Happy Songkran!

This weekend is the celebration of Songkran, which is the Thai New Year!

It is crazy to think that just a year ago we were living in Thailand, taking part in the city-wide water fight celebration. And now, to think that this holiday will be part of our little girl's heritage forever! Here's a video of our visit to the moat last April. (Please ignore my hysterical laughter - I was the one holding the camera and didn't realize it would be so loud!) It was crazy but fun... until about the 20th time I got doused over the head with ice-water and couldn't think straight!

Happy Songkran from Rusty Jackson on Vimeo.

We did see a more "traditional" celebration when our sweet waitress from one of our favorite restaurants asked if she could "bless us". She poured fragrant water over each of our hands from a special silver bowl. It is meant as a blessing to your elders and it was a really beautiful symbol (even if it is from a Buddhist culture).


Here's a little more information about Songkran from Wikipedia::

Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. Thais roam the streets with containers of water or water guns (sometimes mixed with mentholated talc), or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. This, however, was not always the main activity of this festival. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends, neighbors, and monks.

The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, by capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing and then using this "blessed" water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder.The water is meant as a symbol of washing all of the bad away and is sometimes filled with fragrant herbs when celebrated in the traditional manner.

Songkran is also celebrated in many places with a pageant in which young women demonstrate their beauty and unique talents, as judged by the audience. The level of financial support usually determines the winner, since, to show your support you must purchase necklaces which you place on your chosen girl. (Yes, you read that right - a beauty pageant is a part of the celebration! Just another way for me to feel connected to Thai culture! ;)

 
It's only fitting that this weekend (such a special date in Thailand) would bring something new and exciting to our adoption front. After weeks of searching and praying, I have finally found 2 families who have experience adopting from Thailand! The first already has their precious little girl home with them - the second is still waiting for their daughter. After hearing that it is harder to adopt a girl from Thailand these were such encouraging connections! We have already been emailing back and forth and it has been a real blessing to hear about their experiences.

Now that we are home from Africa, we will be able to move forward with our adoption paperwork - but first we must choose an agency. We are hoping to set up some phone meetings with 2 different agencies and pick one of them soon. Please be in prayer with us about this decision - as it is a HUGE one. I have been asking God to give us peace about which one to choose and I know He will direct this decision!

Resurrection Power

It would be an understatement to say that we see horrible things in our line of work. The truth is we see heartbreaking, disgusting, unfathomable injustice, need and pain. Third world countries are not easy places to be... especially when you know and love so many of the people suffering. It would be easy to get lost in hopelessness and give up in despair. But this morning I woke up with a revelation from God......  

EASTER CHANGED EVERYTHING!

 

All day today I have been reflecting on this TRUTH :: My God conquered DEATH - and that is why I can see the darkness of the world without despair. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST is the reason I can stand in brothels and slums and AIDS ridden villages and proclaim that HOPE IS COMING! He is the reason I can face poverty and genocide and human trafficking and declare that His LOVE and POWER is greater! Easter is the source of our HOPE and our FAITH and the PROMISE of LIFE! This is the POWER of the RESURRECTION! He has conquered death! He is ALIVE and able to do ALL THINGS!!! Nothing is too big for my God!

An apple a day...

Our last day at the carepoint in Nsoko, we decided to bring some apples for the kids who came to eat lunch. I approached some older kids to ask if they would help me "round up" the little ones (as I assumed it would take some time to get them all in a line at the door). What happened next shocked me.

The older kids (teenagers) RAN to the door while yelling for the little ones, who immediately rushed from the playground. The next thing I knew there was a mini MOB all around! I have never in my life seen children so excited about apples! They were not lining up for candy or toys - they were anxiously waiting for a single piece of fruit.

an apple a day... from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

For children who eat meals that consist of only pap (maize meal), beans, and rice, an apple was a very special treat. Their excitement for something so simple gave me perspective, and made me even more determined to see the Community Garden we're starting flourish. This garden will provide not only healthy vegetables for the children at the carepoint (which means more nutritious meals), it will also empower and provide for up to 18 families in the community! To find out more (and to donate to this project), CLICK HERE.

A very special "War Eagle Moment"!

If you know me at all (or have even met me once), then you probably know I am a proud Auburn University graduate and a HUGE Auburn fan. So, when we planned our latest trip to Swaziland, I decided to buy Auburn shirts for a few of our "special friends" here. I stopped by the store Bama Fever / Tiger Pride to shop, and after some small talk with the manager the reason I was shopping came up (gifts for the kids in Africa). She began to ask questions and before I knew it, she had filled an ENTIRE BOX full of brand new Auburn clothes, socks, hats, and toys to donate! I was FLOORED! We typically don't take "in kind" donations overseas, but I definitely made an exception that day!

Last week we were able to dress all the preschool kids at our carepoint in a new long-sleeve shirt or a pair of super soft fleece pants (winter is coming!) They all got new Auburn socks too! It was amazing to see their faces when they got their new clothes!

 He was so proud of his new Auburn shirt!

All the preschool kids in their new Auburn shirts and pants!

Mischievous Thembilihle! She looks so cute in ORANGE!

There were even shirts for all the carepoint staff - the Gogo's (Grandmothers) that cook for the kids, the "D-Team" that does discipleship, and the preschool teacher, Bongiwe!

After all the kids were dressed, I took a few minutes to teach them some Auburn cheers. Here they are learning how to say, "Waarrrr Eagle, HEY!"

Of course, I am saving the best for last - we got them cheering on video! They are too cute saying "Auburn Tigers" with their Swazi accents! Talk about a special "War Eagle Moment"!

War Eagle from Swaziland from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

*For my friends who are Bama fans, you are not forgotten. Although it was painful, I bought some beautiful red and white elephant batiks today that we will have for sale at an event later this year. You guys will love them! We've also got some elephant wall hangings from India, and elephant jewelry from Thailand!

God loves Gogo Flora

Meet Gogo Flora. She had 7 children but they are all dead. Now she is the sole caregiver for her 7 grandchildren. She is crippled, asthmatic, diabetic, and has high blood pressure. She is also full of JOY.

We met her during a homestead visit this morning, and couldn't get her off our minds. I just kept thinking, "What if that was my Grandmother or Rusty's MeMaw? Wouldn't we want someone to take care of her?!" We knew she didn't have much, and felt we needed to bring her some food tonight. So we took a trip to the Spar and picked up some basic groceries - maize meal, beans, soup, sugar, salt, cooking oil, tea, candles, matches, and soap.

When we arrived back at her homestead, she was shocked to see us. When we began unloading the food, she was OVERJOYED! Between her minimal English and my minimal siSwati, we found out that she had run out of food TODAY. She gestured as if to say, "How did you know?!" to which I responded, "Mkulukulu" (God!) Gogo Flora shouted JESUS!!! and began to praise Him. She danced and laughed and clapped her hands. Then she said, (in perfect English), "WE WILL EAT TODAY!" After she hugged us, she hugged herself and began talking in siSwati about how much Jesus loves her and how God provides!

As we drove away, Rusty and I were so encouraged. Friends - this is not a story about our benevolence, this is a story about the GREATNESS OF OUR GOD!

THIS is the God we serve. A God who loves Gogo Flora and her grandchildren so much, that he would send 2 white people over 9,000 miles to be sure that this family didn't even go one day without food. This is MY GOD - a God who is in every detail. This is the God of the UNIVERSE, who is not too busy to care about a single sparrow. If you are struggling today, then I hope this story reminds you who God is. MY GOD will move mountains to care for His children! 

The Children's Library :: Nsoko, Swaziland

Those of you who follow The Sound of Hope may have heard about this project we started a few weeks ago. We've been asking for donated books and funds to start a Children's Library in each of our homes in India and Thailand, as well as our carepoint here in Swaziland! Books are so expensive overseas and very hard to find, so the children just do not have access to them (not even in the preschool here!) But today - that changed for the kids at our carepoint. Check out the videos below!

The Children's Library :: Part 1

Nsoko Children's Library - Part 1 from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

The Children's Library :: Part 2

Nsoko Children's Library - Part 2 from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

To help us start libraries for our kids in Thailand and India DONATE HERE.

It was truly incredible to see the reaction of the kids and their teacher! She kept telling us how attentive the children were today because they were so excited about the books, puppets, and flashcards. "Before, they were getting bored," she said, "but now, I have something in my hand to teach them with, and they are concentrating so much!"

We believe this little library is going to make a big difference in the lives of these children. THANK YOU to everyone who donated the books and funding to make this project possible!


*Note - This is just the beginning of this library project here. Our American partners in Nsoko are already talking to some friends of theirs about bringing more donated books to fill these shelves. We can't wait to see the library grow!

Welcome to Swaziland!

It's a GORGEOUS day here in Africa (no more rain!) Check out the view outside our bedroom window. Isn't that tree beautiful!?

We are headed to Nsoko today to begin work at our carepoint. But first, I wanted to share this quick video update with you all!

Welcome to Swaziland from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

As long as the internet cooperates, we'll be sharing more videos and pictures in the next few weeks. So be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates!