I want to continue to learn new skills that I can pass on to others. I want my relationship with God to grow stronger so that I can be an example and a mentor to others. I don’t believe that we are meant to be hoarders of material possessions, or of wisdom and knowledge. I want to be a vessel that is always being filled because it is always being emptied. I want my life to have meaning by living it for the benefit of others.
When I think about what it will look like to be living at Eden without fear of deportation, I see a life that is very full. I can picture my family living in our round house where we take in teen mothers and care for them. I picture Carole having a delivery unit at the Eden clinic where she delivers babies and teaches maternal health. Lia would work with Roze, using art and horses to counsel the orphans at Eden. Naomi would be teaching at the school and in the computer lab. I would be working for Buwe, building new orphan homes and instructing at the workshop. The apprenticeship program would be full and expanding to meet demand. Visitors from abroad would come to teach all manner of skills. It is my hope that our partners will come to visit and see the impact that they are having on lives through their donations. We will have a visitor village for them to live at where they will stay in rondoval houses and eat normal African food. I want them to experience life in rural Africa and come share what they know with the people there. Everyone has something they can give to help others. I don’t want supporters and partners feeling like all we want is a monthly cheque, but we want them to come and be a very present part of what is happening at Eden Children’s Village. Partners are vital to the entire existence of Eden Children’s Village and without them it wouldn’t exist.
