So I'm actually doing this! I've given up my job as a junior Doctor in Worcester and I'm moving to Durban, South Africa, for a year to volunteer at LIV village. LIV -Lungisisa Indlela Village is a charity started by an incredible couple called Tich and Joan Smith who had a vision from God of a place to care for orphaned and vulnerable children. Check out their website for more details: www.liv-village.com. I first heard about the village from Rich and Karen Nicol almost exactly a year ago. It was one of those conversations you know holds significance far beyond the words that are actually being spoken!
By 'coincidence', my friend Jonathan also felt drawn to the work of LIV, so we decided to go and check it out in April of this year. As we stepped foot on the village for the first time, something happened in both of us. Although i was 6000 miles away, I felt like I had come 'home' somehow, and my heart was broken again for these kids.
There are 3.5 million orphans in south africa... 3.5 million!!! How do you even comprehend a number that big? And yet each one of these little people has a name, a story. It's so easy to feel overwhelmed when you look at the scale of the 'problem', but somehow my little heart just seems to expand, and I feel like I could burst! I believe that Love is the solution to this problem. A Love that is real, tangiable, unconditional. An outrageous kind of love. A love that comes from the father heart of God. That's what LIV village are doing for these kids, rescuing, restoring, raising and releasing them into a brighter future. Jonathan and I have the awesome privilege to go and join in!
We can't do it alone though and we'd love for you to support and encourage us. If you pray, please pray for us! Specifically for the practicalities of sorting Visas and arranging flights and accommodation etc. We also need to raise around £10,000 each to move and support ourselves at LIV for a year. If you feel you could help us in that way please visit our 'just giving' pages. I'll paste the links below. I hope to keep this blog updated as the adventure unfolds & share the journey with you!
Love,
Hannah x
www.justgiving.com/Hannah-Clark2
www.justgiving.com/Jonathan-McCririe
