Week 4 Recap

I'm thankful for struggles that point us to Christ. They aren't easy to go through - as you all know. Yet, the cross is always there, always waiting for us to lay our burdens down at.

One of my babies crawled this week! Rosie is a roller, literally she rolls everywhere. I put her on her stomach and grabbed a toy. Once I got her eyes focused on it I, of course, banged it on the floor and commanded her to move and she did! Well, I did bang it on the floor, but really didn't think she would go after it. I got her to do it twice this week. Success people!!! Gotta work on a few more and encourage them to crawl too :)

We go through at least 350 diapers in ONE day!

We received two new babies this week. Mercy April came on Sunday and Amani Duncan came Friday. We now have 12 babies in the nursery. We're a little cramped for space, but each baby has a bed, clothes, a roof over their head, and food. What more could one want? Ok, I guess toys - but thankfully we have plenty of those too. Both babies have been well taken care of, thankfully. April is having a little harder time adjusting. She doesn't cry all the time like I thought a child in her situation might. Duncan seems to be a happy little man. He has a little cold, but is also in good health.

One of the volunteers brought a double stroller over with them. I took out 2 babies in that and one in a front of me in one of those carrying type thingies. (Can you tell I have never had kids?) If the weather cooperates more with me, I'll be taking the babies out 2 or 3 at a time to walk around the neighborhood in the morning. It's rainy season, though, so I'm not betting on it.

Freida and I had a little one on one time this week.

Today we celebrated Amani's 10th year anniversary. It was definitely a unique party, but the day went incredibly well. I prayed all week long for no rain and God answered with absolutely no clouds in the sky. Found out some stats today - in the last 10 years 300 babies came through here. One of the very first kids that was brought here and the newest baby (Amani mentioned earlier) were both here. There were many families that came who had either adopted or had been reunited. It was wonderful seeing them all come through.

Celebrating birthdays for the month of September

Getting to Know You: Mercy

If only you could hear this in person!!!!

Mercy - you are the first baby I see every single morning. Today was a rare occasion in that you were still sleeping when I walked in to your room. Every other time though, you get the biggest smile on your face when you see me. I know that it's because you are seeing someone and not because it's me...although I tell myself you are just super excited it's your Auntie!

You have no teeth even though you are almost a year old! Girl, get with it. How are you going to be able to chew big girl food in just a few short months when they take you away from the comfort of your nursery and put you into Cottage B? However, I love the fact that you don't have teeth. Your smile is that much more infectious because of the lack!

You think I"m up to something? But why?!

Oh, and your laugh - don't even get me started. It is the cutest thing I think I have ever heard. It has a raspy quality to it that I equate with someone older than you.

You are the best imitator too. I've taught you well! Love the way you repeat sounds - even though you still haven't caught on to saying "Auntie", that's ok, I still have 2 months to get you there. You also watch my mouth very carefully and end up doing the same thing I just did. I have fun with that one. Hopefully you'll continue doing what I taught you long after I'm gone.

You are a stinker. When you see me trying to get one of your siblings to go after a toy, you come charging in trying to get it. Just because you can walk you think you own the nursery, huh? Well, you sort of do I guess. I held you for the longest time the other day, now whenever you see me you run to me...well, shimmy on the ground quickly :)

You are on the top 3 of my list of babies to bring back to America with me! I was going to sponsor you, but someone beat me to the punch in like 3 days. That was sad when I found out, but I'm super excited that a family will be able to watch you grow into a gorgeous woman!

I pray for your salvation. I know you love to talk and sing, so use those talents for God's glory as you grow older. I will miss snuggling you and having you hang on me trying to stand up all on your own. Be good for the mama's. Your daddy is going to be so surprised to see how well you are doing. 

This was her following me the other day when I left.

This was hard to get...she very much did not want to cooperate for the camera.

Auntie loves you Mercy!!!!! Please don't lose your joy - just make it complete with Jesus!

Week 3 Recap

This week was a little tougher in the nursery. There is one baby in particular, Ann, whom everyone seems to gravitate to. She knows this too. For 2 days straight she just whined the entire time I was in there. My patience was wearing thin. You see, people come sweeping into the nursery, pick her up, tell her how much they love her, and then put her back down. She doesn’t like being put back down. And these people don’t give a second look at the other babies. It breaks my heart for not only these other babies who seem to get overlooked by those not working in the nursery as well as for Ann because she’s getting used to being treated differently.

Well, this week the power seemed to have gone off quite a bit. It’s nothing like Guam’s power outages – normally it’s off for only a few hours, except for Sunday it turned off in the middle of my shower. Praise Jesus the water still worked! (While typing this it just turned off and then turned back on really quickly!) We also have a gas stove, so cooking is still an option! I’m paranoid about opening the fridge though because of living on Guam. I don’t want the food to go bad, but the power is never off that long, thankfully!

I’m learning that if I don’t start typing this recap during the week, it all kind of becomes a blur. Friday morning was probably the worst time of my week though. I woke up around 1:30 feeling really sore and really cold. I tried to warm myself up, but it wasn’t working. I grabbed my towel from the ladder (we sleep over a little desk area) and covered as much as I could. I didn’t want to get down from my loft. I finally went to the bathroom hoping that would help. That didn’t work, so I went and got a really heavy blanket that we have here in the volunteers’ quarters. I kept feeling my hands and realizing that they weren’t actually cold. My mind started wandering – was I dying? Did I have malaria? Another girl threw up earlier in the week, was I going to? I finally got down and posted on Facebook that I needed prayer and that I probably had a fever. Instead of getting up and down from my bed, I decided to camp out on the couch in the common area.

Within a few hours my fever had broken. During this time I was wide awake, so I just browsed Facebook – and couldn’t believe the number of people who posted they were praying for me. This whole time I was praying that God would give me the grace to get through this. Of course I wanted it gone, but am realizing that the things we go through are opportunities for God to walk alongside of me through it and for me to learn to trust fully in Him.

I truly believed when I posted on Facebook that God was going to work through me via those that were praying for me! Maybe it was the fact that it was 3:30 am, but I truly believed He was going to answer the prayers of the faithful! And my God didn’t let me down, He answered. It wasn’t right away, but for, probably, the first time I actually felt the prayers of my friends and family. I’m thankful to have gone through this trial.

James 1:2-4 states “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” I am learning to count my trials as joy…even though I do not want to choose that. I want to be completely consumed by Christ!

Went to an aquarium last week, Christopher was my buddy for the time.

Week 2 Recap

I know this is late – we didn’t have power on Sunday and when it came back on at 9 pm, our internet wasn’t reset because no one was here to do it for us in the locked office.

 I LOVE working in the babies room. All 10 of them have my heart in the palm of their hands. I’m pretty much there to love on them….and love on them I do. The local ladies who work here are called “Mama”. They work in pairs and rotate every 3 days. The mamas I work with are Mama Betty A. and Mama Betty N. and then Mama Dorothy and Mama Esther. These are hardworking women who are very faithful in the jobs the Lord has given them. I do whatever they tell me to do.

When I first go down, the babies are still napping…most of them anyways. The oldest two are normally up, standing in their cribs, and talking to each other…so I naturally join in. It’s probably one of my most favorite times of the day. The smile on their faces when they see me is priceless. I’m there in the morning for their milk and then for lunch. In between we get the kids out and allow them to play. After lunch they go down for their nap and I’m done for the morning. I try to get into the office at this time to help in any way that I’m needed.

Morning milk-time

We are given a two-hour lunch break – which is actually really nice. Afterwards I go back down to help the babies for an hour, which normally consists of feeding them again. The next hour and a half after this changes on a daily basis. Two days a week we take the older kids on an outing – to give them an opportunity to see the “outside world.” Another afternoon we’ll do an activity with a group of the older kids, whether it’s swimming or this past week we went to the aquarium. One afternoon we do a one on one activity with a child and then end that afternoon with the babies.

Christopher and I at the Aquarium

 This is a much “easier” schedule than most of you have, I admit. However, I’m very thankful for being able to recharge my batteries. I commend the mamas who work here for their constant work with the kiddos. I don’t think working in the nursery will be such a horrible task for me anymore…oh, did I just admit that?!

This week several of the babies and a few of the toddlers had to get immunizations. Yes, each child cried. One even cried with an oral vaccine! On the second day the nurse that works here had us take little John to the clinic again because his frontal lobe was bulging more than it normally does. This poor boy! They pricked his finger and he cried. After running tests, they determined that he had meningitis. They decided to put an IV in his hand so that his meds could go straight to his veins instead of something oral. They could not find a vein. They tried several times on both his hands. He cried and cried and cried. They finally gave him a little break and I walked him around the clinic and sang to him to calm him down. I prayed over him the entire time. Finally they called us back again and I prayed that this time the guy would be able to get it in without any troubles. Success!

All that was for nothing though. We ended up taking the IV out and he’s been fine ever since. He didn’t have any symptoms of meningitis. I’m just praying that I don’t get sick while here….

Saturday we went to Budondo village where a children’s program is held every week. Didn’t understand a word except for "temptation" the entire time. But, I got to see the gospel shared with these kids who need a Savior! Played a little bit with the kids afterwards. Even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying, laughter is universal! The ride there was another story. It’s been raining a lot lately and the roads are just dirt. We saw a truck blocking the road, so we had to go a different way. We all got out of the van for fear of it tipping over. I grew close to God on that ride!

He needs Jesus!

She cried when she first saw me...then warmed up!

If you’re praying for me, thank you! I desperately need it! Right now I feel as if my focus is not on God and His kingdom work…but on me. How utterly selfish! I have nothing to complain about – I’m a child of God and blessed beyond anything I can think or imagine! May He be glorified in all I do and say.

 

Week 1 recap

It has been amazing seeing how God has orchestrated everything in my life in the last several months leading up to me coming to Amani. Now that I’m here, I’m asking myself…what now? I believe I had glorified working in an orphanage…when it’s not, especially with the babies. A typical day for me is going down to the nursery, playing with the babies until it’s time to feed, feed them milk, play with them some more until it’s time to feed again, feed them lunch, play with them until they get a bath and go down for a nap. In the afternoon I play with them until they are fed again…and then I’m normally off to do something with the older children.

This schedule can get tedious. I’m not complaining about it at all. I just thought I’d feel more used – I came on this volunteer trip and here I am to serve, see? Selfish indeed! It’s a slap in the face to those I’m ministering to. They don’t see the inner struggles I have. The mamas see someone come give of their time and energy to serve not only the children but them as well.

I went to a “bush” village this week. When we walked into the pastor’s house, the first thing I saw on their wall was a saying that God is faithful to me, so I need to be faithful in what He’s given me to do (more or less). Here’s a family who sleeps on the floor, does not have plumbing, spent at least 2 hours preparing a meal to share with us and what did I do in return? I played with the school kids, had an inner struggle because I was sweating running around, was put in front of a class not knowing a thing to teach them thinking – are we done yet? Spoiled brat I am!

I’m incredibly humbled by God’s faithfulness to me. His patience is beyond anything I can imagine. I’m thankful He is putting me in my place. This morning I read Romans 9. Verse 17 says, “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’” Pharaoh was just an instrument of God. He did what God wanted him to do. I am just an instrument of God. I am doing exactly what God wants me to do. I don’t know what purpose He has for what I’m doing, but it’s for His glory, not mine. God made me, who am I to question Him about what He wants me to do or why I don’t feel as if I’m making an impact. It’s not about me! In this chapter it likens that to a vessel asking the master potter why he was made like that.

I know you were probably expecting me to write all about the fun things I’m doing. I will get there, but this has been pressing on me all week long. Praise God for His patience with me and faithfulness to me while I trudge through the battles of my soul. Praise God for His victory over sin and this world!!!

And now, after all that heart heaviness, here’s a little cuteness to lighten the mood!

Meet my little man Joel

First few days...

These first few days I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster. I thought about not writing this, but I want to be transparent and who knows, maybe the Lord can use this in your life.

I thought I came in with no expectations, but I was wrong. I was talking with one of the volunteers and was reassured that I’m not the only one who struggled with being here at the beginning. I keep asking if 3 months is too long. I’ve been very emotional since I got here and making a decision based on emotions is not a good idea.

I know that God has me here for a purpose and right now it’s difficult to trust in that. John 13:7 says “Jesus answered him (Peter), ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’” This particular verse in context is about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and Peter was asking why the Lord was getting down doing this dirty job. I’m confused too why the Lord has me here. This brings to mind James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

I’m going through this trial so that I can be made complete in Christ. It has nothing to do with me…I’m a selfish individual and if I had it my way would never have come here. Or I would have made sure I had all the details straight before hand. It’s a foreign country, things are done differently here…I know that. So, why am I expecting this place to be run as if we were still in America?

“Go with the flow, be flexible” is my mantra right now. I still don’t know everything I’m supposed to be doing or what expectations they have of me working with the babies. With that said, here are 10 reasons to stay for 3 months:

Joan (pronounced JoAnn)

Sarah

Mercy

Jane Pretty

Rosie

Ann

John

David

Alex

Jay

I will be dedicating one blog post to each of these precious babies.

Thank you if you are praying for me. As you can see above, I desperately need it! Please don’t feel sorry for me…I just wanted you to get a glimpse of the struggles I am battling right now and hopefully will be able to show how God will work in and through me in the very near future regarding this trial!

“No unbelief made him (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of God (that Abraham and Sarah would have a son), but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, full convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:20-22

2nd leg

So, the second leg of my trip was just a whole lot of sitting. Unfortunately, every time I got up, I was reminded that I had major blisters on my feet. Right before I got on the plane I stopped at one of the shops in the airport and got some blister covers. Those were probably the best buy I've made so far on my trip!

I got a little more sleep on this plane ride compared to Chi-town to London. Again, they served a supper that was super late...since the plane took off at 9 pm and they probably didn't get the food service going until around 10 pm. I decided to watch a movie while waiting for the supper and while eating....watched GI Joe Retaliation - not the best movie to put yourself to sleep with.

Got in right on time to Entebbe International Airport. The question now was, how was I, as one person, going to get 4 pieces of luggage out the door with one of those not too big carts. So, I got the boxes on first and then one suitcase and pulled the other one behind me. Surprisingly it was simple to push and pull. Thankfully I didn't have to go too far where my ride was waiting for me.

The ride to Amani....I didn't really understand where the airport was in relation to Jinja. On a map it looks like you just go a little northeast and it shouldn't be that far. Silly me...you have to go north to Kampala and then east to Jinja. This car ride was a good 3 hours. I was so out of it, I hardly spoke. Finally ended up dozing a little bit after we got out of Kampala. Got to Amani a little before noon. They asked if I wanted to stay and eat lunch...yeah no thanks - I just wanted to sleep!

The volunteer apartments are under construction, so we are staying at a house not too far down the road. I got in, was told I could take a shower, laughed and went straight to bed. Took a fabulous nap and then finally took a shower! Oh happy day!!!!! Yeah, that was an amazing feeling!!!

And so it begins.....