The Background
Since being home from the Race, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is, “What was your favorite month?” My answer is a three-way tie. What makes these countries my favorites is a combination of the culture, the beauty of the country, the people I got to meet, and the ministry I participated in while there.
One of those three countries happens to be South Africa. During January, Month 7 of my Race, my team was placed with the Roos family in the beautiful coastal city of Durban. We had the amazing opportunity while there to help work and run two camps for adults with disabilities. This was a beautiful and challenging experience first working with young adults with mental disabilities, and then adults with acquired brain injuries. Both of these camps were overnight adventures including outdoor activities, crafts, games, worship, Bible study, and even a talent show night!
When we weren’t planning or running the camps, we were enjoying life with Kerneels and Emma and their precious daughters Ella and Zoe. There were evenings in the backyard pool, trips to the beach, afternoons at the mall, church services, family gatherings, and nightly meals shared around the table- not to mention the delicious braais! (South African for barbecue) It was definitely a month that felt like “home away from home.” During my last days in Durban, I remember standing on the beach, staring out at the Indian Ocean, and wishing I could come back one day if that could ever be possible…..
My Would Race team with Camp Higher Ground
The Big Question
One Sunday, just about a month after I arrived back in the States, my sister and I walked into church where she immediately abandoned me for her friends. So like anyone else would do, I pulled out my phone and got on Facebook while I waited for my parents to arrive. It was then that I saw I had gotten a message from Emma. It was sent to quite a few people and began with an update on her family’s life and how her sweet little girls were doing. As I continued to read I nearly jumped off my pew with shock and excitement when I got to her question.
“Kerneels and I are looking for someone to come help take care of our girls for a couple of months starting in September…”
I don’t think I’ve ever typed faster in my life. Thumbs flying, I sent Emma a reply letting her know that I was most definitely interested and we should talk later that day.
The Roos Family
The Decision Making
After a lengthy Facebook messaging session with Emma, I was sitting in the family room with my parents discussing the pros and cons of taking this opportunity. My head was filled with questions like:
“Is this a good time to go when I’m really just starting to settle back into life at home?”
“Shouldn’t I be getting a job that pays right now?”
Then I remembered a conversation I had a couple weeks earlier at Project Searchlight. Someone had said to me, “Sometimes God drops exactly what we’ve asked for into our laps, and we stupidly question His goodness.” Didn’t my heart long to go back to South Africa? Didn’t I fall in love with this family? Was I really questioning this gift?
It took me a couple days to give my official “yes”, but let’s be real. My dad and I were looking up flights that first day.
Precious little Zoe! I mean really, how can you resist that face?
The Details
From September 7th through November 8th I will once again be a resident of Durban, South Africa. My purpose is to help Emma take care of Zoe and Ella during the day while Emma works on planning future camps, and to provide them with childcare for date nights etc. While there, my food and living will be provided for, but it is my responsibility to get myself to and from South Africa.
Ella, my BFF, when we saw Frozen together!
The Real Reasons Why
I’m taking this opportunity for other reasons besides my desire to return to South Africa and my love for this family. I’m doing this because of a lesson I learned pretty quickly on the Race. Often times ministry looks like doing the behind the scenes work. It means performing the tasks that might seem unrelated, but really if they didn’t happen, neither would the ministry.
Emma runs Higher Ground, the nonprofit that puts on these camps for adults with disabilities. Having participated in the camps first hand, I know the benefits they provide. It’s a time for people of a common background and situation in life to come together, relax, have fun, and enjoy doing activities that they often times do not get the chance to participate in. The camps also provide a break for caregivers whose lives have most often become consumed by these ones that they love. It’s a few days for them to take a breather and really be able to relax knowing that their loved one is in good hands. The camps also serve to bring attendees into a time and space where they can learn about God and His love for them, and where they can experience a real time of worship.
Planning and executing these camps is enough work in itself, I can’t imagine doing it while also having to fully focus your attention on two children. So, here’s where I enter the picture. I’m going to do the “background” work of watching Ella and Zoe so that Emma can do the work of planning these amazing, life-changing camps.
I have seen the heart that Emma and Kerneels have for the Lord, for their family, and for their campers. They are daily being the hands and feet of Jesus to all who surround them. I consider myself blessed to get not one, but now two opportunities to come alongside of them and help make the ministry happen that the Lord has given them.
The Fundraising
I never really thought it would be so quickly post-Race that I would begin the fundraising process again, but here I am! My heart is to be a servant to this family who is daily serving the Lord, so I need help getting there! My rough estimates are that the round trip airline ticket (including airline fees etc) will be around $1400. While that is my main goal, I would like to raise an additional $400 to cover the costs of my student loan payments while I am gone.
So that brings us to a grand total of $1800!
Ideally this money will be raised by August 31st, 2014. I’m asking you, my supporters, to pray and once again consider donating to help make this ministry happen. The donating process looks a little different this time as I am going personally and not through the World Race/AIM. Some of the main differences are that:
-these donations will, unfortunately, not be tax deductible
-you will NOT use the “Support Me” link located on this blog- donations given there will go to the World Race, and I do not have personal access to that money
If you would like to donate to my return to South Africa, these are the ways you can:
-by mailing cash or check to: Logan Gibson, 1514 Chauncey Lane, Henrico, VA 23238
-by donating online through Paypal, finding my account through [email protected]
Thank you so much to everyone who has followed and supported my journey thus far. I am unbelievably excited to take this next step with you and God!
