Edmund

This little guy has a new helmet! 

I'm so thankful that Edmund has got this now, as he had a permanent egg on his head. You might remember from previous posts that he has mini seizures fairly regularly. It doesn't last long but he falls down and hits his head as a result. Now he'll be able to play without a constant headache!

Eddie seems to hardly notice that he's wearing it, though it almost covers his eyes. The mamas think he's hilarious though, and I think he's pretty cute. 

At one point today, Judah was running around behind him trying to hold onto the strings which hold it together at the back:).

It began to rain during the kid's outside play time today so they all had to head back inside. I sat in the boys cottage reading stories to them and keeping them entertained. One of the mamas handed out oranges to each of the kids and even gave me one! Joseph and I had our usual question and answer session that occurs over just about everything. This time it was about oranges. We talked all about the different parts of an orange, what happens to the pips, which parts you can eat and why they are so good to eat. I love taking the time to answer curious children when most people grow tired of so many questions. 

I was back in the nursery tonight. Emma, our newly returned nurse, has just redone the babies' schedule and I'm really happy with the changes. John and David have cut down from three naps a day to two naps a day. They were too big to be sleeping so much and David always screamed when he went for his nap. Also the bigger babies are getting potty time now, which is new for them. Jane absolutely hates sitting on the potty, mainly because she simply doesn't like being obedient. 

It's pouring rain still and I think of the mamas who walk home in the dark to their families. Mama Dorothy who works in the nursery has to walk quite far to get home. She didn't complain though, it's just part of the rainy season for her. 

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 4:6

Friends and Fellowship

I was back at Worship Harvest this week with all the kids. Frank, Christopher and I clapped along to the music while Londa and Elena sang along with the worship team. For two white girls they did a good job of blending in! 

I was talking to someone after the service and Florence came over and pulled me aside saying "Where is your soda! Someone get this girl a soda!" And she took my hand and practically dragged me to the drinks table. We stood holding hands while we waited. It's so African to hold hands; I love it. Every gesture is so genuine and welcoming. Often when shaking hands you'll place your other hand over their hand as well which makes it seem even friendlier. 

A lizard sunning itself while looking out at the Nile. 

We went to the pool again in the afternoon. Londa took Philip, Elena took Jane and I took Sande. Sande has been talking a lot more recently, even yelling "Aunty!" when I walk into the room, but a whole new environment made him quiet again. I don't think any of these three had been to the pool before and Sande clung to me for dear life the entire time. We didn't spend too long in the water as the kids get cold quickly. I was drying Sande beside the pool when he decided to wet himself. Sande doesn't normally wet himself, but he also refuses to let me know if he needs to go. Normally I would just take him at intervals just in case but I missed that time! 

Whenever I go to the pool I wear my chitchengi from Malawi over my shorts for the walk, then use it as a towel for the child and wear it home again. So I simply wrapped Sande up in my chitchengi while we had a snack and then wore my su su soaked chitchengi home again. That simple piece of fabric sure comes in handy!

The shoe filled entrance to The Hub:).

We went to a coffee night at The Hub together. It has just been freshly painted and looks great! I didn't stay long as I was ready for bed and Londa soon followed. 

It was a nice weekend of rest and fun. 

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Heart of Joy

Our Saturday project was weighing and measuring all the kids. This is done once a month and it's great to see each child's growth. John grew a whole centimeter! I was so proud of him and told him to keep on growing strong:). 

While we were busy with all the kids, Frank received the news that he now has a family! He went around showing everyone a picture of his new parents. I'm so happy for my little boy:).

After weighing and measuring all the children we helped feed lunch in the nursery. Zion finally took her whole bottle! She has barely had milk at all the last few days and I had become concerned. She seems a little better now thankfully. 

My lunch break was spent taking out more braids! Why do we do things like this to ourselves? :D

After the children's nap time we took a child each and headed off to the pool! There is a hotel within walking distance that you can pay to use their pool and they have a smaller shallow pool for kids. Londa brought Freddy, Elena brought Dorothy and I brought Richard. Richard has been to the pool before but the two younger ones hadn't and it took them a little while to get used to it. It wasn't long before Richard was shivering, though it was a warm day. So I wrapped him up and we sat cuddling together till he'd warmed up again. After that he was happy to simply sit beside the pool with his feet splashing in the water. 

Soon we decided that they'd had enough and we sat and ordered something each from the hotel. Freddy shared chocolate icecream with Londa, and Elena and I both got plates of chips to share with Dorothy and Richard. 

Dorothy and Richard waiting for their chips.

Elena and Dorothy

Dorothy has a gorgeous smile but refuses to bring it out for a camera.

Freddy and Londa waiting for icecream.

Tickling a smile out of Freddy:).

When I got my wallet out to pay for the food Richard wanted to look at all the colourful cards inside so I gave him a small card with a verse on it for him to keep. On the way home he was riding on my back and as we passed a lady walking the other way, he held it out for her to see. She read it, gave it back, blessed each of the children and thanked us for our care for them. Moments like that bring joy to my heart and encourage me in my work. She had no idea who we were and what we were doing and yet she took a moment from her day to bless someone. 

I finally took the last braid out of my hair! The result is a head covered in what looked like dreadlocks. I didn't have time to shower right then so they stayed like that for most of the evening. Elena and I walked out to get rolexes for dinner and met Anna coming in the gate for bible study, so the three of us headed down together. Our chapati man was busy making mandazi so we had to wait for nearly an hour but we barely noticed the time while chatting with one another. As he finished the mandazi, which is sort of like a heavier plain doughnut, he gave us a fresh one each while he made our rolexes. Completely unnecessary spontaneous generosity which again brings joy to my heart. After receiving our order and paying, he gave me my change and held my hand as he shook Elena's with his free hand. Another "only in Africa" moment when I'm standing in the dark by the side of the road holding hands with the man who makes our chapatis. We don't get that kind of customer service back home! :)

We had bible study tonight together. We looked at Acts 6 and 7 when Stephen comes before the Pharisees, gives an amazing sermon and is then taken out and stoned to death. We talked about how Stephen had the same Spirit that we have and the boldness and courage we have in our identity in Christ. 

We talked late and closed in prayer when we ran out of things to say:).

I had a very long shower shampooing my hair after bible study:). It's normal for me to lose a far bit of hair in the shower and when I brush it because I have a lot of it. So just imagine trying to wash three weeks of the hair I've lost out of my still growing hair. I used a lot of conditioner and managed to get all the matted hair out eventually. It will take a few showers to get it completely back to normal but my hair is almost back to what it was before. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:4-7

A Gift

Little Batgirl:)

The babies are all growing and learning. 

Rosie has started to try and climb me when I'm standing now. That girl's going to climb mountains one day! 

I practice walking with Joanne each day for a few minutes. She thinks we're dancing and does this little jump and quick step instead of walking straight. She also has a habit of walking sideways which means we end up going in circles:). Rosie has developed a jealous streak. She has always been the most content of the three older girls and never minds if her toy is stolen or another baby hits her. Recently though, she has started throwing fits if one of the babies is playing with me. Especially if I'm walking/dancing with Joanne, Rosie will throw herself to the ground and whine. Then, when I tell her to stop, she'll walk over and try to push Joanne out of the way so she can climb me. If I'm sitting on a chair and pick David or John up to sit on my lap she again whines and walks over to climb up into my lap. The other day I was sitting and John started crying so I picked him up and sat him in my lap and Jane waddled over, climbed up and squished herself in beside me. Then Rosie came over and climbed up to sit on my knees, Joanne came to join the party but with no room left for her she just held on to my legs. Sometimes I feel like a walking talking play thing for the babies, and I love it:).

The three of us headed out to Budondo in the afternoon with clouds rolling in and thunder rumbling. We had a short downpour but then it cleared up and became very hot. 

This little cutie kept us entertained. It was nice to see a chubby baby in a village. 

The woman who lives here is one of the night shift mamas. She pulled Londa aside and dragged her to see her little house. She didn't speak english and so a younger woman translated and told us she was asking if we could build her a house because hers was too small. Londa said simply said she wished that she could and that she would pray for her. 

You might be wondering why I titled this blog the way I did. Before we left this village a few women came to us and pushed a scared looking child towards us gesturing at the child and at us. My heart broke again which happens regularly now, as the younger woman explained they were giving us this child as a gift. I just wanted to scoop her up and hold her close but I didn't for fear they might think we had accepted this outrageous gift.

Many children in Africa are loved deeply by their parents and cared for just the same as we would care for our children. There are also children like this. In this situation they have children to spare, plenty of mouths to feed, and these "rich" white women obviously love children and don't have any of their own.

 In our culture a couple would weigh up so many different factors before having a child or planning for future children. Here children are not born because the parents have decided they can afford the time and money, they are born because that is what marriage brings. It brings family whether it's affordable or not. I think both cultures have made a mistake in their attitude towards children. We either plan so much that we think that we can control the whole process ourselves or we simply accept the fact that children are always there. Both attitudes are wrong. It is God who creates life and gives us children and they are to be cherished for the unique blessing that they are. God meant for children to be more than just something of ourselves they are of Him and for His glory.

I think one thing that overwhelms me each day is my desire to see these children in a family like I'm blessed with. I was raised in a home where each child was loved, disciplined and nurtured. I was not simply fed and clothed I was taught how to grow into an adult. My parents did not simply look at me as another child, but a person that God created and would use in His great plan for His Kingdom. 

The children here are little gifts from heaven running around with runny noses, wet nappies, and laughter. It saddens me that the fact that some of them are here is because someone cast them aside, someone didn't want the blessing that they are. Not all of them are abandoned, some families just can't afford to keep them and are eventually able to take them back. Still, the children struggle with many issues springing from the fact that they were brought here and left by their families. One little girl, who was reunited with her family, comes back to visit occasionally. Each time she comes she refuses to be held by anyone; she's afraid she'll be left here again. Though they are young, most of them have grasped the fact that they don't have a mother and a father and that to be adopted is more desirable than staying in the only home many of them have known. They have more than enough here materially, they are fed more than enough, they are warm and healthy and have plenty of toys, but they want a family. I want more than anything for them to know the love of a family and the care of their souls, not just their bodies. 

God has blessed us with children and we have not been thankful. We have taken them for granted and not cherished them as gifts from God. Yet, in His grace He chooses to continue sending His blessings and promises to be a Father to all of them. He is the only parent many of them know. Praise be to Him Who is the only perfect all-sufficient Father. 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them."

Psalm 127:3-5

Dinner by Candlelight

Today began as usual, nursery then one on ones. 

We went on a few walks and Christopher and I practiced writing and sounding out the letters "a" and "c". Christopher tried to be as difficult as he could because he just wanted to play. When he eventually managed a half decent "a" my praise was so ridiculously over the top, that he cooperated a lot more after that. Poor little boy asked to write his name. It could be a while before he can manage all those letters!

On my lunch break today I pulled out more braids. I'm still not finished though. I think I'm about half way now. 

The three of us had activities together this afternoon and then I headed over to the nursery. I didn't realise that Florence had been sick and hadn't come in to work in the nursery. They'd been coping with only the two mamas all day! When there is only the mamas it's hard for them to get all their jobs done, like washing nappies, sweeping floors and folding clothes. 

Rosie, forever climbing up into my lap to get as high as possible. 

Time for a quick play outside.

War breaks out over who gets the ball first. 

We fed them all early tonight before it got dark. The power was out all day today from 8am to 8pm. Even though we put them to bed early, I was late finishing because of all the extra tidying up to be done. 

Londa and Elena have decided to join the worship team at Worship Harvest and they had to go to practice as soon as they finished up in the cottages. 

I stayed home and cooked my dinner by candle light (it was very romantic by myself) :)

Too many late nights for me and not drinking enough water meant I've had a terrible headache all day. So I decided that an early night was in order. I don't want to get sick when I only have 4 weeks left to spend with the kids!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

Then There Were Three

And then there were 3.

Today was busy with Paige and Katelyn not on the schedule any more. I’m going on a lot more walks for one on ones now which I love. The older kids also have to complete “homework” for preschool. So I’m now trying to squeeze in teaching the alphabet, phonics and writing with Frank and Christopher as well as doing one on ones, in an hour and a half time slot.

Paige helped for lunch with the boys so she could say goodbye to all of them before they went down for their naps. The boys now ask me when I’m going home to America :). I tell them I've never been to America and they don’t know what to say! The older ones have learnt now that I’m from a place called Australia. 

Paige and Katelyn had their last lunch at Amani and then went down and bought their last chapatis for the road. They even managed to get some photos with our chapati guy.

Londa, Elena and I went down early and got our boys ready for an outing and waited for Paige and Katelyn to say goodbye. Alex came and picked them up at 4pm and we said our goodbyes in the car park. There were a few tears shed, but also plans made to see one another again. Though we all plan to catch up again, we also take comfort in the fact that even if our plans don’t come to fruition we will spend an eternity together one day!

Joseph dressed up all smart for his outing. 

While getting him dressed Joseph kept saying "Aunty! Aunty! I like you!" I couldn't work out what he was talking about but eventually realised he was impersonating me:). The picture above is apparently what I look like to him. Hands on hips with a grin on my face:). Now I can tell Joseph to look like me any time and he'll strike this pose. 

Our outing was refreshing and the boys had lots of fun. We had Jonah, Elijah and Joseph with the three of us. They were all very well behaved (which is a miracle for Joseph) and followed us around while we did some errands. Joseph had the same talk from me that I would always get from my parents when I was his age before going out; the talk about not touching things, always staying with aunty and being obedient. Joseph is five years old and a very smart boy, which is part of the reason he can be very rebellious. The whole boda ride he asked questions, while shopping he asked questions, while walking he asked questions. Anything and everything had to be explained. We ended up at The Keep and the boys were treated to a whole chocolate milkshake each! Joseph kept up the chatter the whole time and managed to finish his milkshake before anyone else as well. 

Joseph with his chocolate milkshake.

Elena and Jonah looking smart!

We bought some milk and then headed home. The boys love the boda rides and the 3 drivers took the hint and raced one another the whole way home. I've never had them drive that fast before! The boys squealed, the aunties laughed and the boda drivers just smiled. It was a great afternoon to lift our spirits after our sad goodbyes.

The boys were well behaved tonight for bedtime. Of course that has more to do with the fact that it’s Mama Rukia's shift in the cottage. She’s a woman who only has to step into a room and the children all sit up and pay attention. In fact if you but mention her name a child will obey almost instantly. She is also loved and respected by all of us.

It was quiet upstairs with just the three of us, but we had a nice relaxing night together. Londa made fried egg sandwiches for our dinner and we talked for quite a while. I started taking out my braids tonight too, but after two and a half hours I decided it was time for bed. You can barely tell that I've taken out about a hundred braids already. Hopefully I will finish tomorrow. I've almost forgotten what my hair looks like!

"Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight."

2 Corinthians 5:5-7

Girl's Night

I slept in this morning because I was so tired. I woke with a start wondering what was wrong and realised I had fifteen minutes to eat breakfast and be down in the nursery! It doesn’t take me long to get ready though I was just a little bleary eyed still when I started work. Back home I always look like that when I start work :).

I spent most of this morning in the nursery trying to get Joanne to practice walking, teaching John to say aunty and letting Rosie climb on me :).

After my morning break I had Richard for a one on one. First we went on a walk. We spent most of the time picking flowers and avoiding the crocodiles in all the puddles :). It rained last night so as Richard says, “there is many many mud!”

Edmund and Hope in our new stroller. 

Richard

"Aunty, for you!"

John trying on new clothes.

Aunty always has lots of flowers from her boys in her hair at the end of a walk!

Richard with whiskers. 

Then we did some colouring together. Richard and I have the same favourite colour so our pictures had a lot of blue in them :). 

It was hard today, just before their nap the boys were called to go have a talk with Danyne, the lady who runs Amani. She talked to them about some adoptions coming up and some of their brothers leaving. I don’t think that they really understood everything but it was bad timing doing it just before their nap. A lot of them came back in tears but weren’t able to explain why they were sad. I was almost in tears too :(.

Emily, Godfrey and Richard planning their dance moves.

I had activities today with Londa and Elena. The sky threatened to bring rain any minute so we decided a movie was in order. I think being a mother/aunty must change you a little bit. I don’t normally get emotional with movies but I could feel the tears threatening while watching poor baby Tarzan and his adopted gorilla mother. The little kids only lasted just over half an hour before they’d had enough of sitting still. So Londa put some music on and they danced around using up all that excess energy. 

They had a quick “sweetie” break. This is actually their daily multivitamins. Then back to dancing :). 

Elena and Jonah slow dancing:).

Agaba, feeling much better today.

Frank, looking after Edmund.

Paige and Paul

This is Paige and Katelyn’s last day of work. They leave for the airport tomorrow at 4pm. So they took the opportunity to take individual pictures with each of the kids from their cottages before dinner. 

Joseph

I was in the boy’s cottage for dinner. Paige and I almost ended up in tears because Sande said “Aunty Paige!” This might not sound like much but you see Sande never speaks to his aunties or even his mamas. We know he can speak only because occasionally we’ll catch him talking to his brothers but no one else can even get a simple nod from him. He never so much as raises an eyebrow when you’re talking to him. Tonight he said “Aunty Paige” to get his toothbrush so it was a special moment for the two of them and we were all so excited. He went straight back to not saying a word but it was enough for Paige!

Danyne’s husband Serg owns a pizzeria restaurant and all first time volunteers get half price coupons on their first visit. None of us have used our coupons yet so we decided to spend our last night together eating pizza. Anna dropped around this afternoon so she joined us. 

The pizzas were great and we enjoyed our night out together. I took us a while to find enough bodas for the ride home so we walked a while until we found 3 guys to take us. 

We got lots of photos of us girls together tonight. The girls have recently bought new dresses and African shirts. Somehow I managed to be the one to break up the African colour for photos :).

Three mzungu girls with African hair:).

It won't be the same Amani without Aunty Paige and Aunty Katelyn!

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:12-13