"Visitors around the World"

Hello everyone, check out the image below to see "Where" visitors from around the world are viewing the Memory Books from Home blog. WOW, it's exciting to see all the different countries that are getting a taste of the Memory Books from Home experience through the images. Keep spreading the word.


Click on the image to see a larger view.

News Update - Tamara

Received more info from Tamara on the current Memory Books tour, here are the highlights she passed along.

The training at McCord/Sinikithemba Clinic for social workers, child psychologists, etc went very well with 20 in attendance.

Yesterday training at Lily Community Center was conducted with 40 house mothers from Lily and the local Mophela area. Tamara expressed there was a whole lot of unresolved grief that the "gogo's" were carrying for their grandchildren.

Both sites were tremendous and we feel very pleased to have planted the Memory Book and grief counseling seeds.

Tamara is currently at Adam's Mission with Lungile for the last three Memory Book Clubs. She will give them three tubs of supplies for use at Sinikithemba to use in the play area.

While at Lily Tamara browsed the memory books. "Whew!, a lump grew in my throat seeing how precious they are." Some children have already done their hand prints project. The volunteers are doing such a tremendous job organizing them. They already have stored their crowns in their books as well.

Tamara will leave for Cape Town on Sunday, Mar 2nd. She also expresses her continued thanks to Malcolm and Bev who have been wonderful, oh and Chloe, who is the quintessential therapy dog!

Rwanda and The Congo - Tamara Update

I received an e-mail today from Tamara, she has returned safely to South Africa from her trip North into Rwanda and The Congo. She has much to tell and will be sending images once she gets settled in.

The genocide has left in it's wake many orphans, she received about 1600 memory book orders from her trip up north.

Interesting, while she was in Kigali, it was the same time as President Bush and she saw Airforce One at the airport.

Continue to pray for her as she finishes with her final meetings and starts her return home on March 9th.

Miscellaneous Update

It's great to be home, however South Africa will be forever in our hearts and we can't wait to return. Today's post are some random images from the return trip home.

Stacy, Andrea, Doranna, Beverely and Tamara



South Africa to host FIFA World Cup 2010
The count down has begun



Where to NEXT?



Mission 1 Accomplished.... We are ready for round 2!

Return Home - Washington DC

Tamara is still over sea's but the rest of us returned home safely. During our layover in DC, Doranna and I set out for a quick tour of the Nation's Capital.

Enjoy a few images and thank you for your prayers and support during our trip.

Weekend in Richards Bay

We are getting ready to travel north of Durban into the Richards Bay area. I may not be able to post to the blog until Monday night. Tamara tells us we are in for a busy and beautiful next couple of days....

Check in Saturday night / Sunday morning, if I can blog from our location it will be posted by then, if not Monday night / Tuesday, is when I will give everyone the updates.

Cheers

Sunday - St Agnes Church

We had the pleasure of attending St. Agnes Church with the St. Clair family, who have been the most gracious hosts. Malcolm, Beverly and daughter Alex have opened their home, hearts and time to us and we are greatful.




Tamara gives us our final schedule for the day's ahead.




Enjoy and keep checking in for more updates.

46+ Hours of Flying!

Tamara has recommenced "comfortable" clothing for our journey. What exactly does 46+ hours of flying consist of?

Here is the itenary breakdown:

PDX to Washington DC Dulles Intl: 7:35a - 3:33p - 4:58 hours

Dulles to Johannesburg: 5:20pm - 3:45pm - 15:25 hours

Johannesburg to Durban: 5:20pm - 6:30pm - 1:10 hours

We will re-trace our steps for the return home however the total flying time does increase.

Durban to Johannesburg stays the same 1:10 but the Johannesburg to Washington DC flight duration increases to 18:45 hours and the Dulles to Portland Duration is 5:54 hours.

Thanks again and look for more updates!

Humanitarian Trip to South Africa

We are on the verge of another trip to help the children of South Africa. A team will leave Portland, Oregon on January 31st and return on February 14th. We will be visiting orphanages, schools, hospitals between Durbin and Pietermaritzburg with a trip north to Richards Bay the final days.

Check for blog updates as we will try and update this blog as we travel. Thank you for your prayers and support during this trip.