"it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. it is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving." ~mother teresa

only 3 weeks til my departure. i am currently in the process of taking my typhoid vaccination. i am going about the oral way, because the doctor said it would be cheaper...and uhhh maybe the clinic ran out hahaha. due to some of the side effects of the malaria pills, i was strongly recommended to get another prescription to treat one of the side effects. that prescription alone was over $60.00 for just a week's work. on top of that, add in my other two prescriptions and it summed up at $165.00. i felt so annoyed that all the extra hours i had put into work had to go towards keeping myself healthy...rather than going towards helping others there. i should actually be thankful that we have medicine to treat us. it was an eye-opener and i am so grateful to the aid of the clinic. then this blessing happened: as the pharmacist was ringing me up, she asked what i was doing in africa...so of course i told her. she walked away for a minute and when she returned, she started pushing all of these buttons on the register and the next thing you know my total was $64.37. i kept asking if it was okay for her to do that and she kept insisting and i walked away from the pharmacy with goosebumps. i have received countless confirmations over these past few weeks, and my heart is just overflowing with thankfulness.

i have also been busy working on some creations and getting my list of things to get done before my departure. i am adding some more necklaces to my etsy at this moment....here a re a couple of pictures to give you a peek.

i bought my ticket....

"we ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

-Mother Teresa

just a little bit more to raise and i am set to go. i have so much more to update about, i am just waiting on some doors that are partly ajar. 

here is the new piece i created tonight. hope you enjoy!

Hope is the thing with feathers

all inspiration for this hopeful piece came from this beautiful quote:
"hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul. and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all."
-emily dickinson

my day was surely rooted in this quote. i was overflowing with a hopeful joy of my upcoming journey to africa. i buy my ticket next friday....my hope is that i have the full amount i need, otherwise i will be using some of my rent and food money. haha. i feel hopeful that i will be provided for, and i feel as though all of my anxiety has been lifted. i feel so blessed by the people who have come along side of me and encouraged me and helped me. thank you.

this piece was just added to my etsy shop if you would like to take a look. all proceeds are going to help me get my ticket to africa.

Hope for Peace in Africa

welcome to my very own blog! gosh, i kind of developed a wee bit of a case of stage-fright with what to say....so for starters i am going to introduce these new tank tops. i have very much to say about these cute little things (well, i think they are cute!). i have this amazing oppurtunity to join my wonderful friend gracie in namibia and spend a month there and help her care for some beautiful orphans. my heart has been longing to go there and do something , so after a great deal of praying, i decided that i don't want to go on some vacation to italy or prague (although south americas sounded so wonderful to me!!). i would much rather spend my money and do something i love much more! so by faith, at this time next week, i am buying a ticket to windhoek, africa and meeting gracie and doing what i feel the lord has been calling me to do for a very long time. anyone want to join me?? the only minor detail to get me there is the lack of funds. rather than writing support letters, i am TRYING to be artistic and create things that i enjoy, in hopes that other people would enjoy them too. you can find all of these items at my etsy store: http://www.hopevenessa.etsy.com/

if you would love to hear more about what i am doing there, please keep checking up on my blog for updates. i highly recommend that you check out gracie's page and BE INSPIRED at: http://www.oilovetheafrican.blogspot.com/

one more thing, i must give recognition to the ever-so-talented penelopea girls, whom i love dearly. thanks to ali, i have a wondeful banner here and at my little hopeful store. there link is: http://www.penelopea.blogspot.com/

sidenote: the models don't come with the shirts.