Day 308: Julius and Irene When No One Else Would
“He has AIDS. His mother doesn’t want him. Nobody does. Will you take him?” These are all too familiar words heard in the slums of Cape Town, South Africa by Irene and Julius. Who are Irene and Julius? I’m glad you asked, because I’d love to share their story! Nineteen years ago, an HIV positive mother, armed with a black plastic bag only, headed to the local train station with the intention of killing herself. Community members contacted the police who picked up the woman, throwing the plastic bag into the back of… Read More
Day 306: Cape Town Area Highlights
In the midst of working alongside Lorna and Marty (When People Make a Difference), we were also able to spend our free time exploring the beauty of Cape Town, the beaches, and a few gorgeous wineries. Here are a few photos from the beauty we experienced: Boulder’s Beach: This area is gorgeous, with green/blue waters and tall mountainous backdrops. Boulder’s Beach inherited its name because of the enormous granite boulders you’ll find on the sheltered beach areas. It is also one of only two areas off the coast of Cape Town where you can stop… Read More
Day 302: When People Make a Difference
A few weeks ago, you may have read my post about ZOE International and making a difference in the lives of others, one hurting soul at a time. If not, see ZOE and Sex Trafficking. More recently, we were in Cape Town, South Africa and had the honor of meeting Lorna and Reinaldo, as well as Marty, three wonderful people who are working hard to make a real difference in and around the slum areas of Cape Town. They graciously met with us and from day one, were investing their time and energy… Read More
Day 300: South African Penguins
South Africa is stunningly beautiful for many different reasons. We were very excited about finally visiting the destination we have sold to our clients for the past few years. For some reason, though, the thought of seeing penguins in the wild really excited me and I could hardly wait to visit both Betty’s Bay and Boulders Beach, two of the only places that penguins breed. Here are a few shots from our time with them. Make sure to visit our “Quick Tips” below. Quick Tips: 1. Boulders Beach, located just 45 minutes… Read More
Day 299: Ancient Egypt and the Pyramids
Egypt! It’s been a dream of mine for years. I can’t explain exactly why, but ever since I began homeschooling Mikayla and Ryan in first grade, and teaching them about ancient civilizations and the Egyptians, my desire to visit the Pyramids of Giza was ignited and has grown ever since. I’m not the only one. All of the kids seemed to have this destination at the top of their list of places to go and things to do when we discussed potential itineraries. Ancient civilizations fascinate them as well. At the very start,… Read More
Kathryn’s Experience with the Elephants
Elephants are amazing. They are beautiful creatures. Intimidating, yes, but beautiful all the same. And when you get to ride them…well, I’ll get to that later. The first elephant park we visited was called Elephant Nature Park. Of course. Here they brought the fortunate rescued elephants from their abusive Mahoot. (In Thai, Mahoot means the owner of an elephant.) Or they come if they have been injured while mining or in traps. Or if they have been rescued from one of the worst of the abusers. There is an awful way some… Read More
Day 292: Bangkok Photoblog
Bangkok is a city of contrasts, the old mixed in with the new, and the cheap and inexpensive found just outside the pricier venues. Temples and shrines are interspersed with tall, modern skyscrapers, and there are colors and people everywhere. I didn’t expect to love Bangkok as much as I did. We spent about a week exploring the streets, shops, temples, and markets of this beautiful city and I still feel like I barely scratched the surface! Some of the highlights? Below is just a small snapshot of the things we saw and… Read More
Day 290: House of Blessing and House of Love
The House of Love is a home for women and children who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. This includes women who have been sold into prostitution, AIDS orphans, and children taken out of their homes because of abuse. Many of the residents at House of Love do not have Thai citizenship, which also means they have few rights in Thailand. House of Love began 16 years ago as a refuge to approximately one hundred displaced women and children, most of whom have been affected by HIV/AIDS, and many of whom had been… Read More
Day 288: Zoe and Sex Trafficking
This is my second post on victims of trafficking. By now you may have guessed that these men, women, and children have a special place in our hearts. The brutality they’ve had to endure, and the deep wounds their abuse has caused remains heavy on our hearts. Our journey to Thailand was much anticipated. Yes, there are gorgeous beaches, so beautiful that Leonardo Dicaprio starred in a movie set on one of them (The Beach). And the food is outstanding, with fragrant spices, savory meats, rich soups, and a variety of noodles to accompany them. But… Read More
Day 286: Destiny: Hope for Victims of Trafficking
I got brave and had my first haircut on the road since leaving Chicago almost exactly nine months ago. It happened in Chiang Rai, a beautiful city in Northern Thailand, close to the borders of Laos and Myanmar (the Golden Triangle). Was I nervous that my hair dresser could not speak one word of English? Well…maybe a little. Did I feel any anxiety that one of the two ladies working on my hair was in training and a bit unsure of what to do. Yes! But it all turned out well in the… Read More
Deena Gainor
Six Hearts One Journey 
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