Door of Hope!

Here are a ton of pics, and some of an update!

I hope you like looking at these kids as much as I did. It is weird to think that this is just an experience now that I am home- but the truth is, it will never just be an experience, but instead, part of me. I learned so much here- things I never would have expected. But, mostly I learned to love in a capacity that is greater than human love, which can only come from above.

I am off to British Columbia tomorrow with Sheilagh for Mandi's wedding! It is a good thing I have lots to look forward to, otherwise I might have accidently missed my flight home....

Tisetso in his incubator at the hospital

This is at Berea Baptist Church. This is the church that started Door of HOpe back in 1999. They dedicate the children to the Lord, and here is one Sunday of doing that.

This is Kyle. I called him little man because his facial expression often ressemble those of an old man!

bathtime trouble!

Jean Jacket Day with Lily and Abagail

Baby House 2

Sibonelo

Isaac, when he first came

The waterfall at the Botanical Gardens. We went on a hike here.

We went to the Botanical gardens one saturday. Unfortunately it is winter, so it was very dry and there were no flowers.

Ecuador meets South Africa

This is Isaac with my Ecuador blanket

This is Noah. One day when I was at Baby House 2 a frail older woman came to the door. She talked with Auntie Mavis. Later that day she brought by her 3 year old son who only spoke Zulu. His dad died last year and his mom was dying. She had no where to go with him, so she brought him to Door of Hope. He didn't speak any English and was so so sad. The next week his aunt came and got him. I felt an attatchment to him because I met his mother. Even though I don't speak Zulu I would give him lots of hugs and kisses to make up for it!

Noah and Lily

I think this picture is funny because these kids are listening to an ipod. They thought it was great.

This is Audrey. We did my hair on Monday. It took 8.5 hours.
She is Auntie mavis's daughter-the house mom at baby house 2

Avacado tree!

The pastor at Berea Baptist church was studying Greek. He had a laptop but didn't know how to transfer his work onto his jump drive. So, he would come over and ask me to do it. When it was done, he'd bring me avacados from the tree outfront!!!

Taking the Kids to school!

People sponsor these kids to go to school. It is a Christian school that is about 10 minutes away. Whenever I worked at house 1 I would take the
kids to school. This was am adventure!

This is Tisetso.

This is in the isolation room at house 1. He is so tiny. He ways just 3.2 pounds. He spent the first month of his life in and incubator (just like me :-) ), and he also was on a ventalator.

Nomfundo and me

This is Abagail. She helped to pick me up at the airport. I knew when I saw her face i was going to love it.

I love her!

Abagail

Nomfundo wondering what Thapelo is up to

This is Nomfundo. She is 1 1/2 years old. She just learned to crawl last week! For the first part of life she was put in a crash by her mom. A crash is like an overnight day care. This particular Crash got shut down and the owner arressted because they did not take care of the kids. She was brought to Door of Hope extremely malnourished. Even now when you put her down she will throw herself on the ground with her arms out and scream. But, she has made such an improvement and hopefully soon the emotional disturbance of the first part of her life will be forgotten because of the love she receives at Door of Hope!

Getting Adija dressed after her bath.

Oh yum.

This is Tebogo and Adija at their 4:00 feeding of hot cereal!!!!

Auntie Mavis and me

This is Auntie Mavis. She was the house mom of Baby House 2. We would
just ask her tons of questions about south africa and about all the kids. I loved talking to her because she was brutally honest about the kids and their situations that they have come from. her daughter braided my hair.

Just one more kiss??

Saying goodbye to Isaac on Thursday.

The Vodacom Tower

This tower is right on my way to work. It depicts the inner city life of Joburg quite well. Although the suburbs are quite nice, down town has not been taken care of. It is full of garbage and the evidence of street life is clear. This was once and office building that was turned into low income housing. Now it is the home for many prostitutes and drug dealers. Because it used to be an office building it has a 5 story parkade on the bottom which is full of garbage. It is also hollow in the middle. This is where people commit sucide, throw their garbage, even babies. They told us that if a white woman ever stepped in there they would be raped and killed in 5 minuets.....I still was quite intriged by this building.

The Vodacom Tower

This tower is right on my way to work. It depicts the inner city life of Joburg quite well. Although the suburbs are quite nice, down town has not been taken care of. It is full of garbage and the evidence of street life is clear. This was once and office building that was turned into low income housing. Now it is the home for many prostitutes and drug dealers. Because it used to be an office building it has a 5 story parkade on the bottom which is full of garbage. It is also hollow in the middle. This is where people commit sucide, throw their garbage, even babies. They told us that if a white woman ever stepped in there they would be raped and killed in 5 minuets.....I still was quite intriged by this building.

This is Persistence. She lived at Baby House 3. While I was there she was
adopted to Sweeden. I met her new mom and dad and they were so excited to get her. They were going to call her Sarah, but when they met her, they realized her personality matched her name too much to change it!

Me and my Teaxan roomates.

Auntie Francinah and Priscilla

At the restaurant they come around and paint your faces like this. Don't you want to go there??

A cool lamp at Moyo.

Steph, Amber and I

Steph and Amber are full time volunteers. Steph is from Canada and Amber from America. I hung out with them quite a bit, and I loved hearing about their full time experience. I always asked them lots of questions, and I also borrowed their ketchup when I had none. They lived in the flat next door

This is Oliver, the assistant manager from the UK. He picked me up at the airport when I arrived. On this right, is Auntie Francinah who lives
at Baby House 1 as the House Mom.

Annie Erikson- This is for you

I like orbit gum and I like people who send it to me! Orbit is go-od! Thanks Annie!!

ok, for some reason, the pictures won't upload......does anyone know what could be going wrong?? If not, I will try and post again when I get home next saturday! I am disappointed because I have so many pictures I want to show you all!!!!!
love Jenn

Part of Soweto

This is part of the township of Soweto. It has 2 million people living in shacks. I couldn't get alot of pictures because I was driving. This area reminded me most of Ecuador. Johannesburg is dangerous and poor, but there are not lots of shacks there. We drove around with Maki, who lives in Soweto, but works at Door of Hope. She explained so much about the people here. Once again, the only white girl. :-) We then proceded to go to a place called Orlando children's home which holds 65 kids. We were bringing donations for them. It reminded me of prison. Although I have never been to prison, it looked very institutional- no place for the kids to play, all white walls, and lots of metal cribs.

Quick Post

Hey Everyone! Just wanted to write and say a BIG HELLO!!! Thanks for your comments! I love you all and miss you! This week I am feeling "at home." I know how to get where I need to and it isn't all so overwhelming. I enjoy the days so much, whether I am on a shift or off. We are living in what is called the soon to be "toddler flat." This week people came and redecorated, much like Home Makeover or while you were out. So now, I sleep in a room with 3 sets of bunkbeds (2 more than my room in Bedford) and lots of colour. I can even measure myself on a spot on the wall. There are lots of toys and a buttetfly light. It is very bright. On Wednesday I had a baby boy!! Just kidding, well sort of. A new healthy baby boy came in the bin. He was born that day. He is so healthy (which is rare). The newest volunteer gets to name the baby, so I called him Isaac Odita. His imbilical cord is still on and he sleeps alot, but I try to go see him whenever I can and feed and change him. This weekend I am off. I am going to a place called the botanical gardens with some other volunteers and workers and people from Church. It is a waterfall....how big? I don't know! I will try to upload more pics soon!!! Love love love, Jenn

Door of Hope!

Hi Everyone! Here are some pictures from my time so far here in Joburg. It has defintely been quite busy and at times a little overwhelming! I have learned to drive on the other side of the road and am getting to know these babies and how Door of Hope works. I feel like there is so much that I am just standing back, trying to to take it all in and make sense of it too....matter of fact, some things just don't make sense. I have learned so many stories of so many of the kids I see each day. It doesn't seem real that I am looking at this smilng face, and only 2 years ago they watched their father murder their mother and then try to kill him too. It doesn't seem right that there are these babies here that will never know their biological family and have been abandoned in a garbage can. Today a boy who is 3 was brought in to Baby House 1. I met his mother yesterday. His father died and his mother is dying and now he is here, with all new surroundings and nothing familiar. But as I held him today, I knew this was a family who made the best decision for their son, even though it was hardest. I got to go to what they call "adoptions" which is when they give a family their child. Thes families are usually from Norway, Sweden, Germany, Holland etc... It was an amazing experience to see the family receive their child. It was happy to know that this is the final point of Door of HOpe's ministry-to see the children get forever families!
So, I will tell you a bit about Door of Hope. Door of Hope has 3 orphanges over joburg. Baby House 1 is in Glenvista, which is where I am staying. It is a very nice area where you feel safe. I work here about once a week. The other 2 baby houses are right down town, where it is a far cry from safe. It is quite poor, but not like slums, although people do stand by random fires on the side of the road. I have a schedule, so on that particular day, I know what house I am at. I work from 7-5, and then come home. I usually feel very tired physically, but also emotionally. There are other volunteers and full time workers and we hang out together too. We share a kitchen too. Although, it can be quite quiet too. You defintely need them time to process everything and just be able to pray for these kids and for myself that I will make it another day!!! I would love to hear from you! I miss you all!
Love Jenn

This baby was premature. She spent her first month on a ventilator, but she is healthy now. She came home last week. She is very very very small!

Hannah and Claire (2 other volunteers) and I went to a mini safari lion park.

These girls came last week. Their names are Ifemo and Priscilla. They are from Texas. They just graduated from Law school and are great to have around. I feel smarter just hanging out with them. They talk alot about politics and they know the questions to ask the South African that educate us more about the country. This is us at a restaurant.

2 of the kids playing at Baby House 2

I have Ella who is one month in my arms, and Sibonelo is on my back. They needed to go get needles. The clinic was full of people. It was almost overwhelming. There were so many people and children. This was probably one of the hardest times here for me so far. There were children carrying other children, people who you could tell were so sick, and this was far from a hospital. There was posters about AIDS all over the wall. Yet another reminder of life here in Johannesburg. Oh, and everyone was starring at us. I don't know if they were starring because we were the only white people, or if they were trying to wrap their heads around us having black babies!

Celestine and myself on the way to the Clinic. She is from the Congo.