today is.....World AIDS Day

these are the most precious and beautiful faces that you will ever see....look into their eyes and you will sometimes see sadness, but also you will see hope!  these are the future leaders of south africa...the sadness is due in part to the HIV/AIDS rate in their country...many of these children are sold for sex at a very young age....these pictures are from True Love Waits presentations that a mission team that I was so blessed to be a part of did in and around Durban...which has the highest HIV/AIDS (@ 40%) rate in the country...some of the pics show children signing a purity card...it states that they will remain abstinent from having sex until they are married...we saw so many young people sign these cards, but that just opened up the door for a conversation into how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ...

today is WORLD AIDS DAY, it is not a celebration, but a day to come together and stand up and fight for the prevention of HIV/AIDS...and in today's world, the only answer to HIV and AIDS is GOD!!!  teaching those around the world about who Jesus is and also how to remain pure prior to becoming married is the only way for the disease to be stopped!
i ask that you take a moment today to stop and pray for all those that are suffering with this disease, as well as those who are living in countries where HIV/AIDS isn't even acknowledged as being real...

as my heart aches....

today has been a rough day...

it has been strangely overwhelming and full of fidgeting...

i've been thinking a lot (and yes, the steam is coming out of both ears)....

overwhelmed that my heart is aching to be somewhere else....

with those i call my family half way around the earth....

they are the ones who welcomed me and our team (from church) with outstretched arms....

took us into their homes and made us their family...

i miss them....

their beautiful south african faces...

their laughs, their accents, their teaching spirits...

their stories...especially harvey's....  :)

i miss the way the air smelled...

i miss the landscape...

i miss everything about it....

and today, my heart aches to go back there....

psalm 13: 2, 5-6

how long must i wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? v2a

...but i trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  i will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. vs. 5-6

just like David had a steadfast faith when waiting on God's timing....
i too, must not be impatient....God's timing is always perfect!

h

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