candles by carol-light, and other christmas moments.

Ryan's early christmas present, a shirt made for him!



zana sportin' her africa skirt as she leaves this grand continent!



trees for sale near our house. they are a bit sad looking, but merry christmas charlie brown!



our lovely bookshelf, christmas decorations donated by ryan's grandma!



uncle scar stood in as our tree (he's an ex-street gangster aloe plant). there are all our gifts from family and stuff!



"candles by carol-light" as ryan kept calling it.




me in a dark wood with a candle.

for order from cape town.

i'm doing two things here: raising money for me and the huzzzband, and raising awareness of a few organizations/projects here.

1) beth uriel: http://www.bethuriel.co.za/home.htm
Home to 26 previously disadvantaged young men between the ages of 16 and 24, Beth Uriel, "House of Light" is committed to the passionate pursuit of independence for each of our family members. With Christian principles and family values at our core, the Beth Uriel family is dedicated to creating opportunities for those who would otherwise have none. Wrestling with issues of poverty, lack of education and the affects of HIV and AIDS on youth, Beth Uriel aspires to offer comprehensive care in every aspect of our program.

2) mekasi: http://www.mekasi.co.za/mekasi.htm OR www.myspace.com/mekasiMe'Kasi. It's who you are, it's where you come from...no matter where that is.
If you're new to this, 'Kasi' means locasie, location, township style, South African style. Some people are made in "The Locations" and eclectic, funky, locasie style comes easy...others have to borrow a little, and Me'Kasi is for you too!
Every Me'Kasi product you buy sends much-needed financial support to the Beth Uriel family, This Way Up and the projects in which they're involved. That makes you a part of the good things going on here, so “mekasi sukasi”, you're welcome anytime.

3) brown foundation: http://www.thebrownfoundation.co.za/
Rather than pumping more money into the Central Business District of Cape Town, in order to try and work towards getting the “street children” off of the streets, The Brown Foundation focuses on the disadvantaged communities in which the children come from. The Brown Foundation identifies and funds existing organizations and projects that are working hands on with youth at risk, building up structures of support for youth in disadvantaged communities, and, in turn, doing preventative work towards keeping children away from the streets.

4) ashley and ryan dalton: www.reflectioninwater.blogspot.com
any item that is not sponsored by mekasi or beth uriel is used to raise money for the dalton's and the brown foundation (created by ryan dalton).


come on down and pic your skirt/beaded thing out. we'd love to clothe you in our beautiful south african creations :)

some moments cannot contain words.

this was quite a special day for all of us. last sunday, november 25th, some of my favorite children in cape town were baptised. all of these kids live with john and trish roberts, my "boss" at the drug centre. about one year ago, their hearts were broken for the lives of these capricorn children, and one by one these kids have become a permanent fixture in the roberts' family!
it's so great to see god make something out of a horrid situation. i still recall vividly the morning i went to fetch penny for church and her grandmother swore at me and told me she was going to beat the crap out of penny now because of me. it was such a bad moment, and i felt SO overwhelmed. crying out to god, i asked for penny's deliverance. the next week, the roberts took her into their home. and now, a year later, she has been officially adopted and has become penny roberts!
and then there is brianie, whom i have countless nights of memories with, sitting with him outside his home, talking about his growing desire to leave the street, to leave capricorn, to leave drugs and gangs and anger, and to have a safe place. now, a year later, he's surfing and going to a youth group and wanting to be a pastor. he's such an amazing man.

i really want to thank john and trish, because they have been god's vessel for these kids salvation, both physically and spiritually. praise god for the photos that follow...


the baptism lineup: muhammad (soon to be adrian), brianie, mzwaki, jadine, and penny lane.


penny lane one year after she was adopted from capricorn. ain't she gorgeous?


brianie.


penny.


jadine.


adrian.


jadine the queen.


me and brianie.