Summer Reflections
September 4, 2026
I am excited to be headed back to South Africa. I have enjoyed the summer season in America. Time is flying by faster and faster as I get older.
Some of the things I enjoyed this summer were a family train ride through the mountains in Colorado; spending time with my daughter and, especially, my granddaughter; and long evening bike rides, with the sun not setting until nearly 9 p.m. Life is definitely better with a beautiful granddaughter who still enjoys spending time with her grandparents.
I also attended a class reunion with six of my classmates from Clearfield High School. There were only 19 of us in our class, and it is amazing that, after 63 years, we were able to get so many together. Most of us had spent all 12 years in school together.
We all felt blessed to have grown up in a place like Clearfield and at that specific time in history. We were born just after World War II ended. We heard the stories of our parents living through the Great Depression, then experienced the wonderful 1950s, when the economy and everything else seemed to improve year after year.
We grew up with very little by today’s standards, but never felt poor because nearly everyone around us was in a similar situation. We all grew up with both parents in our homes, and most of our moms were stay-at-home mothers whose main joy was caring for their families. We were among the first generations in which about half of us received a college education. Economically, we expected, and achieved, a better life than our parents and grandparents had.
We enjoyed our three hours of reminiscing together and vowed to do it again soon. At 81 years of age, we are all facing our own mortality and checking on what has happened to classmates who were unable to come to our small reunion.
That reunion also reminded me how precious relationships are. The people who shape our lives, the opportunities we receive, and the places we call home are gifts we should never take for granted. As I return to South Africa, I am grateful for the chance to reconnect with the Blessman family, our staff, supporters, and, most importantly, the children and families we serve.
The needs in South Africa remain great, but so does the opportunity to make a difference. I look forward to sharing more stories from the field in the weeks ahead. Thank you for continuing to walk alongside Blessman International through your prayers, encouragement, and generosity.
Together, we can continue bringing hope and practical help to people who need it most.