Feb. 25.07…Thanks for the Updates

I just wanted to say thanks for keeping me posted on your lives. I am really enjoying hearing what is going on across the ocean. Love you all and miss you mucho. Yesterday, I was looking at Charles facebook pics and saw a bunch of pics of our apt (well when he lived there) and it brought me to tears…just a flood of memories came to me about our apt and how much I miss Chicago, family, and friends.

Also, look to the right hand column...do you see gabe and rach's blog...if you want to see some pics of what we are doing here there are some...as of right now they have only taken pics when I haven't been there cause I am at Mohau...but I will get some up of the work that I am doing soon...I just need to borrow my host moms camera...the woman in the yellow shirt her name is Brenda, she and I are unseperatable...our favorite things to talk about are God, shopping, and more especially boys, we love to dance together...who would've guessed? She has been my saving grace here and I will really miss her when I head back to the States...we have already planned on her coming to the States via my suitcase.

Feb. 24.07…Swimming Pool

Today was spent doing homework and then headed to our friends swimming pool. Oh ya, I am getting my tan on. The house we went to was a woman that came over here last week when we had some out of town guests stay with us that have a healing ministry. To be honest with you I was a little skeptical of the situation as well. Anyways, this woman is 45, has 3 children, been married for 17 years. She was diagnosed with cancer about 4 months ago when a lump started developing in her left breast. This lump when she came to our house was the size of a fist…clench your fist right now and look how big it is…seriously it was that big. So this couple Brian and Lynn did their thing…45 minutes later the lump was the size of the tip of your pinky nail. Yesterday, Joanne (cancer woman) went to her doctor to make sure it was gone and that it just hadn’t shrunk and gone somewhere else. Her doctor came back to her and said she is 100% cancer free! And who says God doesn’t heal in the 21st century?

Feb. 23. 07…Gauteng Wide Social Work Meeting on Adoption

This morning I went to a social workers meeting on adoption. It was very interesting to hear how adoption is done here in South Africa from South African social workers.

Here are the differences…
South Africa United States

*they don’t have waiting lists because *at least 2 year wait list
there are soo many babies and children
abandoned at hospitals, streets, etc.
*birthmother has 60 days after she has *once signed no way to go back
signed her parental rights to come back and
say she wants the child back
*adoption costs R500-R2000 (about $70-266.70) *$12,500-42,000
*social worker has to inform paternal father, *doesn’t have to inform anyone
grandmother, grandfather, maternal grandmother, but the father of the baby of
and grandfather of the unborn baby of the mothers the adoption decision
decision to place the baby for adoption
*have a sliding fee structure set up by govt *up to agency to decide on fees
as to how much the adoption can costs
*screening (homestudy) is similar but s.worker *homestudy tends to last 2
meets with family less times months
*Critieria for adoptive families, *very similar, but can be 21
be between ages 25-39, can only have max years of age for married couple,
of 3 children, if you already have can have biological children,
biological children less likely to screen can be over the age of 39 to adopt
you, you have to be married for at least a
year, they do adopt to gays, singles, and
internationally.

I just found out that Mohau Centre doesn’t charge for their adoptions!

Feb. 22. 07…Learning About my Clients

Today I started going through the files of the various children I will be working with. It is interesting to be able to see them playing on the playground as happy little boys and little girls only to find out that they were abandoned at age 2 by granny after their mother died. And that their granny used to come and visit and then one day found the child to be too immature but may take the child back when it gets older, so that he/she can help around the house. I am thankful that the Mohau Centre is able to take these children in and care for them properly. I also found out that quite a few of the children are displaying sexual behaviors at the young age of 8 and up. Rather than acting out or showing other signs of trauma this is how these children display it. This is something that scares me to no end and concerns me for AR’s orphan homes. What I find interesting is that the instigators are the girls and the boys are being assaulted until they give in and have sex with the girl. I am glad that I am seeing the dark side of running a home as well as all the good sides. This internship is great preparation for me to see how to start this home off right. I will also be counseling these girls while I am here and this will be defiantly something we will work on.

Feb. 21. 07…Immense Need

Today we started our day with Vincent teaching the computer classes about self-image. On Wednesdays Vincent teaches the class on self-image, how to prepare for interviews, basic life skills, basically anything that will build them up as people and their confidence level (Dad you could do your Pauer People stuff here). Anyways, it is always refreshing to hear how God created me in His image and that God doesn’t make mistakes. Constance is feeling better so we headed to Soshanguve. We came upon a big challenge in our line of work and that is the amount of need that everyone has. I am not talking about want, but dyer need. It is very challenging to hear for hours in the scorching sun about all the things that are needed (land, food for the orphans, money for a pastorial salary (to feed his family), etc.) All of these things are good and God has planted them in their hearts but they don’t have the resources to do the things that make it happen. As of right now Africa Revolution doesn’t have the resources either to just pump $, time, and man power into all of these projects. So it is a hard place to be in because the desire for AR is to be able to help, but we can only do so much with our few resources. How does one know when to draw the line with helping? We have gotten to a point where the need is soooo big and we are sooo small, but God calls us to dream bigger than ourselves.

Feb. 20.07…Driving the Benz

This morning I got the opportunity to meet with 3 upper management people from Mercedes Benz to discuss the possibility of them sponsoring a Vito for Africa Revolution. It was great for our meeting we were in a board room…I was asked if I would like anything to drink then one of the members in the meeting was like oh I already ordered cappuccino’s. Five seconds later a guy in a waiter type of suit came in with cappucino’s and bottled waters. In my head I was thinking of Africa Revolutions board room and imagining Allan serving us tea in a suit. Almost made me fall out of my chair laughing. Good think I didn’t cause that could have been a quick ending to the meeting with a big fat NO. The rest of the day was spent vision casting with Vincent as to next steps with the orphan home. Also, a lady in the church bought Rach and I purses to replace the ones that we had taken. Totally made our day.

Feb. 19.07…Homework What a Drag

I just spent all day doing homework…but this evening I with Rach and Gabe went to Powerhouse to pray for crime in Mamelodi…our church is fasting for the next 3 days for crime…it is interesting how the African church thinks about criminals…they don’t see it as us vs. them…example they robbed us…rather they see it as these are our brothers and sisters…how can we come alongside them and support them as people and build up their character? Ughm yup this has totally changed my view of how Satan used those 3 men to make us want to go back to the States. I want to find these men now not to get my stuff back but to say, How can I build you up as a person and a brother?

Feb. 18. 07…Dancin’ da Bauer Way

Today was a dance…basically @ Powerhouse they seem to always seat us at the front of the church…so when we had a dance troop come that does sign language as well as dance to worship music (if only you can imagine happy hands from Napoleon Dynamite but worship music) I felt the dance spirit-so I got up and started dancing…that’s right 250 saw this white girl dance…you better believe after the service people asked me where I learned to dance and how much they loved watching me…little did they know that I was trying to imitate them and added my white girl flare…and that just happened to be the dance that came out…so now I am known as the disco girl!

Feb. 17. 2007…Homework day and evening braii at Shirle Greig’s

Today will be spent doing homework! Yippee it is kind of cloudy outside, so I am happy about that because than I do not feel as though I am wasting a day away by not being in this great African sun (ps I am getting a tan and loving it!). Later on this evening we will be going to a braii at Allan’s moms house. His cousins that live in the area will be there as well. It is always a good time hanging out with the Allan fam.

Feb. 16. 2007…Prayers answered to the robbery

Today I spent another day at Mohau. The children are soo great there and the caregivers today were incredible…they really spoke to the children in an appropriate way as well as to make sure the English speaking volunteers/interns could understand what they were saying to the children. The children and caregivers all speak Tswana, English and some speak Zulu. For the most part Tswana is spoken at all times. When I arrived to the Centre today I was introduced to a group of volunteers with Adventures in Missions most of them come from the southern states (Louisiana, Georgia, Carolina’s, etc). I only met 3 of them but they are a team of 18. We are thinking of having some of them over for dinner sometime soon to be able to gain some insight from them as to what they have learned thus far (they have been here since Sept.) Also, today when I got home Rach was telling me a sequence of events that lead to the robbers being found out. So here it goes…In a town Soshanguve (about 45 min drive from where we stay) it was broadcast on the radio Monday morning that at Powerhouse Church in Mamelodi there were Americans and some congregation members held at gunpoint while in the church. They lost lots of things such as ids, cell phones, cameras, etc. One woman who lives in Mamelodi heard this while she was working in Soshanguve and remembered some of her neighbors boasting about a recent robbery they had committed. When she matched the two stories she realized that her neighbors were actually the ones that committed the robbery. Later that day some how she was able to snatch Pas Vincent’s drivers license so she could get his phone number to be able to phone him. She has not yet given up her identification or the robbers for fear of her safety, but she is looking for a safe place to stay before she reveals all of the information. Gloria, Pas Vincents wife has been the one communicating with the woman and they have agreed to meet up when the woman is living in a safe place and they will meet at a public place. At that time the woman will reveal who they are. Who knows if we will get any of our stuff back, but at least they have been identified and will hopefully have their weapon taken away from them.

Feb. 15, 2007…Mohau Centre day 2

Well today was my second day. I can’t even get enough of this place. They have their struggles but for the most part the children are well taken care of. One of the children I got to know well was a boy that has severe physical ailments as well as some social disturbances. When upset he lunges himself backwards repeatedly hitting his head, screaming, and slapping his ears. He can carry this on for a few seconds up to minutes. When he stops he’ll lay there for a few moments as though he has blacked out and comes to life as another person. The other person is much happier and doesn’t remember the recent outburst. This is probably one of the scariest things I have ever seen especially when the caregivers are no where to be found. I found that he loves to be sung to and his favorite song is, If your happy and you know clap your hands. When it gets to the part when you clap he slaps my chest as hard as he can. Pretty sure I will have bruises tomorrow from it. There are also two other special children that I met today. In the morning I got to know the 1.5 year old boy (Jason this could be Malachi). For whatever reason he and I were drawn to one another from the get go. He would just snuggle with me as well as run to me whenever he was hurt (which I am finding out that children in an orphanage environment get hurt quite a bit) and when he woke up from his nap. Around 1:30 the older children got home from school and this 10 year old girl sprinted towards him. As I watched them interact I could tell that they were siblings. She and I talked for quite some time about their family. I found out that there are 11 siblings in the family and the oldest is 23. The 23 year old is the primary care giver and she is unable to care for them, so that is why they live at Mohau. Needless, to say I have fallen in love with these two and thanks to Adoption-Link I have these thoughts about adopting now. Don’t worry family I am praying about this and at this time if God wanted this to happen He would have to throw quite a bit of money down for it to work out.

Feb. 14. 2007…Happy Valentines Day!

Today was a rather long day…Rach and I set out to go and visit Jabylani and Constance in Shoshanguve. It is a township about 45 min. away from where we stay. There are a lot of open fields, unfortunately we did not spy any wild animals or anything. Shucks, isn’t Africa just made up of Zebra’s, Elephants, Crocs, etc. roaming around? We met with Jabylani for a bit at his church site and discussed possibly building the church/orphan home there, unfortunately Constance is very sick and was unable to meet with us as well. I am not sure it will be big enough so we went to another site which is like 100x larger, but totally in the middle of nowhere. So I was concerned about the children getting to school ok. Knowing Jabylani any concern I bring up he has a solution for. So we met some children in the area and had them show us where their school was…that wasn’t good enough for Jabylani so we went ahead and met with the Vice Principal of the primary school. I was reassured that it was a good school system and a free one at that! That is really good because for the most part almost all schools no matter private or public has some fees. Then after that we went and visited an Aids Hospice…I am not sure we were totally prepared to see people dying, but we prayed with them and they told us they love the States. When I asked them how they knew about the States they told me from the show, The Young and the Restless. Cracked me up.

Feb. 13. 2007…Computer Classes are Going, so is my driving

Today, I got the opportunity to see Gabe and Rach teach 2 computer classes. They are doing great things at Powerhouse and the Powerhouse computer lab is looking quite incredible. I met one of the women who is in the afternoon class and she is running an orphanage out of a church in another township. Needless to say this is perfect for Africa Revolution to be able to learn from her experiences. Hopefully this Saturday I will have the opportunity to accompany here to better understand how she runs the show. For the most part today was a day of rest. Oh ya, I almost forgot here in South Africa you drive from the right seat (passengers seat in the US) and for the most part all cars are manual (so that means you are shifting with your left hand). So Vincent went with me to do a little test run. Before we got in the car he said, “Thou shalt not kill.” Funny, funny guy.

Feb. 12. 2007…Internship Site-Mahou Centre

First day at Mohau Centre and I loved it. Found out that it has almost an identical setup to Africa Revolution’s orphan homes. I will have the opportunity to do group therapy and individual therapy with the 45 children that live there. Out of those 45 children 80% of them are HIV+, most of them are under the age of 5, and Mohaus end result is trying to reunify them with distant relatives. The Centre is on Kelafong hospital grounds (this is the only government hospital in this area of South Africa and they specialize in HIV/AIDS patients). Spent most of the day in the waiting room of Kelafong Hospital with a 1.5 year old boy who fractured his leg earlier that day at 7 AM and when I was relieved by a caregiver at 6 PM he still hadn’t been seen by a doctor. While I was waiting there with him I was looking around and there were just tons and tons of people. Some bleeding from the mouth, some bent over with cramps of some sort, some with broken appendages, etc. I just couldn’t believe what was happening right in front of me. All I would see the doctors doing was applying more gauze to the bleeders and tell the others to be patient. This poor little boy I couldn’t even get him food or water for fear that they would call his name while we were away fetching food/water. If we would be away when his file was called then he would be put to the back of the line and we could be there nearly a day and a half. I am really excited overall about my experiences I am going to get there. I believe it is going to open me up to worlds of knowledge that could not even imagine.

Feb. 11th, 2007---Praising God African style

Today we were able to spend 3.5 hours praising God at Power House. It was so great to be with the people we have come to know and love. Seeing old faces from my first trip in May was great as well. When they asked for the first time visitors to stand Pas. Vincent turned around and said to me you are a member so no need to stand. Oh how I love it.

Yesterday, when I was at Power House I met quite a few children from the neighborhood. They wanted to come and speak to the Americans (which I just love the children so I was in Heaven all day because I got to talk and play with them!)…it was so great to see them this morning as I walked into church. I am telling you after spending 2 years with braces to have perfect teeth and seeing these children with perfect teeth I get incredibly jealous. I tell them about braces and they laugh thinking it is so silly to have metal on your teeth to get them in a straight row.

During the service I was just thinking how incredibly talented Africans are. My good friend Thomas amazes me everytime I see him he is doing something else. He speaks 5 languages, plays the drums, plays the piano, has mad carpentary skills, is smart, funny, a great serving heart, etc. What do I know one language, no musical talent (right Colin), well the list goes on and on...needless to say I am just amazed at how well rounded Africans are compared to Americans (ok it is probably just me). I thought I was fairly diverse in knowledge...but soon coming to realize not so much.

The rest of the day will be spent writing papers and doing work for Dom. U. courses. Yippee! Tomorrow I start my internship so I am looking forward to that.

Please let me know how you are doing. I want to hear all about it.

Feb. 10th, 2007---Hunter and Gatherer

This morning we were awakened at half past five in the MORNING to go to the farmers market with our host mother. Seeing it was the first night I was able to sleep it was a struggle for me to get out of bed. We arrived and it was packed. Seriously people it is a Saturday morning what are you doing shopping at half past five? I am soo extremely happy that I went though because I got some great Chai tea and dutch apple pancakes. Our host mother knows every vendor and every customer, so it was quite a social event as well. This my friends and family made me feel like such a Proverbs 31 woman where it talks about the woman getting up before the rooster crows to make sure food is on the table. Will I ever have food on the table before the rooster crows again? I am not sure, but I felt it for a day.

When we arrived back home we took a little snooze and then headed to Power House Church to set up the computer classroom.

It was our first time being back since the incident, but we all prayed together that God was going to keep us safe and give us peace about being back in the township (As an American this is something I don’t do enough because I subconsciously trust that I am always going to be safe so why would I pray for safety-I mean I have a police camera on the corner of my street, does it get much safer than that) And guess what God granted us all of those things and more! We got about half of the school set up…we had to throw most of the CPU’s out because they would not even turn on. So we had a good time pulling them apart…It was just shocking for us to see how much money was spent to send these computers over from the States for them not to work. It would have been a better steward of money if they would have just bought brand new computers here in South Africa rather than paying to ship broken computers. Oh charity.
Tonight we had Allan’s (co-worker from Africa Revolution) mother and Cousin Jolene join us for dinner for another brai. Oh it was great to see them and know they are fully supporting us and what we are doing here in South Africa.

Feb. 9th, 2007---Satan comes in the form of three…

Yesterday was the most intense day yet. We had the privilege of riding with Vincent to Power House Church to see what types of computers were donated to the computer school. This way Rach and Gabe could figure out how to piece meal them together. It was also my first time seeing the newly constructed building. Yes, it is gorgeous I could not have imagined it more beautiful than it is.

As we were standing in the church talking to Vincent three men came from over the hill. They walked with a purpose, so much so that Vincent thought that they were police coming to find out why whites were in the township. He started to explain that we were his friends from America. When all of a sudden one pulled out a gun (this gun looked like a gun from the 1980’s…I always imagined if I was going to be held at gun point that it be a cool silver gun with a medallion hanging from it…but instead it was rustic black-at least have a cool gun next time). When the gun was pulled I remember myself just looking at Vincent as though he was going to do some karate move to get the gun out of the mans hand. But all Vincent could say as I was holding my bag was let go. In that sheer moment everything that was left of value to my name was gone. I had just lost every electronic thing I owned (well they didn’t get my iPod so not everything) as well as all of my university documents and Africa Revolution paper work. It was so quick that it took about 10 hours for it to settle with us all. When I finally realized what had happened, how much was lost between the 5 of us, and all the things that were in my bookbag I started to get very angry at the men but also at God for allowing it to happen in what should be the safest place, His house.

You know it was so strange cause that morning quite a few people around us knew something was wrong but couldn’t pin point it. Gloria, Vincent’s wife did not want him to leave the house to fetch us…then right before he got us Gloria text him saying that she cared for him. Our host mother that morning couldn’t stop checking the doors to make sure they were all locked. Strange how we have gut reactions and don’t know where to guide the energy just knows something is not right.

Now looking back on the situation I can not even believe that they did it in broad daylight and in a church with soo many people around. There is no way that these men live in Mamelodi because Vincent or really any pastor for that matter are like the wisdom givers in a community you just don’t rob a pastor in Africa. That is like asking for a lifelong death sentence. So if they knew he was a pastor and a key community leader they would not have taken his things. These men were defiantly not professionals because they took Vincent’s car keys but did not take his car. They had to have seen us enter the township or been tipped off by someone that Americans/Whites were in the township because they came only half an hour after we arrived and they came straight for us as though they knew we were there. After the men left a smile came across my face when I felt my neck because the man that was stripping me of everything tried yanking my bff necklace (Carissa you know the one) and he could not get it after two hard tugs…I was soo grateful because that necklace my greatest friend got for me to remind me of her when we are apart.

Now that a day has passed most of Mamelodi (roughly a million people) know about the situation. Let’s just say that Vincent is one of few people that was born, raised, and has continued to live there and so he is a very highly regarded man in the community. If people go to his church or not they are outraged and want to find these men. He can not go anywhere now with out being stopped and asked about what happened. When people hear from his mouth that it was done in the church they shutter because they know that they just asked for a living death sentence and that these men have temporarily sold their souls to the devil. We believe God is going to call them very soon to Him and that is why he did not have Gabe, Thomas, or Vincent kick the gun or me start talking back (you know me I always have something to say especially when something is not right).

Here are my prayers…That the money that was taken from Vincent and Thomas and the things of Rach, Gabe, and mine that are sold be used for food, shelter, and other necessary things and not for drugs, sex, or alcohol. They repent for the thing that they have done. God grace us to love them despite them taking things that did not belong to them but to God. Better understand how severe poverty drives people to do such things. That they do not have peace about what they did until they make it right with God and Power House Church. For protection and safety while we continue to work in Mamelodi and other townships. Lastly, that the people of Mamelodi do not kill these men when they are found, but bring them to Vincent. This is something that Vincent and the elders of the church are very concerned about because of the outrage that community members have voiced to Vincent.

Thanksgiving about the situation…There is NO NEED TO WORRY trough this we were safe and our bodies were protected. There are much worse things that could have happened and did not. And rejoice because my voice is almost 100% back.

Satan knows that this trip is a trip where I and many others are starting this amazing ministry, maybe you have heard of it…Africa Revolution. Also through this ministry we are breaking down racial divides that have been in place for decades and Satan does not like when people come together especially for God’s work. Seeing as this is our first ever trip with our first volunteers Satan is trying to detour us from continuing this line of work. And let me tell you last night I cried more like wailed to God asking Him why He has chosen me for this line of work…I mean seriously there are tons of great people out there that can care for orphans just as well as I can…but why me? I know that He has called me and it is not an easy task to follow Him because all of a sudden Satan comes too. If my passport had not been taken I would have been on the next flight back to the States…so thank God that is gone cause it could have been a victory for Satan.

Words of Wisdom…Tonight we had a brai (African bbq) with the elders of the Power House church. It was an amazing time of fellowship because they spoke such great truth into my life about the situation. They told me story after story how they have seen pawns of Satan and blessings from God in such a supernatural way. As an American I never think of the supernatural world. I never think of God and Satan duking it out and people on Earth being apart of their battles. Vincent was telling a story about how at one point in his life he was full of wealth by owning several businesses, both he and his wife working full time jobs, etc. Then God called him to minister to the poor. He said sure and suddenly things started getting repossessed, lost all of his businesses, was not being able to feed his family, etc. He and Gloria suffered big time financially…but then he came to the realization that if none of that happened how could God really use him while serving the poor if he did not experience poverty himself. Through those words I am coming to find out that being poor means when something is taken from you or breaks you do not have insurance or spare money to replace it. It is just gone, but when it is gone or broken how free you feel from worrying about it and taking proper safety precautions to make sure it is safe. Now when I leave the house I literally am just taking my body. I feel so free from a cumbersome bag with lots of stuff in it. Yes, I wish I could have had the choice to give my stuff away but this is another avenue to get me to where I am today.

Feb. 8th, 2007---Power House Church

Again, I did not sleep well I am on like day 5 of no sleep…so if you can only imagine this one with less than 8 hours let alone days of no sleep it is getting quite scary. Poor Rach and Gabe are getting to know a very worn Evangeline…not one that most people have ever seen. The hospitality has been great we have just ventured around the neighborhood walking the dogs, window shopping, grocery shopping, getting used to different hours, etc. Today we will venture past Silverton and into Mamelodi where Power House Church. This is where Gabe and Rach will be teaching computer classes to 50 students ranging in age from 18 to 55.

Feb. 7th, 2007---Plenty of Time

Today was a bit fuzzy…I did not sleep well due to illness and jet lag. We had two pastors come to the house to visit us to speak about what we are going to be doing while we are here. It amazes me how far they come to see us and what wisdom they have. Pastor Jabylani who traveled an hour and a half was hearing all of the things that are going on at Pastor Vincent’s church (Power House Church) and started getting nervous cause he didn’t think we would have enough time to spend at his church. When I realized he did not understand that Rach and Gabe are here for 6 months and me 2.5 I informed him and a look of calmness came over his face. Pastor Vincent pipes in, “Let’s not panic plenty of time.” We all just started dying laughing. Seriously good men of God and I am soo looking forward to being able to spend hours upon hours with them.

Feb. 6th, 2007---Arrived in beautiful South Africa!!!

Well we have arrived in South Africa and are enjoying being able to peel off the layers of clothing. Thank God for warmth. I am still battling my cold and cough as well as having little to no voice. So not only do I have an American accent but I also sound like I am dying. South Africans love it.
Our first evening consisted of none other than Thea’s (host mother) full 8 course meal. Seriously this woman makes a Thanksgiving meal every meal. In the late evening she had heard me having a coughing attack and came to my window to pass some cough medicine through the window. It cracked me up cause where else but in Africa is everything done outside. She could have easily come down the hallway to my room instead she chose to use the outside window. This is why I love Africa…being outside anytime I like. Eat outside, play outside, shower outside (ok that is a lie) but about everything can be done outside.

Leavin' on a jet plane....

As of tomorrow I will be on a jet plane to Africa and I am sooo excited! I have had the opportunity to hang out with Rach and Gabe all day today getting prepared for Africa. They are a great couple who will be with me the whole time as volunteers with Africa Revolution.

In the past week I have found out that my brother and his wife are having a baby boy due June 30ish and I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to see the Bauer family grow. I have also had quite a time getting ready to be away for 10 weeks by saying goodbye to various peeps and finishing up projects for school. As well as getting filled up by my namesake and a great worship service in Memphis visiting Colin and my family.

Please pray for safety and that I get over this horrible illness. As of right now I have almost completly lost my voice, which makes me so sad because it has limited the people I have been able to call to say goodbye.

Gabe, Rach and myself at the airport in Chicago -4F°!!!