Work Abroad

This is the story of my older sister Wendy who's presistance in life and refusal to quit, inspired me in more ways than one. Today I'm sharing this story with the hope that I can help turn her dreams to reality. (Because this is the one she needs a little help with)

18 March 1990 a young couple rushed to hospital and my beautiful sister was born. Life soon turned unexpectedly and some would even say for the worst. 3 January 1993, at just 2 years and 10 months Wendy and her 3 other siblings were taken away from their parants and placed in a permanent place of proctection CTK Orphanage in Bethlehem Freestate.

These siblings lost between hundreds of other childern.

Wendy and her baby sister of 9 months was placed in the same home, while their brothers of 6 and 1 year & 6 months were placed in the same home. Although the Orphange tried keeping siblings together, Wendy was very soon after arrival split from her sister as well.

Because, one night the house-mother heard a the new baby in their home crying and got up to give her, her bottle. What she saw, when she put the light on amazed and concernerd her all at once. And she, till today tells us this story with total disbelieve.

There Wendy was - the now 3year old toddler - standing next to the baby's cot and giving her, her bottle. My big sister taking care of me from very early on in life. After that night she was moved to a different home, where she would be the youngest so she could learn how to be a toddler herself and not take on the responsibility of a mother.

11years went by, both girls and the eldest brother was moved to a youth care centre; where the siblings would not only for the first time be placed in a home together, but a home with both male and female genders as well. This was done so kids was moved closer to their biological families, but also to try and give a more normal upbringing; along with a few other reasons I was to young to understand anyway.

Upon arrival in our new town, my big sister very quickly took on the responsibilty of taking care of me once again. Doing my homework, carrying my schoolbag to school and always eager to teach me her beloved sport netball. Ar the time we were strangers, and teenagers dealing with the change in our own ways and sadly did not get along often. Wendy was given the nickname "mamma" because she was always the responsible one and only one who never got in trouble.

As I started my High School year in Bloemfontein, me and my sister tried keeping in touch and we formed a long distance bond. I had trouble adapting in a bigger school and Wendy hated not being able to take care of me.

2007 was the worst year for my sister, now 17. She lost her mom (The lady who raised her from our split back when she 3) and she then decided that she didn't want to be in the orphange anymore. My sister has the tendency to always look for the good in people and she was always the glue that tried keeping our disfunctional biological family together.

Wendy at the age of 17, was placed in the care of our biological mother on a 6months probation period. Very soon my sister started working on weekends at Spar to help with the unstable financial situation due to her stepdads drinking problem. After the first term of school was over, my sister changed schools.

Life kept dealing her a hand many would have failed to be able to handle and before the 6months probation period has ended, local wellfare placed her in the care of a friends mother. Due to abuse one night at a family event where things very early on escalated very quickly. I was furious after I found out from her friend, but my sister only responded with posetive remarks on her new legal family.

A full house, and teenagers wanting to do their own thing led her to her new job as a waitress after school and on weekends. My sister now in grade 11 started paying her own way, rent, school, personal necessities. Her metric year, she went to school by day and worked as a barlady at night, weekends and every other day she was not at school... and somehow still manage to pass metric in 2009.

My sister had 3 goals growing up:

1. To get braces, because her crooked teeth bothered her for as long as I can rembered.

2. To buy her own car.

3. To work on a cruise liner and travel the world.

From very early on my sister was the one who took care of every one around her, and even tho she knew what her goals was; she wasn't always sure how she would reach them. She just never gave up on her dreams and goals, she worked hard and stayed presistand.

2015 at the age of 25 she got promoted to site manager in Bloemfontein and she finally reached her childhood dream of being able to fix her teeth and got braces.

2018 after a few ups and downs life give us all, she baught her first car.

2019, exactly 10 years after school and 10 years of trying to get a job on a cruise ship... she decided to sell her car and everything to give english in China, as traveling has always been something she wanted to do. Literally a week after landing in China, she recieved the email - with the feedback from the cruise ship interviews she attended earlier this year.

She was FINALLY approved for employment on NCL cruises.

My sister's taugt me to never give up and when you fall to work harder than before. To always be presistand in your goals, even if it takes 10 years.

Please help me, raise the funds she still needs to achieve her life long dream to work on a cruiseship.