Jodi is coming to Georgia Tomorrow!

I’m so, so, so excited to say that Emi and I are indeed flying home to Georgia tomorrow to spend almost a month! It’s my mom’s 60^th so my dad and Steve Kasha at SERV made it possible for us to come and celebrate with her. Thank you!!

I wanted to let you know where and when we will be around, so that hopefully we can connect on one of these days. I have been struggling with bronchitis for a few months now, so this is also a bit of a rest trip for me. As much as I would LOVE to see everyone individually, it just won’t be possible so please see if you can work one of these dates into your schedule:

**Sat. Aug 25** 25

Women of Trinity Tea at Trinity Evangelical Church

(2685 Steve Tate Hwy Marble  Hill, GA) 

**Sun. Sept 2** 10:30 am

Sing/Share Briefly at Trinity (Marble Hill, GA (www.trinityonthenet.org ; 770.893.2682)        

***Thurs. Sept 6*** 7:00-8:30 pm

Dessert & Coffee Night w/Jodi *** EVERYBODY IS INVITED! 

(Sharptop Cove Young Life Camp, Jasper, GA www.sharptopcove.younglife.org)

**Sun. Sept 9** Time TBA 

Singing & Sharing at His House Christian Fellowship

(2267 Roundtop Rd. Ellijay, GA 30540 706.276.4775)

**Sun. Sept 16**  8:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Singing & Sharing at Jasper United Methodist Church                       (www.jasperumc.org  85 W. Church St. Jasper, GA)      

      




***If you have to choose only one evening - choose Sept. 6^th. Please SAVE THAT DATE.  This is your chance to hear first-hand all the great stuff God has been doing here in South Africa this past year. It will be very casual, some nice coffee and dessert, and a short and sweet feedback evening. PLEASE COME! And feel free to bring a friend to give them a glimpse of world missions, and how you are really making a difference for eternity!

Let me know if you think you will be able to attend (either by replying to this email or calling me on my mom's cell 770-608-8070). If by chance you can't RSVP then please feel free to come anyway. Everybody is welcome. I can't wait to see you!!!!

To all of our other faithful supporters and friends in Montana and elsewhere – I’m so sorry I won’t be able to see you too – I wish I had unlimited miles and I would see every single precious one of you!

love,

Jodi Stancil Deetlefs

p.s. I am OVERWHELMED with how many of you have said that you want to contribute to my Emi’s Closet project. THANK YOU! Please keep posted for the next blog and I will let you know where and when you can bring stuff by or mail it….And I have some cute magnets and little hearts we’ve made to sell and raise money too. Stay tuned for more info!

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO  Sept. 6th evening at SHARPTOP COVE:

When using GPS to plan your trip to SharpTop Cove, use coordinates:

34.503334,-84.361209

Directions coming from I-75 N from Marietta/Atlanta

I-75 to I-575 N I-575 turns into 515N At third traffic light on 515N, turn RIGHT onto 53 East in Jasper (go 2 miles) 53 turn LEFT onto Burnt Mountain Road (go 0.4 miles) Burnt Mountain Road turn RIGHT onto Cove Road (by CITGO Station – go 2.3 miles) Cove Road turn LEFT onto Grandview Road (go 2 miles) Grandview Road turn RIGHT onto Windy Ridge Road (go 0.5 miles) Windy Ridge turn RIGHT onto GA Baptist Road (go 2 miles)

(go 2 miles) Grandview Road turn RIGHT onto Windy Ridge Road (go 0.5 miles) Windy Ridge turn RIGHT onto GA Baptist Road (go 2 miles)

Directions coming from Big Canoe:

Take a right onto Cove Road.

Take a right onto Grandview Road. (go 2 miles)

Turn Right onto Windy Ridge Road (go  1/2 mile)

turn Right onto GA Baptist Road (go 2 miles)

When you cross the creek and come to the T junction, take a left and follow that road all the way to the top to the Adult Guest Lodge.

Directions from Jasper:

From Main Street in Jasper take 53 East (East Church Street) to the next red light by Walgreens

Turn Left onto Burnt Mtn. Rd. (0.4 mi)

Turn Right onto Cove Rd. (2.4 mi)

Turn Left onto Grandview Rd. (2 mi)

Turn Right onto Windy Ridge Rd. (0.5 mi) 

Turn Right onto GA Baptist Rd. (2 mi)

When you cross the creek and come to the T junction, take a left and follow the road all the way to the top to the Adult Guest Lodge

Call Johnny if you have any problems

  cell: 770-894-9116

                                                                           

Introducing the "Emi's Closet" Project!!!

I’m so excited to finally let you know about a project that has been brewing for some time now, and is now becoming a reality. In Part 1 of this blog I introduced the specific needs that I’m faced with lately and want desperately to do something about:

• generating funds to help feed the kids at the Ithemba Community Center 
• helping the women who serve the children at Ithemba earn some income to help support their own families
• finding a way to use my creativity on a more regular basis and use this to also help our family make up a big chunk that's missing in our financial support

I’ve decided to start a little project and I’m calling it the “Emi’s Closet” Project because my 2 year old daughter Emi and her closet full of clothes has literally clothed so many kids in her short little life, and this was a big part of the inspiration of this fund-generating project. So, here’s what I want to do – Check it out! It is two-fold, and it’s very simple.

First, I simply want to gather together new and GENTLY used clothes from the States to “sell” them in my community here and in the poor township area. This will serve a few purposes. First of all, the people in these areas can’t afford new retail-priced clothes, and the ones that they do buy here are very poor quality and don’t last even a whole season. I know from experience that I can buy quality used clothing in the States that is adorable and it lasts – it’s practically all Emi has ever worn!  And having bought Emi’s stuff used, it has been passed on to MANY after she wore it, and is still in good condition.

So, this will provide the poorer community a place to buy great clothes for a fraction of the price. It is an intentional decision to “sell” these clothes and not give them away.  I want to help empower people, not continue to create the begging mentality.  Since I can buy stuff really cheap at thrift stores, yard sales, and maybe even from my friend’s donating some of their left-over clothes (hint, hint  :) ), I can still sell them really cheaply in the township and double my money easily.

The second part of the “Emi’s Closet” Project, is the one I’m most excited about. I have designed some really cool hand-crafted items, and I am going to teach my friends in the community (inc. some of the sweet ladies at Ithemba) to sew and craft them. This will not only create a much-needed income opportunity for them, but it will also allow me to continue developing relationships and getting to know more about how I can help them. Here is a list of “Emi’s Closet” first exclusive designs which we will be offering soon:

·        Our “Just Like Mommy” line of adorable little girl’s and mom’s hand-crafted matching aprons

·        “Adopt an Owl” - where children will be able to come choose their unique, one of a kind, hand-sewn stuffed owl from a cool, big “owl tree” in a local coffee shop. Each owl will have a unique name, and the child will sign in the owl adoption book the child’s name, the owl’s name, and the place where the owl will be going to live (sort of like Cabbage Patch Kids or Adopt A Bear). If the kids and parents desire, we will take a photo of the child with the owl and feature the photos on the Emi’s Closet website.

·       Tourist-focused souvenir gifts including canvas shopping bags, flour sack kitchen towels, small hand-sewn stuffed hearts, baby-grows (onesies) and toddler t-shirts - each screen-printed with one of three Emi’s Closet exclusive designs – the “Love Africa” series, the “Bless Africa” Series and the “Surf Africa” series.

·       Unique packaging materials (including bags with tiny hand-made pennant banners in kid’s pastel colors)

I’ve spent quite some time designing these items and I think they’re really cute! I really believe we can sell them in the local market here. I’ve been doing tons of market research, meeting with different professionals, and praying into this thing, and I really believe it has tremendous potential to be a big success. The month of December here local businesses usually make 4 to 5 x what they normally make monthly! There are so many tourists here then – it is really like a different town.

I really think this can generate some income and be a lot of fun in the process! Although I would love to eventually have my own little shop in town, I think it’s important to start small with low/no overhead - selling the clothes “market style” which definitely works here in Africa anyway, and my other hand-sewn/screen-printed items we will sell at a few existing businesses in town on a consignment basis. In addition, I’m also considering setting up at a HUGE farmer’s/craft market once a month. It’s located about 2 hours from here and is actually run by an American woman. It’s such a cool market.

So, that’s the idea for Emi’s Closet. I hope you are excited about it too! I need some help to make it all happen, and it’s actually very grass-roots and simple if you want to help get involved. Emi and I are coming to the States in a few weeks (YEAH!) and so my mom’s house will be a place you can drop things off. Here’s some of the stuff we need to get this thing off the ground:

*New and GENTLY used children’s clothes (sizes newborn to 6T)

No holes and no stains please. This is a great place to re-gift some of that new stuff in your closet that your little one has never worn. You know what I mean! Every little thing counts.

*Craft items (for teaching the women in the community to make the aprons, hearts, and owls) **We need cotton fabrics (in pastels and neutral colors and in any amounts – even tiny scraps as we will use these for the aprons and as embellishments), buttons of all colors and sizes, felt in any color, ribbons, wonder under fusible web, scrap booking paper of any size and color/pattern, and last but not least gift certificates for Joann Fabrics or Hobby Lobby :)

So, if you have a handful of buttons, and a couple of onesies you want to invest in the “Emi’s Closet” Project – PLEASE DO! It’s going to be great. If you don’t live in the Atlanta area, and you would like to mail a few items to help, the address to send them is:

Jodi Deetlefs

c/o Cheryl Stancil

896 South Main St.

Jasper, GA 30143

I’ll keep you posted on the progress. Thanks for being a part of our lives here in South Africa, and for helping us to make a difference in these lives. We are eternally grateful!

Lots of love,

Jodi

Happy Birthday Mandela!

Today is former South African President Nelson Mandela’s 94^th birthday. Happy Birthday to a historic and wonderful man, leader, and humanitarian! To honor him we at Global Challenge Expeditions held a “Madiba Market”. Madiba is Mandela’s Xhosa name. The kids from Global’s high school (GLA) handed out “Madiba bucks” in the townships, and the people could bring their “Madiba bucks” to our little stations that were scattered all throughout the townships, and they could exchange each ticket for one item of– either clothing, soup with bread, cake, oranges, a blanket,  etc…. They had several tickets each to spend.

We had so much fun.  Several of us made big pots of soup (I made chicken and rice soup), as it is our winter here and pretty chilly. Emi was a great helper too, and she enjoyed yelling “Happy Madiba Day” as she handed out rolls while mommy handed out soup.

Just wanted to give you a glimpse of what went on today. It was really an honor to be a part of it all. Thank you guys for making it possible for us to do things like this. You will someday be rewarded for every single seed you’ve also sewn into us, as we are your hands on the ground here! Here are a few pics from today.

We love you lots,

Jodi

….. I haven’t forgotten PART 2 of my other Blog. There are just a couple of details I need to take care of and then I will tell you the whole GREAT story  J

The Birth of New Dreams in the Deetlefs Family!

 Goodness gracious! So much has been happening with us lately, that we haven’t even had a chance to tell you about it. You know how there are times you wait and wait for years and it seems like nothing is really happening, and then SUDDENLY everything happens at once?  Well, we seem to be in the midst of one of those SUDDENLY times.

I think you all know about Marius’ “Soul Adventure”.  If you haven’t seen it, check out his video at www.gcex.org. He is very excited about this new Global Challenge 3 month journey that he is pioneering. We have had several people inquiring for applications for Feb. 2013’s maiden journey through Africa.  It will be a great vehicle for young people to be discipled and serve others, as they travel to Kenya and back on a 3-month journey via motorcycles. The funds for Marius’s motorcycle are coming in day by day too, so we’re believing that he will get his bike soon and be moving on to the training and equipping phase for his 2013 departure.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch  :)  many wonderful things have been happening for me too. I described it to a friend the other day by saying, “It’s as if I’ve just woken up from a 10-year long creative coma!”  Fresh, new creative ideas are coming to me daily.  There’s so much good stuff, that I am going to break it up into 2 blogs. The first will give you the background, and the next one will tell you my exciting news…

It all started with the wives’ weekend when I catered the food and helped to create the atmosphere for the weekend. I had so much fun and have been praying that God would show me a way to be creative like this more often.

About the same time (just a few weeks ago) the Ithemba Community Center where I’ve been working came under new leadership.  They’ve decided to mainstream the 5 English-speaking girls who I’ve been working with for the past 1-½ years into the bigger after-school group. Joy, the new director, has great vision, and there is more structure, with discipleship groups for all the kids, homework time, and then extra-curricular time. I will be able to visit them at their homes, but no longer at the after school program b/c she wants them to learn in their own language instead of English.  So…. Joy asked me to serve Ithemba in a new way – by helping to chair the fund-raising committee for Ithemba, and help raise money for their healthy meal program (they feed all of these >150 kids a healthy meal Mon-Fri, and need help to continue doing so).  She also asked if I would be interested in doing a puppet show some afternoons during the extra-curricular time.

That same day I took Emi to the clinic and met Gloria, one of the precious ladies who serve at Ithemba, and we took her home. Gloria works in the kitchen - washing the dishes and mopping the floors - every single day. She is always so bright and full of joy and smiles. She's one of my favorite ladies. She looks so nice, and she is always smiling!  The day that I drove her home, I first drove through the nice neighborhood, then through the little government houses, then through a rougher neighborhood with shacks, then an even rougher part with smaller shacks, and then we reached Gloria's neighborhood, that looked like they had simply picked up scrap materials off the side of the road and pieced her “house” together. I seriously think several sections of that house are made with pressboard (the stuff that sucks up water) and it rains here ALOT. When I drove up, I just couldn't believe my eyes, and then I went in and saw that she doesn't even have electricity! How does she show up to work looking that good each day? I really have no idea. Anyway, I want to make more of a difference in her life and in the lives of the women who are working and serving at Ithemba. In the midst of their rough lives and difficult circumstances, and getting paid next to nothing, they are still giving to these kids every single day and making a big difference in their lives.

I’ve been seeking God as to how I can better serve them, and I'm thinking one of the things I could do is start making dinner for the six of them once a week and taking it to their homes. I know from being a mom and a wife that after a hard day's work it would be a BIG blessing to me if someone showed up with dinner for me and my family! I know that by doing this I will become more aware of other needs they have as I did after visiting Gloria, as well as hopefully become a closer friend so I can pray with them and their families and help in other practical ways like maybe even building Gloria a new small house one day! Cool huh?

And that brings me to the cool part – a way I believe can help meet all of these needs: money to help feed the kids at Ithemba, puppet shows to help disciple and develop relationships with the kids and moms of the community, helping the women who work at Ithemba earn some extra money to help their families, use my creativity on a more regular basis, and help our family make up a big chunk that's missing in our financial support....….  I believe I may have found the answers to each of these challenges in a simple little closet – “Emi’s Closet.”  (Part 2 Coming Soon……)

Love,

jodi

Here it is!! Check out the video- it tells Marius's story of Soul Adventure...

Wives Weekend a Huge Success!

Thank you so much for praying for our relax. refresh. revive. weekend. Eighteen ladies came to the first ever Wives Weekend and it was so much better than I even imagined. I really appreciate your prayers and comments. I created a shutterfly photo book to help paint a better picture for you of how the weekend went. I will blog more about my time with my best friend Juri, as she and her family visited with us for 2 weeks, and it was truly a gift from God!

Click on the link below to view the photo book and recipes that I made during the weekend. Some of them included are: Bruschetta, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Italian Pasta Salad with homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette, Hawaiian Chicken Salad, and Butternut Coconut Soup. Please check it out!!

http://relaxrefreshrevive.shutterfly.com


lots and lots of love from S. Africa,
jodi

p.s. Thank you also for praying for my health. Although I did have a bad cold, God was very merciful during that weekend and helped me have plenty of energy for the kitchen. Unfortunately, I haven't totally recovered and as of yesterday it has turned into a pretty bad case of bronchitis. Please keep praying for me to get well. Thanks!

Pray for Jodi this weekend

Hey Guys!

I have something I would really appreciate you praying about this weekend. Myself, along with 2 good friends, are hosting a women's retreat for Global Challenge - the organization we work for here - as well as for our local church ladies. There will be 18 women attending our “Relax. Refresh. Revive.” Conference, and I am so excited. 

We’ve been planning and praying for weeks, and the weekend is almost here. I am in charge of the hospitality - including all of the meals, so please pray with me:

§  That I remain WELL and not get sick. Emi has been very sick this week with a bad cold and I have felt it trying to get me too. I really am praying that God will protect me from this cold!!

§        

            That the ladies coming would arrive safely (it’s about an hour’s drive) and be lavishly blessed and loved by God this weekend. I want them to feel spoiled by Him. I’ve made welcome baskets for everyone, and each lady coming will have a handmade card and flower on their bed.  Another treat is my friend Juri who is visiting from Japan is going to make each of them a Hawaiian flower lei,  and I hope they are really going to be blessed by the food and the way we will be serving them.

§       

           Lastly, please pray that God would help me during the weekend in the kitchen to get everything done well and to not freak out in the process. 

I really believe it will be a much needed encouragement to so many of these women who serve in their ministries every day! Thanks for praying with me. I will send pictures after the weekend and let you know how it went.

Lots and lots of love,

jodi