We will be leaving first thing in the morning and heading to Addo Elephant Park in Addo, South Africa. Our roommate, Laury's friend has come for a visit and they really wanted to go somewhere special, and since Bryan is the designated driver because he is comfortable driving a manual car on the left side of the road, we are all taking our first real vacation. We did a 3 day weekend to Durban in February to buy a car, and went to Cape Town for a Beautiful Gate conference and were in meetings all but 1 1/2 days so now we will be having 3 days to relax and sight see (plus 2 days of driving as it is about 8 hours away). Our whole family is in need of a break with all the changes and planning that has been happening at Beautiful Gate! It will be a good time for a break from school for the kids and I and a nice opportunity for the kids to have more 1:1 time with Bryan and finally see some animals. One highlight we are really hoping to check out (besides my elephants) is a cheetah farm. Elijah LOVES cheetahs and we are going to surprise him by taking him there. They actually let people walk the cheetahs everyday at 4:30pm, but you have to be 12 years to do it, poor Elijah. We will not be anywhere with Internet so we will not be bringing our computer. Therefore there will be no posts until late Monday or Tuesday morning. If there is an emergency and you need to contact us, you can call Bryan's South African phone #011 27 719 290 513.
Have a great weekend and for those of you on our support list you should have our September newsletter in a few days which will explain some of the changes here at Beautiful Gate. If you are not on our newsletter list and would like to be then please email us at bageurink@hotmail.com and we can add you so you can receive our quarterly newsletter.
Anita
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
My Mercy
Okay, I just have to tell you about my 4 year old today. I know that when you share a story, it is usually not as funny to those who read it as it was to you when you saw or heard it, but I am going to try.
Today around 11am our kids were playing with a few cats in the middle bedroom. They had the door shut and were having a great time, so I did not really check on them much. Tonight at 7pm, I was folding and putting away laundry and decided to put some of the extra sheets and towels in a closet in that middle room (which was God ordained as I pretty much never open the closet in that room). As I opened the closet door, a little cat came out of the closet. I immediately called the kids into the room and confronted them about the cat being locked in the closet and Mercy said she had done it. I sat by her and explained that she could have hurt the cat by leaving it in there without food, water and enough oxygen. She then began to cry and said she had put it in there because she wanted to play with it later and then she forgot where she put it! I felt so bad for her as she cried but it was actually pretty funny to me. Her brother and sister are much better at catching the cats than her so she had thought she found a pretty good way to get the cat when she wanted to play.
Then as we were tucking the kids in bed, Bryan was praying and asking God to help us find an affordable place to stay in Port Elizabeth (we are thinking of taking a long weekend trip there to see the elephants at Addo National Park) and when he said amen, Mercy said, "Why is she poor?" I laughed so hard and told her that daddy said Port Elizabeth not poor Elizabeth. My youngest child really makes me laugh and everyday is such an adventure with her as I never know what to expect!
Children are a blessing from the Lord.
Anita
Thursday, September 8, 2011
DREAMING BIG!!!
Where do you see Beautiful Gate in 10 years...
This week we had a team come from Cape Town and meet with us and our leadership team here at Beautiful Gate and we had a 3 day workshop brainstorming that question. It was an amazing time as it was my (Anita) first time sitting down with staff and hearing their hopes and dreams for Beautiful Gate's future. They were very open and honest and there were times they even allowed themselves the freedom to think and dream big.
I feel like the unity and sense of vision that has come from these meetings has inspired the staff and brought us all closer. We shared our hearts and all have the common goal to love God first and to care for His children to the best of our abilities no matter what our job here is. I am thankful for this opportunity and feel as though it was perfect timing as we are beginning our transition into the director roles here.
The team that came was such a blessing to Bryan and I as they really came along beside us to support us, encourage us, and to help us plan for our next few years here at Beautiful Gate. God's timing keeps showing up as perfect and never ceases to amaze us. The last 10 years of Beautiful Gate have been excellent and are full of miracles and testimonies of God showing up at just the right time and I feel confident that the next 10 years will be just as much or more. Praising God for His guidance and feeling at peace that He will continue to show us His perfect plans.
God Bless you!
This week we had a team come from Cape Town and meet with us and our leadership team here at Beautiful Gate and we had a 3 day workshop brainstorming that question. It was an amazing time as it was my (Anita) first time sitting down with staff and hearing their hopes and dreams for Beautiful Gate's future. They were very open and honest and there were times they even allowed themselves the freedom to think and dream big.
I feel like the unity and sense of vision that has come from these meetings has inspired the staff and brought us all closer. We shared our hearts and all have the common goal to love God first and to care for His children to the best of our abilities no matter what our job here is. I am thankful for this opportunity and feel as though it was perfect timing as we are beginning our transition into the director roles here.
The team that came was such a blessing to Bryan and I as they really came along beside us to support us, encourage us, and to help us plan for our next few years here at Beautiful Gate. God's timing keeps showing up as perfect and never ceases to amaze us. The last 10 years of Beautiful Gate have been excellent and are full of miracles and testimonies of God showing up at just the right time and I feel confident that the next 10 years will be just as much or more. Praising God for His guidance and feeling at peace that He will continue to show us His perfect plans.
God Bless you!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sad Day
Today made me cry. I don't like days like today because they leave too much to my imagination and make me sad. There is a sibling set that came here back in March. The boy is 3ish and he has a younger sister. I remember his first day here, how sad and slowly he walked down the path to his "new home." He looked so scared and all alone and I remember thinking that I needed to really go out of my way to make him feel welcome. His second day here, I put him on the swing and he seemed a little unsure both about me and the swing. I pushed it real slow and tried to talk to him soothingly and after that I couldn't get him off the swing for weeks :) I would tickle him and chase him around till I could get a huge smile out of him and it brought such joy to my day. Now whenever he sees me, he yells 'Me' Anita and waits for me to come over and tickle him. He has the BEST laugh and smile!
As I walked home today, he was on his motor bike and pushed his bike to me so he could say hi and get his daily tickle. I played with him for a minute and then went inside to check on my kids and that was my last minute I'll have with him. I am glad I kissed him and told him I love him because now he is no longer our child at Beautiful Gate. He and his sister were taken back to their family today with absolutely no notice. Social welfare came and said that their parents "worked out" their issues.
Earlier this year his parents had a big fight (which sounds like it happens often) and the dad decided to go to South Africa and left the kids with their mom. She then decided that she would get even with her husband and abandon their children. Really, you are a grown up who had a fight and you think, "Oh, let me just abandon my children, leave my 3 and 1 year olds alone to feed themselves and change their diapers, etc and that will really show my husband." I know I should not be writing this today because my feelings are too raw, but it just sucks that the kids are being returned to parents who earlier this year had not one thought to their well being when they were angry with each other. What happens when they have their next fight?
I think that the part that made me cry the most was seeing his face as he was ready to walk out to the car. He was not happy to be going home. He looked scared and unsure. He did not smile or say anything. Please pray for him and his sister. Pray that their parents truly have worked out their issues and do not do this again. God loves them so much more than I do, but I am not doing a very good job trusting today so maybe you could pray for me to put my trust in His care. Sorry to be so down but my heart is so sad today.
Anita
As I walked home today, he was on his motor bike and pushed his bike to me so he could say hi and get his daily tickle. I played with him for a minute and then went inside to check on my kids and that was my last minute I'll have with him. I am glad I kissed him and told him I love him because now he is no longer our child at Beautiful Gate. He and his sister were taken back to their family today with absolutely no notice. Social welfare came and said that their parents "worked out" their issues.
Earlier this year his parents had a big fight (which sounds like it happens often) and the dad decided to go to South Africa and left the kids with their mom. She then decided that she would get even with her husband and abandon their children. Really, you are a grown up who had a fight and you think, "Oh, let me just abandon my children, leave my 3 and 1 year olds alone to feed themselves and change their diapers, etc and that will really show my husband." I know I should not be writing this today because my feelings are too raw, but it just sucks that the kids are being returned to parents who earlier this year had not one thought to their well being when they were angry with each other. What happens when they have their next fight?
I think that the part that made me cry the most was seeing his face as he was ready to walk out to the car. He was not happy to be going home. He looked scared and unsure. He did not smile or say anything. Please pray for him and his sister. Pray that their parents truly have worked out their issues and do not do this again. God loves them so much more than I do, but I am not doing a very good job trusting today so maybe you could pray for me to put my trust in His care. Sorry to be so down but my heart is so sad today.
Anita
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Time with God's Children
Today was just amazing! On Wednesdays at 1:00pm the staff have a time of worship together (called Time with God) so they can pray, sing, and encourage each other with scripture. One of the leaders of the worship team decided to step out and left every third Wednesday open without a leader. The worship team's solution was absolutely perfect! Now every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 3:00-3:45pm any staff who wants to can take 45 minutes off work and just play with the children, hold babies and feed babies. House mothers can switch houses and play with the kids from another house (one house staff will always be in their own house though in case there are problems or questions). There are many staff who do this each day at tea time with the playgroup kids, but there has never been a planned time for all of us to meet together and play.
At 3 o'clock today we all met in the circle and sang father Abraham and did the motion and then listened to some scripture about caring for children. Then we split up and grabbed kids and babies. The office staff, preschool staff, maintenance men, my family and many of the house staff went all over the place playing with kids. I have never heard so much laughter at Beautiful Gate between the staff but also among the children. It was perfect and made me smile and feel content. It was like a miracle of team building among all the staff as well as bonding with each and every child. The staff were the hands and feet of Jesus today and it was truly beautiful.
I hope your day is blessed too,
Anita
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Unexpected Blessings
I never would have imagined that my life would be like this. First of all, I never would have thought that I would be living in Africa. Second, I never thought I would be a missionary. And lastly, I could never have imagined the people that I have met since being here.
I have met local Basotho people and new friends from countries all over the world. Today we had the opportunity to have lunch and fellowship with 3 other families from our church here in Maseru. One family was from Belgium, another from the Netherlands, another from South Africa and then our family (including Laury). It was a great time of learning about our different cultures and languages. But, I have to admit that South African hospitality is some of the best. We have also been blessed to meet a few other Americans (mostly with Mission Aviation Fellowship) at church and will be getting to know them more in the very near future.
Once again, this is just a small glimpse of what Heaven will look like, as there will be "people from every tribe and language" there. I look forward to getting to know all of them better and also meeting new people as well.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Bryan
I have met local Basotho people and new friends from countries all over the world. Today we had the opportunity to have lunch and fellowship with 3 other families from our church here in Maseru. One family was from Belgium, another from the Netherlands, another from South Africa and then our family (including Laury). It was a great time of learning about our different cultures and languages. But, I have to admit that South African hospitality is some of the best. We have also been blessed to meet a few other Americans (mostly with Mission Aviation Fellowship) at church and will be getting to know them more in the very near future.
Once again, this is just a small glimpse of what Heaven will look like, as there will be "people from every tribe and language" there. I look forward to getting to know all of them better and also meeting new people as well.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Bryan
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
3 new Canadians on their way...
Today is a bit of a bittersweet day for our family. As much as we know that the children here at Beautiful Gate are only here temporarily, and are just awaiting adoption to their families, we forget how sad it is to say goodbye. Our whole family is feeling it today as we said goodbye to 3 children who met their mom and dad. Being there when they met was the most beautiful scene. It was so special to see the instant love of the parents for these 3 children that they have been praying for and waiting for, for many years. A dream come true, their family complete, and the joy was evident. Honestly we are so happy for them and we praise God for putting them in loving Godly homes. Today was also the first time I felt like I knew the families who were adopting. The mothers had emailed me a few times before they came and we were able to encourage and pray for each other. Then seeing them here ready to meet their new children was so joyful. The adoption process is a very long journey for some families and it was such a blessing to see them "in the delivery room" in a sense.
As we walked back home, Elijah said he was going to miss one girl so much because she is one of his soccer buddies. He even wanted me to run out to the store and buy her a soccer ball as a goodbye gift. He also said he was going to miss her brother so much too. Faith was sad because she and the girl used to do cartwheels together all the time and then just sit in the grass and laugh. She spent hours in the sandbox with both boys as well, building, cooking, driving and any other thing they could come up with to play in the sandbox. I am going to miss hearing the girl yell, 'Me' Anita COME! 'Me' Anita SIT HERE! 'Me'Anita Boooooook! And one of the boys is the sweetest most sensitive and shy boy I have ever met. They brightened my day every single day since I arrived at Beautiful Gate on December 6th. May God bless them and keep them and turn His face toward them and their families and smile on them.
I am thankful that God has placed our family here and that we have built relationships with the kids and are building relationships with some of the families as well. At the rate things are going here with adoptions, I am finding more and more reasons why I will need to visit Canada one day to see all these precious kids. And I am still praying for a miracle for one mom in particular who lives close to my hometown and has waited a long time for her son and several very special families in West Michigan who have started the process or are seriously considering adoption from Lesotho. From what I saw today and many other times since December, it is worth the wait, the anxiety, the financial strain, etc. Just don't be surprised when I cry when I have to say good-bye to your new children because I love all the kids here with my whole heart!
Anita
PS. There is peace in Lesotho again. The march on Monday was peaceful which was an answer to prayer. I do not know the outcome of anything that brought on the strike and the march. I do not know if the people will get a raise in pay, but according to our staff, it is very doubtful. I also do not know yet what has happened with the taxi fares. I do not know if they went from R4 to R5 or if it went from R4 to R10 which had been proposed. So while I feel like I have very little to offer in my knowledge of justice in wages and taxi fares, I will at least inform you that there is peace and everyone is back to work. Thank you for praying because after the protests and destruction that occurred last week, only God could have kept the mobs calm on Monday as they marched.
As we walked back home, Elijah said he was going to miss one girl so much because she is one of his soccer buddies. He even wanted me to run out to the store and buy her a soccer ball as a goodbye gift. He also said he was going to miss her brother so much too. Faith was sad because she and the girl used to do cartwheels together all the time and then just sit in the grass and laugh. She spent hours in the sandbox with both boys as well, building, cooking, driving and any other thing they could come up with to play in the sandbox. I am going to miss hearing the girl yell, 'Me' Anita COME! 'Me' Anita SIT HERE! 'Me'Anita Boooooook! And one of the boys is the sweetest most sensitive and shy boy I have ever met. They brightened my day every single day since I arrived at Beautiful Gate on December 6th. May God bless them and keep them and turn His face toward them and their families and smile on them.
I am thankful that God has placed our family here and that we have built relationships with the kids and are building relationships with some of the families as well. At the rate things are going here with adoptions, I am finding more and more reasons why I will need to visit Canada one day to see all these precious kids. And I am still praying for a miracle for one mom in particular who lives close to my hometown and has waited a long time for her son and several very special families in West Michigan who have started the process or are seriously considering adoption from Lesotho. From what I saw today and many other times since December, it is worth the wait, the anxiety, the financial strain, etc. Just don't be surprised when I cry when I have to say good-bye to your new children because I love all the kids here with my whole heart!
Anita
PS. There is peace in Lesotho again. The march on Monday was peaceful which was an answer to prayer. I do not know the outcome of anything that brought on the strike and the march. I do not know if the people will get a raise in pay, but according to our staff, it is very doubtful. I also do not know yet what has happened with the taxi fares. I do not know if they went from R4 to R5 or if it went from R4 to R10 which had been proposed. So while I feel like I have very little to offer in my knowledge of justice in wages and taxi fares, I will at least inform you that there is peace and everyone is back to work. Thank you for praying because after the protests and destruction that occurred last week, only God could have kept the mobs calm on Monday as they marched.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)