
Come Away With Me
I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting to tell you all this.
And yesterday I finally received this in the mail, so now I can.
I’ve been invited to go to Zimbabwe with World Vision and a small team in November for a week long Vision Trip. To see and learn about World Vision’s work about the largest global killer of children under age 5 today, and one of the largest contributors to the cycle of global poverty: maternal, newborn and child health.
I am – floored. To go and learn about their work to improve the wellbeing of mothers and children in context with the extreme need and loss – what else could my story and heartache serve a better purpose for? I may not understand the desperation of the situations the Zimbabwe women face on a daily basis, but I will deeply understand their loss and sorrow. The average life expectancy there is 37 YEARS. Nearly 1 out of 10 children die before the age of 5.
It was a complete shock to receive their email. I actually almost skipped reading it, thinking it was just an update for our account on our two sponsored kids – I went to save it for later and realized that the tone was fairly personal. Then I started reading, and I just sat on my chair in shock and read it again, then out loud to Sam as I cried, then sent it to my parents to read.
I have waited to share because – well, do we really even need an explanation at this point? I was afraid my passport wouldn’t make it in time to register (it expired last year), that someone might not be able to watch Bella and Charlie for that amount of time. But my amazing mom is coming down to take over, my passport made the deadline, and the Ebola virus isn’t there (yes, that’s on everyone’s mind).
This is what I am called to do. Right now. No matter what comes of it, I see and feel God’s hand on this trip in my life. A way to look another hurting mama in the eyes and tell her, “I know the pain of loss too, I’m so sorry,” and then do what I can to make sure that trauma is lessened where it can be.
I will be eternally (truly) grateful to the World Vision team for thinking of me for this. I know it will be life changing for me – and I want to make sure this work changes lives when I come home too. I invite each of you to stick around and follow this journey in a few weeks through Facebook, Instagram, and on here as I head to Zimbabwe.
17 Comments
Perfect in Weakness | DianaWrote
May 26, 2015 at 1:47 pm
[…] down to check my email after Bella was in bed and saw a message from World Vision. I wrote about it in detail here, but in short – one of their staff had put together a team headed to Zimbabwe in a few months […]
Keeping a Work and Life Schedule | Liberating Working Moms
September 30, 2014 at 9:00 am
[…] has to be done for this to work long term. I have a lot of stuff coming up; in November I head to Zimbabwe with World Vision and before that I have to get extra work done, plan for my mother coming out while I’m gone, […]
Angie
September 21, 2014 at 8:08 pm
Hi Diana! We had lunch together at the IF:Gathering in February. You’ve been on my heart for some reason lately and I’m praying for you what an awesome opportunity!!
Marisa Toomey
September 20, 2014 at 8:27 am
So happy for you Diana! I will definitely be praying for you on this trip.
Kerry
September 20, 2014 at 6:56 am
So exciting Diana. I will definitely be praying for you.
Jennifer
September 20, 2014 at 4:12 am
That is amazing!! Congratulations!! So exciting..I can’t wait to hear all about it and so happy everything is falling into place for you!!! 🙂 🙂
Jessica Lee
September 20, 2014 at 3:16 am
I cannot tell you how excited I am for you!!!!!
Amy Ascoli Vesser
September 20, 2014 at 1:39 am
Romans 8:28!
Sarah Graham Wilson
September 20, 2014 at 12:23 am
Fantastic, so very happy for you to get to do this.
Nicole
September 19, 2014 at 5:59 pm
In tears. This is perfect. Xo
Elise N Hoffman
September 19, 2014 at 11:11 pm
This is wonderful! I am happy for your renewed sense of purpose, and certain God is making you part of an awesome story!
Shannon Bason Barnett
September 19, 2014 at 10:57 pm
What an awesome opportunity! You wil be such a blessing to these women!
Krista Gladding Delyi
September 19, 2014 at 10:46 pm
What a great opportunity.
Michelle Martin
September 19, 2014 at 10:16 pm
I'm speechless for you. What a fabulous opportunity. Love from me.
Leah Pratt
September 19, 2014 at 9:50 pm
This is SO awesome, Diana! I'm adding your trip to my prayer list. Incredible opportunity to mourn with those who mourn and also to rejoice with them in Christ.
John Zawistowski
September 19, 2014 at 9:49 pm
So amazing Diana!
Seran Paton
September 19, 2014 at 9:31 pm
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! How amazing
Comments are closed.