3 departures and one most fabulous arrival!

I made it!  This trip back to Zimbabwe was filled with miracles, love and gratitude!

I was flying stand-by on a buddy pass because of a very generous friend who works for Delta.  This meant that my travel was significantly less expensive than normal, but that I would not have a solid flight plan, and whether or not I would get a seat on my flights would be dependent on whether or not there were seats available!  And with all the travel being stopped through Europe and airports full of people going nowhere, no one could guarantee that I would get anywhere, on flights that looked overbooked!

But I went in faith to LAX on Monday night.  My dear friend Deborah dropped me off at 10:30 at night for a 1am flight, and not only did I get a seat on the flight, but I got a FIRST CLASS seat on the flight! Wooohooo, that meant that I got a few hours of really good sleep!  I had a long wait in Atlanta, and no knowing if I was going to get a seat on the flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa, I tried to make a plan to spend the night if necessary.  I was able to spend the day with some friends and it was so nice to be loved on and to visit with people I haven’t seen in a long time, and when they dropped me off at the airport, I was once again given a fabulous seat on the VERY long flight to Joburg.  I sat with a group of men, about my dad’s age who were traveling to South Africa for a hunting trip together.  They were so much fun and so sweet to me!

When I made it to Johannesburg, I was too late to make the South African Airways flight, and thought I might have to spend the night in South Africa, but again I found favor and was able to get on a seat on an Air Zimbabwe flight to Harare and was in Zimbabwe by 10:30pm on Wednesday!  It was an unbelievable trip and, thanks to all of the prayers, I think my best travel to Zim ever!

I have been here for 6 nights now and I am pretty much on schedule and over the jet lag! I most of Thursday and Friday except for a few visits with friends and a trip to my favorite orphanage to spend some time with some very special kids and a little girl names Ruthie that I have missed so very much! 

Then this weekend, my dear friends Walter and Tatendwa got married, it was so nice to be a part of that celebration!  What a great time!

This week is filled with meetings and preparation to get back to work!  I love and miss you all so very much! Thank you for all of your prayers, encouragement and support! I will be updating my blog as often as possible with stories and pictures so keep checking back!

It's time to go back to Zimbabwe!

I have had a great visit to the States! I have spent time with my family, my churches and my friends and have been filled up, loved on and given many opportunities to share what God is doing in my life and in Zimbabwe! What a blessing!

I can still remember the first time I traveled to Zimbabwe in 2005. I had no idea what to expect and my heart became so burdened for the children I met!  The desire to make a difference has grown with each year that I spend in this beautiful place. 

This past year in Zimbabwe, we have seen many exciting changes.  Not only change in the nation, but also in the work we are doing!  I have traveled throughout the country establishing relationships in many villages and towns by helping families stay together and work through difficult situations.  Our work has also greatly expanded.  I have begun counseling children in several orphanages throughout the nation and helping to train staff members in these orphanages as well.  Praise God, we are seeing improvement in the lives of so many hurting children by providing love in these homes and by teaching staff members to parent in a God honoring way.

I am returning to Zimbabwe with ROCK of Africa Mission in about 2 weeks.  I will no longer be based in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; I will be living in Harare, the capital.  My focus when I return will be to learn the Shona language.  I have been living in a region that speaks Ndebele and have been learning that language for years; however, most of the children and families I am counseling now are Shona speaking.  It is clearly time to take a step back and learn this language as well.  As I learn Shona, my work will focus on counseling children in several orphanages that have invited me to help, as well as to continue to minister to the children living and working on the streets of Zimbabwe.

As always, when it is time for me to head back to Zimbabwe, I must raise the funds for my travel, my living expenses and the funding of the work I do.  I am continuing to serve as a volunteer, as I have been for the past four years.  We kicked off the fundraising this past weekend with a very successful garage sale! Over $1,000 was raised with the items donated by friends in Southern California!  Thanks to all who helped, donated, prayed or shopped! 

If you would like to partner financially in the work that we are doing in Zimbabwe, you can join my support team by sending a check to ROCK of Africa Mission, 19781 Briarly Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92646, with "Regina's personal support" in the memo line. You can also donate online at www.ROCKofAfrica.org by clicking on the 'Give Now' box and typing "Regina's personal support" in the description.  All of your donations go directly towards funding my time and work in Zimbabwe and are tax deductible.

You can keep up to date with my work and life at www.gigiinzim.blogspot.com or by becoming my friend on facebook (www.facebook.com/gigiinzim)

 

With love and gratitude,

Regina Jones

Blessed Beyond Measure

I had a great day with an amazing woman today.  Sharon started a Christian school years ago, when she couldn't find a school to send her children to.  Cornerstone Community School is a wonderful program that incorporates classroom time with a home schooling component and teaches parents how to parent in a godly way with a program Sharon designed called Training Hearts for Jesus.

I met Sharon when I was looking for a parenting curriculum to use in Zimbabwe and was so frustrated that I couldn't find one that was rooted in the Word that would be able to work to meet our needs.  I found Training Hearts and then met Sharon.  We have become friends and has been such an encouragement and blessing in my life!

Today I got to spend the morning at her school and was so blessed to (once again) see how beautiful it is when parents parent and teachers teach, all while loving the Lord and teaching their children to do the same!

http://cstone.publishpath.com/

I am waiting on God.  My heart wants to return to Zimbabwe, but I know that I am being delayed for a reason.  I am trying to trust Him in every moment, knowing that His timing is perfect! Days like today make waiting a little bit easier!