July 29, 2006
Hello Everyone,

Can you believe it has been over two months since I returned home to the states? Our Journey business has been keeping me busy.  I have still managed to find the time to be out on the river kayaking.    After going to Colorado for a week in June, I came back to Georgia and have been busy scheduling Our Journey presentations about my year in South Africa with local groups. Thankfully, We have had a lot of help from family and friends with putting together a PowerPoint presentation, business cards and a pamphlet telling about Our Journey.  Although we are a grass roots organization, it became real clear to me while in Colorado when people were asking for our web site address that writing it on paper napkins was not going to make it.

I have decided to go back to South Africa early, I am sure this won't come as a surprise to many of you. My plan is to leave late October instead of January.  Although I have enjoyed being home and seeing family and friends. I know in my heart it is time for me to go back. Many of you have asked for an update about Phila's condition. He is still in the hospital but continues to be making great progress. I will attach recent pictures for you to see for yourself.  Volunteers have been trying to visit him as often as they can. They take him toys, books, even sunglasses that he will recognize from his time with us. The light in his eyes has returned and his smile will melt your heart. I still worry over his situation; the magistrate court there could still decide to send him back to his family where he would surely die. I am hoping to be a voice for his safety when I return to South Africa. We continue to have blessings bestowed on us, I have been put in contact with a magistrate court judge from Capetown that has agreed too advise us.  Praise God!!! We may not be able to save Phila but we have to at least try.

In the meantime, I continue to speak at local organizations here at home and will be traveling to New York and Boston in September to continue our fund raising efforts. Again, thank you for all of your support!

Maureen
www.ourjourneyinc.org