture makes me smile!

 

My handsome date for the wedding! ;)  

Yes, that's the beautiful BRIDE wearing her soccer cleats! I've never seen anyone 

with that much skill in a wedding dress, haha! These two love their sports!

 And speaking of sports... we'd like to say a big THANK YOU to the 

guy who brought his iPad so everyone could watch the game! Seeing men 

and women huddled around this cheering at a wedding reception made me 

so happy to be back down SOUTH! ;)

 And speaking of football... don't you love the orange and white cake and blue champagne flutes?

 

 I saved the best for last! This is my favorite shot of the day. Aren't these ladies BEAUTIFUL?!

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Congratulations Ricky & BJ! 

We pray that you are blessed with many years of happiness together!

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