This is Olivia and Silas Harke. The first part of August we (YWAM staff) spent getting their family moved to their new house. The house was previously owned by YWAM but now is being bought by the Harke Family. The Harke’s are also on staff with YWAM. The house is still the dorm for the girl students of our (YWAM) current school. It’s nice to have a family in the house; it makes it feel like a home.The month of August was quite the busy month. Besides moving the Harke’s, a wedding in New Hampshire and a trip to Vermont, I had a friend from Germany visit. Anne was a former student. The last time I had seen her was last summer. I dropped her off at the airport and I started crying as soon she left my sight. With all the students and staff that come and go through YWAM, it’s really hard to get close to everyone. There are those that you do get very close to and when they leave, you’re not sure when you may see them again. That was Anne. It was so VERY nice having her in my world again. Now it’s my turn to visit her!
Currently…
Our new DTS (Discipleship Training School) started two weeks ago. It’s a smaller group than we normally have, only 8. 4 guys and 4 dolls. My participation this school is a little different than the past. I have been a small group leader for the past 6 schools here and I have been a dorm mom for the past 3. I love being both. But it’s hard being both at the same time. When you are a small group leader you grow closer to your group, but that leaves the other girls in the house. So it’s an awkward position for the dorm mom to be in. It had already been decided that I would be the dorm mom again so I was hoping that some of the other female staff would want to lead the small groups so that I could step back and take a break. There was. So I’m just a dorm mom for this school, not including all the office work I do. :-)
Future plans...
Well, I will be working with the DTS until the end of the year. I will not be going with them on outreach because I have a different opportunity. I have been asked to join up with the team in South Africa for a few months to work with Ten Thousand Homes. www.TenThousandHomes.org It’s a not-for-profit organization that brings hope and homes to orphans affected by the AIDS pandemic in southern Africa. Many of you have heard of them through New Hope Christian Church or Jeremy and Jen Price. I worked with Jeremy and Jen in New Haven before they moved to South Africa. Jeremy had asked me back in May if I would consider coming for a few months to not only work with them but to paint as well. Paint what I see, paint what God shows me, paint to bring some of Africa back to the States. I was very intimidated at first. What if I go there and I don’t paint anything good? I haven’t had very much training, I’m mostly self-taught. But I’ve spent the last year learning how I have kept my talent, somewhat, hidden. It’s very embarrassing for me because I don’t feel adequate. God is slowing helping me grow in my confidence in the gifts that He has given me. I decided that this opportunity to go to South Africa was just the next step. I’m getting very excited now. I’ll have a chance to go to a country I’ve never been to, work with people that I know and love, and go with the purpose of painting how God reveals South Africa to me. It’s really too good to pass up! So, the plan is for me to go sometime in February of next year and I’m really looking forward to it. I am getting ready to raise funds and I would appreciate all your prayers!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well! I TRY to update my blog weekly so keep checking. Also, if you would like to be on my email list, please email me @ andimvanessa@hotmail.com As always, I GREATLY appreciate all of your support! I consider myself very lucky to have so many wonderful people in my world.
