Goodbyes

Dear Lesotho, 

Thanks for having me back. Words or pictures could now fully portray your beauty...from the breathtaking sunsets to the majestic mountain ranges. Your pace of life is refreshing and it was nice to have a break from the Chicago city bustle. 

Yours,

Ausi Paige

Dear K2 mommies,

You amaze me everyday. The kids love you, I love you and you love us. You laugh in times of chaos and seek the Lord in the happy and sad times. I feel to honored to have done life with you and I learned so much from you. I hope to be half as good of a mom as you are someday. 

Yours,

Ausi Nthabeleng

Dear fellow volunteers,

What fun times we have had. Thanks for making me laugh until I cry. Thanks for challenging me and pushing me. Thanks for just being there. Keep working hard and loving the kids. Keep showing Christs love to Lesotho. 

Yours,

Ausi Paige

Dear Hayl,

Thanks for visiting me. It means the world to know you care about this part of my heart and life. Thanks for helping me process by asking the hard questions. You are a good sister Lerato.

Yours,

Paige

Dear precious K2 babies,

I know you have the reputation of being the naughty house...and that is probably true...but you all are such treasures. You know how to make me laugh and hearing you sing brings me to tears. 

You are loved more than you could ever know. I love you, your house mothers love you, and most of all God loves you more than you could ever comprehend. I pray you all grow up to be men and women who seek the Lord first. 

Yours always,

Ausi Paige

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are such a gracious and loving Father. These three months were a gift from your hand and I feel so undeserving. You were faithful every single day. I trust you with my future....whether returning to Lesotho is a part of that or not. Help me and walk with me through this next semester. Help me not to forget all of your children back in Lesotho. You are a good father. 

Yours always,

Paige

Names.

Hello friends!
Sorry for the lack of posting...our internet has not been super reliable lately. It has been a crazy few weeks! My sister arrived on Wednesday and having her here has been so nice and fun.

Last week a week old baby arrived at Beautiful Gate and was placed in my house. He arrived late at night and when I went over to go see him I was told he did not yet have a name. The house mother told me that I could name him! Sadly, I cannot tell you the name I chose to protect the child and his story. The process of naming the child felt so intimate. I, this random white person who had known this child for two and a half seconds, gave him the name that he would go by for the rest of his life (unless it was changed if he gets adopted). I was so humbled and grateful for this special moment with this child. That night I was thinking about names and specifically the names in the Bible and how important and rich their meanings are. I was also journeling about the many names we have for God...Father, Savior, Redeemer, King, Lord, Friend....wow, how wonderful to have a God who is all of these things and in their fullest and most perfect meaning!

I leave in a little over a week and that seems so crazy to me. I feel as though I just arrived here. I will return to Moody Bible Institute and start my Junior year. That is something I am not looking forward to so much since school can be very challenging for me at times. But, I know I need to go back to be trained in the field I am passionate about, which is social work and specifically adoption. Please pray for my transition home and pray that I am able to enjoy my last days with my kids. At this point, I can't imagine saying goodbye since these kids have become such a big part of my life.

Thanks for checking in!

Peace and blessings.

Ausi Nthabeleng