From Sister Wendow to Mama Wendy....

.....God's journey of maturity in my life.

In 2006, at the age of 40, I set out on a journey to Ethiopia with a group of about 20 people who had never done a missions trip, much less traveled to a third world country. One of my spiritual mama's, Shirley, and one of my spiritual dad's, David, led the trip. Some of the funniest moments from this trip involved Shirley and her desire to make sure that she brought all of us back home! If she counted her group once, she counted us a thousand times! Everytime we moved in the airport, she counted us. When we got on the plane, she counted us. If we went to the bathroom or sneezed, she counted us. By the end of the trip we were all saying we were going to buy her a stick like the little shepherd boys had and then she wouldn't need to count us, but could just smack us on the backside to keep us together!

Anyway! Away from that rabbit trail! When we arrived at the orphanage, I became known as sister Wendow. You see, in their language, they didn't have the "dy" sound, but a "dow" sound, so, sister Wendow it was. I liked this! I was the cool sister! Even though I was old enough to be their mom, I wanted to be the cool sister. The one that played with the kids and made silly faces. The one that didn't have to make the grown up decisions. It was great!

Move ahead to 2011 and my first trip to South Africa. By now I'm 45, but I still get to be the silly, lay on the ground and pretend I'm a crocodile, sister figure. Honestly, I wanted to be the cool sister figure or the cool Auntie figure because I wasn't "old" enough to be the mama figure. The sister and the auntie don't have to make serious decisions and talk to you about growing up. They just get to be the one that loves on you and makes you laugh. Besides, I have two children at home that call me mom, I don't need anyone else calling me mom! 

Next step, 2012, 46 years old, and the year that things begin to change. Thuli, the pastor's wife in Mbonisweni, told me I reminded her of her mom, always smiling. On the way back to Joburg, we stopped half-way for the potty break that was supposed to a 10 minute stop. 10 minutes drifted into 20 minutes and we were wondering what in the world we were waiting for. Come to find out, we were waiting for Thuli and Sthembiso to meet us to say goodbye. The moment Thuli hugged me she said, "I'm going to miss you mom!" Oh man! 

As we climbed into the shuttle, I remember thinking, "I don't want to be known as the mom, I want to be known as the cool auntie!" Immediately I heard the following words from the Lord, "Do not discount being called mom in this country." This was such a sweet correction and an absolute profound moment for my life. 

Having grown up with my mom always in my life, I had no idea the depth of hurt, confusion and pain that come with a life where no momma is there to wrap you in their arms and tell you it's all going to be okay. No one to kiss the little boos boos that come with life. No one to role model what it's like to be a momma. No one to ask the hard questions to. Questions like, why don't I have a father or why do I have HIV?

With that one sweet, "I'll miss you mom," my role shifted. I realized that there is a sweetness to being called momma by those that you didn't birth into this world. I've also begun to wonder how Sarah felt knowing she was going to be the mother of a nation. The weight of responsibility is staggering and yet....

God called me to be a momma. 

To love unconditionally, to speak hard truths, and to make the hard decisions. He has called me to kiss the broken and tell them it's all going to be okay. He has called me to role model what being a momma is like. He's called me to answer the hard questions. He's called me to sit and listen to the cries of those that are adopted. He's called me to listen to the cries of the sick and He's called me to tell them that they have a Father that loves them so much that He sent His only Son to a cross. 

God called me to be a momma!