Alyssa’s first week in South Africa, volunteering for The Door of Hope, was let’s just say a bit of a hard transition. I know we’ve run it into the ground around here, but we are a close family. It would be hard for anyone to leave everything she knows behind and move to a country on the other side of the world. Since our family spends so much time together, it was difficult for Alyssa to say goodbye and start this new adventure.
Thankfully, we have a dear family friend in South Africa who has taken Alyssa under her wing. Marianne and I have been friends for over 20 years. Marianne made contact with Alyssa immediately upon her arrival in South Africa and brought Alyssa flowers a few days later. On her days off, Alyssa has been spending her time with Marianne and her family. So far the only causality has been a bedroom window during a basketball game between Alyssa and Marianne’s boys.
Curious how this all started? Read our post about Alyssa Making a Big Huge Enormous Life Change
Alyssa at The Door of Hope, Johannesburg, South Africa
Look at that chubby little hand! I know this will be shocking but when I received this photo from Alyssa last week I started crying. Alyssa will forever be one little piece in this baby’s life.
In greater Johannesburg alone, at least three babies are abandoned every day.
A bit about The Door of Hope organization from their website:
Our Vision
We seek to help in meeting the needs of abandoned, abused and orphaned children in South Africa, by providing loving and stable Christian environments, so that they may grow up to be people that have a positive effect in South Africa and the world.
Our Objectives
To rescue and receive any abandoned, aborted, abused and orphaned babies and children from any source in cooperation with other agencies.
To provide a temporary Christian home for all our babies and children whilst seeking a forever family, suitable long term care or other permanent care for each one.
Alyssa has grown to hate the internet in South Africa. It is sl-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-w! She has only been able to send us this one photo. We’re lucky that a picture is worth a thousand words because this one speaks loud and clear and sweetly.
Life with Jeannine
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