A 'One-Way' Ticket Adventure

It is official! I have booked a one way flight to Africa! I leave on January 12th...


In one month, I will be Lesotho-bound and I am so incredibly excited. Never in my life have I felt God so clearly calling me to one place, and I am looking forward to seeing and experiencing all that He has in store for me there. While this is not the path that I saw my life taking, and I know that this will be a difficult journey on many levels, I would not want to be anywhere except right where the Lord wants me. So wish me luck, and please keep me in your prayers!


My most pressing prayer needs right now are:
-that I will get into South Africa without any issues- since I am flying in on a one-way ticket and being collected by a friend in Johannesburg and driven to Lesotho, I don't have any documentation to prove that I will not be residing in South Africa beyond the 90 days that American citizens are allowed there. I am currently working with the South African embassy in Chicago to get around this, so pray that a solution presents itself before I leave.
-funding- I am currently at about 25% of my support goal. I fully trust that the Lord will provide, but please be praying that my needs are met either through monetary donations or through donations of program supplies.


Thank you all for your support and encouragement. You bless me more than you know!


"...I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." 


Ephesians 4: 1-2

A 'Return to Africa' Adventure

This past fall, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Lesotho, Africa to develop tools to assist children who have experienced trauma.  Through my work with three separate organizations over a three week period, I began to learn about this tiny African county. Here are some quick (yet distressing) facts about Lesotho and the people that I served:

- Lesotho has the world’s 3rd highest incidence of HIV and AIDS.

- Lesotho ranks 7th from the bottom of the UN poverty list of countries.

- Life expectancy in Lesotho is 35 years of age; Lesotho also has the third highest death rate of any country in the world.

- Only 8% of children will graduate high school.

- Many students have a one- or two-hour walk each way to school.

- Many have had nothing to eat and are unable to concentrate.

- Many come from homes where a parent or sibling is ill with HIV/AIDS.

- Child-headed households are quickly on the rise.

            Since my return from Lesotho, I have felt the Lord leading me back to this amazing little country in Southern Africa. I have found what I believe to be an answer to prayer in an organization called the Beautiful Dream Society. This organization is currently fighting human trafficking in the capitol city of Lesotho; they have opened the first ever shelter for women rescued out of trafficking, and they have been instrumental in creating anti-trafficking laws in Lesotho. Lesotho is a prime center for human trafficking because it is landlocked by South Africa; this makes it easy to separate vulnerable people from their homes and traffic them across the border where they are helpless to escape. The Beautiful Dream Society sent their first team of seven missionaries over in January of 2011; the shelter is up and running and the team has been making a huge impact on the people there.

One need that they have, however, is for a mental health professional to help set up a crisis counseling center, train their staff in crisis intervention, and work to set up a counseling program to help survivors cope with the trauma they have experienced while helping them get back on their feet. As some of you may know, I have spent three years specializing in trauma counseling, particularly in working with survivors of sexual assault and abuse. While Beautiful Dream works with victims of labor trafficking as well as sex trafficking, they have found that nearly every woman that they have served thus far has been sexually assaulted or abused while in her trafficked situation, regardless of the nature of the trafficking. I believe that the Lord has put my passion for serving survivors of trauma and my love for the people of Lesotho in my heart for a purpose, and I look forward to serving in Lesotho. I am committing at least one year to volunteering with the Beautiful Dream Society, and I am aiming to return to Africa by January 2012.

I would especially appreciate prayer, but I need financial support as well. I need to raise $10,000 by January 1, 2012. Your tax-deductible contributions will help me to obtain health insurance while overseas, as well as cover a portion of my living and travel expenses, and program supplies for the crisis-counseling center. If you are able to support my trip financially you can contribute with a one time donation or monthly support via Beautiful Dream Society’s website (http://www.beautifuldream.tv/give). Please be sure to indicate my name in the ‘notes’ section of the online donation form. You may send also send a personal check, with my name on the memo line, to:

Beautiful Dream Society

P.O. Box 32554

Oklahoma City, OK  73123   USA

If you have any questions about my trip, or want to learn more about how you can participate with Beautiful Dream Society, please feel free to email me at krsandstrom@gmail.com.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support, I could not do this without the encouragement of my amazing family and friends!

"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" 

~Matthew 22:37-39

The adventure comes to a close... for now...

I am back in Chicago for Christmas... it is freezing cold and a bit miserable- I definitely miss Lesotho! Well, I miss much more than just the weather there, and I am already in the process of planning a return trip (hopefully in March!!). I am considering trying to get a short term missions team to go with me and do a work project of some sort; otherwise I will go on my own again and finish up/follow up on some of the projects I started. So, let me know if you might be interested in joining me! I know that a few of you have already expressed interest in going, and I feel like this could be really, really good. If all goes well in March, there is also a chance that I might see if I could do a Peace Corps trip down there for 6 months or a year or something... Hey, a girl can dream. Anyhow, it is good to see all of my friends and family; I so appreciate all of your prayers, notes, and encouragement throughout my time in Lesotho. Here are some videos/photos of my trip- enjoy!

"Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God."

~Hebrews 6:7

A Greystone-ian adventure...

Here is what a perfect 48 hours in Greystones looks like:

Well I already told you about a fantastic night of surprises and a small session at the Beach House... I believe I left off with a cup of tea in the Barrington's kitchen. While having that cup of tea, Lukeo (one of my best mates from over here- he is dating a girl from America, so many of you have met him as he travels to Chicago quite frequently) rang me and we decided to get lunch and do some Christmas shopping in Greystones town. We had lunch at Caviston's and then spent a couple of hours wandering around the stones, enjoying the Christmas atmosphere and catching up on life as we know it. The rest of the afternoon was whiled away at the Barrington's, with several of my Irish favorites. (One thing that you should know about this house is that it is ALWAYS full of people- the Barrington's are by far the most hospitable people I know... and I love that I see 90% of the people that I want to see just by sitting in their kitchen for a day or two). Then Josh, Luke and I continued one of our favorite little traditions; we hit up Supervalu and concocted a random (but delicious) dinner. Add in game night with the Ellis (Jon and Lisa's) family, and then watching the 'X Factor' final with about 15 people in the Barrington living room, and we had the making of a perfect evening. We finished out the night back at Jon and Lisa's, goofing around, chatting, and playing more ridiculous games... Ah how I miss this place when I am away.

I went to church with the Ellis' this morning, and after Joshy and I went for Happy Pear hot chocolates... I am about to sit down to lunch with the Barrington fam, and this afternoon is Holly's (Caroline Barrington (now Lewis)'s daughter) first birthday party. Tonight will be spent in Dublin having Bewley's coffee and seeing all of the city lit up for Christmas. Perfection. If all goes according to plan, I will be back in America tomorrow night... Thank you all once again for your prayers, I look forward to seeing many of you when I get home!!

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him."

~Psalm 28:7

Another adventure in Eire...

So here I am, sitting in the Barrington's kitchen with a cup of tea- my second home. Ah, lads. As always, it is good to be back... and SJ and I managed to surprise everyone! Last night was loads of fun; we drove around and showed up on our friends' doorsteps. Ron Barrington probably had the best reaction- he answered the door and stood there without being able to say anything for a full 5 seconds and then gave the two of us a huge bear hug. Oh how I love this family. We also popped over the wall (the Barrington's live next door to where I lived with the Taylor students during my years here) to see Jon and Lisa at the 'Y'. As luck would have it, Rachel and Luke were over there aswell. We sat around chatting for ages, and it was wonderful to have the whole gang back together again... Well, almost the whole gang. We had to go into Joshy's work to surprise him, and he later joined us down at the Beach House (the local pub) for 'scoops' (a pint).

I should also mention, that while at the Beach House, I met yet another Irish maybe-celebrity. (It really is a small country and just about everyone is connected- Damien Rice and I have the same favorite coffee shop, NBD.) Apparently Ireland has their own version of "The Hills", called Fade Street, and I got to sit and have a pint with their very own Justin Bobby. No, seriously. He looks exactly like (well, perhaps he is more attractive) JB himself. He happens to have grown up with my friend Phil, which is how he came to be hanging out with all of us non-celebs last night. Apparently at one point he was dating one of the main girls while they were filming, so now it is my mission to track down that show online so I can watch it. On the bright side, Keith (which is his name, though I did have him answering to Justin by the end of the night- perhaps we will have a Justin Keith on Fade Street...), is not a total tool like his doppelganger. He was actually really chill, and it was cool to hear about how they make those 'reality' shows. So random.

I am so looking forward to spending today and tomorrow in one of my favorite places with some of my favorite people... I head home Monday (that is the plan, anyways), and then I will be looking into planning another trip to Lesotho! Please pray for my travels, and that I would have the space and energy to process my trip and pray about where God wants me to go now. I have a lot on my mind and in my heart, and I need to take some time to get sorted once I am home. I am still a bit gutted to have left Lesotho, so prayers that my heart would be at peace would also be much appreciated. Cheers.

"Consider the blameless, observe the upright. A future awaits those that seek peace."

~Psalm 37:37

An 'all that you can't leave behind' sort of adventure...

It is now my last hour in Lesotho, and I am finding it so hard to leave this wonderful place without knowing for sure if or when I will be back... This trip has been such a huge blessing, and I find that my heart aches at the thought of going. I just have to trust that if it is God's will for me to return, that He will open the right doors, and if it is not His will, then I will learn and grow from my all too short time here and keep this experience close to my heart until I meet my new found friends again in this life or the next...

As sad as I am to go, the blow is slightly softened because my next destination is not Chicago... I am surprising some of my favorite people in Ireland :o) I had a free flight home from Dublin, and it cost the same to fly from Chicago-Johannesburg-Dublin as it did to fly from Chicago-Johannesburg-Chicago... so SJ and I are headed to Dublin, and only a handful of people know that she is coming and no one (other than SJ's parents) know that I am arriving with her. Best surprise EVER. It has been immensely hard to keep this a secret, and I will not be able to post this until we have arrived and said our hello's... I at least have this little long weekend adventure to look forward to.

Yesterday was very tough; I had a hard time saying good-bye to all of the kids that I have gotten to know and love in such a short time. I also met with M'e Hlumpo one last time, and she cried as we said good-bye, which of course left me in bits. Not only did it darn near break my heart to say good-bye to the children, but it has been equally hard to say goodbye to the other missionaries here at the complex... They have been such a joy to live with, and they have been so open to sharing their ministries, and themselves, with me. Yet another huge blessing. I will miss them more than they know. I find that I do this often- go somewhere and fall so utterly in love with the people and places that it is nearly impossible to leave... but then I am still so invested in my life in Chicago, Ireland, and now Lesotho, that no matter where I end up I always end up missing a whole lot of people. At least I can take comfort that we will all be together when this world passes away. Until then, I will trust that God will help me to maintain the relationships that I have built here and continue to use them to grow and stretch me.

Please be praying for my travel in these next few days, and pray that I will have a peace about leaving here... Also that God will guide my steps and make it clear if and when I will return to Lesotho. God Bless, and thank you for your continued prayers.

"Why are you so downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will praise Him,

My Savior and my God."

~Psalm 42:5

Nothing like a good braai to round out a weekend of adventures...

Saturday night marked yet another water fight. You would think that we are all a bit old to spend our evenings throwing one another in the pool and dumping buckets of water over each others' heads, but alas, it happens every other day. On Saturday night, Justin declared war by throwing Sue in the pool as she was on her way out to dinner. Needless to say, I was soon to follow her into the water... Lame. This time I was unable to get Justin in (clearly, centrifugal force was not on my side). However, since he had declared war and all, I decided that all bets were off. So after he held me under the water, dumped 6 buckets of water over my head (hey buddy, I was already soaked when you threw me in the darn pool, I think I got your point. ugh.), I decided it was high time that I run and jump into Justin's bed with all of my soaking wet clothes on. Revenge got even sweeter when he tried to drag me out of his bed so I grabbed his duvet and launched myself into the pool. Justin may be stronger than I am, but I am scrappy in a fight ;o). Luckily SJ had locked herself (and therefore my duvet) in our room, so Justin had no means to retaliate. Sue:.5 Justin:1; Karin:2. Boom.

Sunday Funday: Yet another gorgeous day here in Lesotho. The girls were unable to meet for our second session, so SJ and I decided that she would just pick up the group after the holidays as things are a bit hectic here with all of the kids out of school until the end of January. The bulk of today was spent in and around the pool (I managed yet another sunburn... although now it's mostly tan, so I am beginning to blend in with the locals). It felt great to relax and spend time with our little family. We ended the night with a good braai, and even better conversation. Did I mention that I want to stay here forever? Well, at least another few months anyways.

This morning we headed to MeNeo's orphanage, where we did a cool foam craft that my mom sent over with me. The kids loved it (I must say, they are very easily pleased, bless their little hearts), and they also enjoyed using SJ and I as the requisite jungle gyms. I definitely want to stick a few of them into my suitcase to bring home... When we were finished there, I headed to the Link and spoke to their staff on trauma and counseling. It was my hardest assignment so far, because only one staff was a native English speaker, so the language barrier was a bit tough (they all spoke English, but it was difficult to understand them sometimes, and I know that they had trouble with my rate of speech aswell)... But overall, I think it went well. I will be sending them some resources from the YWCA as they are starting a Rape Prevention Program, and I also found out there is a 'Y' here in Lesotho, so I will be getting in touch with them also. After I spoke to the staff, Danger showed me around the grounds; it was cool to see all that they do here. I think it may be my new mission to get a short term team together to come over here; we could stay at the Link and do a work project there, and then run a Vacation Bible School for the MIS kids. Sounds like a plan to me! Anyhow, please keep praying for all of the kids here, and for the missionaries that I am living with. God is at work in this place, and I am loving and cherishing every second of my time here!

"The LORD your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing."

~Zephaniah 3:17