Big Shoes, Big Heart

Since arriving back in South Africa, it has been exciting to see the growth that is happening at Beats and Books. Two significant game players in that growth have definitely been our beloved Chilean staff members, Jonathan and Carla Isaacson. The Isaacsons have now been at Beats and Books for over a year. Over the past few months of working alongside them, I have learned so much. They are joyful, loving, and brimming with hopes and ideas for bettering the lives of those around them.

Just this morning, we received the good news that Carla landed safely in South America. She received an unexpected opportunity to travel to Chile to visit her elderly father. After the past year of hard work at Beats and Books, we are so glad that Carla can have a break and spend a few weeks with family and friends on the other side of the globe.

We all knew that Carla would leave behind some big shoes to fill. At Beats and Books, Carla is officially head of our literacy department, running daily tutoring groups and homework help. She also manages Beats and Books’ library borrowing system, coordinates meals / snacks for our kids nutrition program, works alongside our volunteers in the mornings and afternoons, connects all the dots in the daily program, presents memorable Bible stories with graphics, costumes and props on Fridays, communicates with the students’ parents, does community outreach and home visits, and takes care of countless details in between. Oh, and did I mention that she is a mother of four? During the past week, we began to realise just how huge those shoes are!

Carla, we love you and are so grateful for you! We pray that you will be rested, refreshed and recharged in your time away.

Also…we can’t wait to have you back!

Photo Credits: Moriah Deane

@moriahdeane