Monday, June 28, 2010
Little One...
So my little friend is off to the hospital this morning. Sheri took him in for blood work and his hemoglobin was so low he needs a transfusion. I've been thinking this since he arrived but was just waiting for the moment we actually got the results to confirm my suspicion. There is also the possibility he has an overwhelming blood infection that is keeping him anemic and malnourished. Just keep him in your prayers please. I have not gotten word yet of what the ER docs had to say but there is always the possibility that they will admit him and just leave him on the malnutrition ward without trying to resolve his problems. Fighting through the hospital system here is tough. It is one of the many things here in Moz that makes me feel hopeless and consistently makes me turn to the Lord with more questions than I can put into words. So I'm here at the center watching after our other children, praying for this Little One and Sheri who is at the hospital with him for now. May God be his strength, armor, healer, provider, and so much more!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Little One Update
Weight today...5.51kg not surprising at all. As he loses his edema he'll lose a bit before he gains (fingers crossed...prayers being sent up!!!!!).
He has become a bit more active especially tonight! When I went to give him his medication he had pulled off his dressing from the wound on his head. Ok, maybe that's not good active but it's active nonetheless. He also wimpered for me to pick him up tonight! BONDING I tell you...that's definitely a step in the right direction! What else can I tell you...oh, my brilliant hot water bottle heater is doing wonders! As long as I keep the water warm, his temp is staying in the normal range.
Other than that I'd love your prayers tomorrow as Sheri (our other nurse) takes him in for testing. We'll hopefully get to see just how anemic he is and if he has some overwhelming infection that is masked by everything else going on with him. Also, I'd love prayers for Sheri and I as we continue to closely work together to do our best to care for all of the children at the center but specifically this Little One!
Thanks in advance and as usual I'll do my best to keep you updated.
Oh and I have not forgotten that I haven't filled you in on anything that has happened since June 1st/Children's Day...all will come in time (after painting in complete and I have recovered from working 6 days in a row)!
He has become a bit more active especially tonight! When I went to give him his medication he had pulled off his dressing from the wound on his head. Ok, maybe that's not good active but it's active nonetheless. He also wimpered for me to pick him up tonight! BONDING I tell you...that's definitely a step in the right direction! What else can I tell you...oh, my brilliant hot water bottle heater is doing wonders! As long as I keep the water warm, his temp is staying in the normal range.
Other than that I'd love your prayers tomorrow as Sheri (our other nurse) takes him in for testing. We'll hopefully get to see just how anemic he is and if he has some overwhelming infection that is masked by everything else going on with him. Also, I'd love prayers for Sheri and I as we continue to closely work together to do our best to care for all of the children at the center but specifically this Little One!
Thanks in advance and as usual I'll do my best to keep you updated.
Oh and I have not forgotten that I haven't filled you in on anything that has happened since June 1st/Children's Day...all will come in time (after painting in complete and I have recovered from working 6 days in a row)!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Little One
Ok...just a quick update. We have made it through day 2. Our friend weighed in at 5.79kg today (that's 12.7 lbs). I'm good with that. He is still doing well with his watered down/electrolyte rich milk for now. He only vomited a little bit (apparently he shot it to the middle of the room...I wasn't around thank goodness). The main issued we had today was him regulating his body temp. I walked in this morning and read Aurora's (our Moz nurse) notes and his temp was 33.8 C (that's 92.8)...just a bit chilly. This was with LOTS of clothes on and covered in blankets. So he now is hanging out with a hot water bottle!
Again I cleaned out his wounds today...I'm a bit nervous to see if and how the one on his head is going to heal, but I'm just trusting God has a plan for this Little One, his wounds included!
I did bring Fernanda into the Bercario today after I weighed her. She weighed in at 12.56kg (27.5 lbs) and seriously is FAT and adorable! The tias almost didn't recognize her and I quickly reminded them that not too long ago she looked just like our new Little One. I pray seeing her and remembering what she looked like, how hard they worked, how many times she vomited, and the miracle God did was encouraging. Just keep praying for us all please!
Again I cleaned out his wounds today...I'm a bit nervous to see if and how the one on his head is going to heal, but I'm just trusting God has a plan for this Little One, his wounds included!
I did bring Fernanda into the Bercario today after I weighed her. She weighed in at 12.56kg (27.5 lbs) and seriously is FAT and adorable! The tias almost didn't recognize her and I quickly reminded them that not too long ago she looked just like our new Little One. I pray seeing her and remembering what she looked like, how hard they worked, how many times she vomited, and the miracle God did was encouraging. Just keep praying for us all please!
Friday, June 25, 2010
A Precious Life!
Meet our newest addition to the Bercario. He puts us at 7 amazing little ones! 
He is 1 year and 4 months old. He came to us yesterday weighing only 5.71kg (about 12.5 pounds). He is severely malnourished, unable to sit or roll over on his own, has large sores on his head and bottom, and is severely anemic. I thanked God many times for the urge He sent my way the day Fernanda was admitted. I just felt I was suppose to hang with Erin and learn as much as possible about the initial care of a severely malnourished child. Yesterday it all came flooding back to me as I made decisions about diet, medications, assessed, dressed, and arranged all his things. All went smoothly considering I was pulled from painting my ceiling, covered in paint, to assess and decide if this was a Baby House or Bercario baby...turns out I spent the next several hours assessing and deciding how we should proceed with his care.
It was quite the adventure. These are the moments when I realize God's provision is so real. It's when I look back over a day like yesterday, and I realize exactly why God has me here for such a time as this. Yesterday it was to dress wounds, choose antibiotics, start malaria treatment, figure out formula, rehydrate him, cuddle him, and start the process of someone coming along side of him to fight for life with him. Those are the days that make it all worth while!
Here's a progression from when he first arrived until when I had him all dressed and ready for his first meal of rehydration fluid.
We have made it through day one. He weighed in at 5.86kg today. It might be retained fluid but I'll take it. He only vomited and had diarrhea once and even played with a rattle for a bit! He is certainly no where close to out of the woods but I'll count day one a success. Please keep our missionary staff, nurses, tias, and him in your prayers. Having a baby like this with a team that is already short-staffed it stretching...but I believe God's grace is enough in all things.
He is 1 year and 4 months old. He came to us yesterday weighing only 5.71kg (about 12.5 pounds). He is severely malnourished, unable to sit or roll over on his own, has large sores on his head and bottom, and is severely anemic. I thanked God many times for the urge He sent my way the day Fernanda was admitted. I just felt I was suppose to hang with Erin and learn as much as possible about the initial care of a severely malnourished child. Yesterday it all came flooding back to me as I made decisions about diet, medications, assessed, dressed, and arranged all his things. All went smoothly considering I was pulled from painting my ceiling, covered in paint, to assess and decide if this was a Baby House or Bercario baby...turns out I spent the next several hours assessing and deciding how we should proceed with his care.It was quite the adventure. These are the moments when I realize God's provision is so real. It's when I look back over a day like yesterday, and I realize exactly why God has me here for such a time as this. Yesterday it was to dress wounds, choose antibiotics, start malaria treatment, figure out formula, rehydrate him, cuddle him, and start the process of someone coming along side of him to fight for life with him. Those are the days that make it all worth while!
Here's a progression from when he first arrived until when I had him all dressed and ready for his first meal of rehydration fluid.
We have made it through day one. He weighed in at 5.86kg today. It might be retained fluid but I'll take it. He only vomited and had diarrhea once and even played with a rattle for a bit! He is certainly no where close to out of the woods but I'll count day one a success. Please keep our missionary staff, nurses, tias, and him in your prayers. Having a baby like this with a team that is already short-staffed it stretching...but I believe God's grace is enough in all things.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Children's Day
AKA...Christmas in July! Here in Mozambique Children's Day is a HUGE deal. Seriously it is Christmas on the first of June for all kids. There are presents, a big lunch, new clothes, games to be played, songs to be sung...by any other name...Christmas!
Here's just a glimpse into the day...(through pictures of course!)
Here's just a glimpse into the day...(through pictures of course!)
The Baby House in all their new clothes!
New toys in the Bercario!
It was Cleita's 1st birthday as well...2 reasons to celebrate!
New toys in the Bercario!
It was Cleita's 1st birthday as well...2 reasons to celebrate!
So much fun...who knew you needed hats and scarfs in Moz?!
The boys got helicopters that actually spin!
Next came lunch with 100 kids from the Bocaria (city garbage dump) and handing out presents to them as well!
Then dinner for the whole center with singing, dancing, chicken, french fries, and soda!!
The boys got helicopters that actually spin!
Next came lunch with 100 kids from the Bocaria (city garbage dump) and handing out presents to them as well!
Then dinner for the whole center with singing, dancing, chicken, french fries, and soda!!
It was certainly a fun day. I was kept busy with medical things (felt just like Christmas day) but certainly had fun with all the little ones along with Mom and even got away to pick Wilder up from the airport. The kids had an amazing time and so did everyone else involved. It's amazing the blessings these kids have and the love poured out on them by so many (including you through your support and prayers)! Happy Children's Day (just a bit late)!
Chapas!
So...while Wilder was here I got to experience some "visitor" activities. Usually before you are accepted as long-term staff here at the center you have to have come as a visitor. Well, I was an exception to this rule because I'm a nurse. So I had not gotten to go on ministry outings and other things we offer our visitors each week (we have over 1000 visitors that come to Zimpeto every year)!
Well, Wilder and I decided to go on "hospital ministry". Actually I signed him up because I wanted him to see what the best teaching hospital in this country looks like. Hospital Central could give anyone a perspective of life in this country. So we signed up and met Domingos (the Mozambican pastor that takes visitors to the hospital twice a week to pray over people and give out fruit to the patients).
The actual hospital part was not that different from my every day experiences here. We prayed over extremely malnourished babies, hugged parents who were fearful, led a lady to know Jesus as her Lord who had never heard of him before!!! But for me it was no shock to the system. Now the ride back from the hospital...that was a different story altogether!!! Just take a look at this picture...
The van on the right is called a chapa. This is the only form of public transportation here in Moz. There are 100's of vans like this and some larger buses (school bus size) that run certain routes around the city all day long. On the front and back windshield it tells you where they are coming from and where they are going. There is a driver and a door man (he collects the money). It costs 7.5 mets to go anywhere...that is about 20 cents. But, because there is a capped cost no matter how far your route is people want to be on the chapa that goes the farthest and the driver/door man want as many people on as humanly possible so they make more money.
So we exit the hospital at RUSH HOUR in the city. I look at Domingos and he just laughs and says...here it goes! So we waited on the side of the road at the main chapa stop in the city. Domingos is only allowed to get on a chapa that goes all the way to Zimpeto (to the center) with visitors because changing chapas halfway through would be too crazy and dangerous because it was getting dark. So we finally find one that is still allowing people to get on (several of the others really were too full...although I'm not sure Mozambicans ever believe chapas get too full). I walked up first to the door of the bus...there were people EVERYWHERE, I was pretty sure I could get on but the other 4 visitors and Domingos...NO WAY! Well, that was my inexperience talking...we all SHOVED on and spent the next 30-45 minutes being shoved, pushed, crammed, smashed and everything else you can think of as we rode back to the center. Each time the chapa stopped more people got on...the door man was hanging out the door holding onto the poles that are suppose to help you get up into the bus. Seriously there were people in the seats with people on top of them and people standing in front of them, not to mention the people that were packing the aisle and the others who were hanging out the windows. It was out of control but such an African experience!
We finally made it home safe and sound. I was just thankful its "winter" not 125 degrees at the moment!
And for all those wondering, we are not allowed to ride chapas as missionaries unless we are with a pastor or on a certain outreach activity...hence this being my first experience in over 10 months. No need to worry!
Well, Wilder and I decided to go on "hospital ministry". Actually I signed him up because I wanted him to see what the best teaching hospital in this country looks like. Hospital Central could give anyone a perspective of life in this country. So we signed up and met Domingos (the Mozambican pastor that takes visitors to the hospital twice a week to pray over people and give out fruit to the patients).
The actual hospital part was not that different from my every day experiences here. We prayed over extremely malnourished babies, hugged parents who were fearful, led a lady to know Jesus as her Lord who had never heard of him before!!! But for me it was no shock to the system. Now the ride back from the hospital...that was a different story altogether!!! Just take a look at this picture...
The van on the right is called a chapa. This is the only form of public transportation here in Moz. There are 100's of vans like this and some larger buses (school bus size) that run certain routes around the city all day long. On the front and back windshield it tells you where they are coming from and where they are going. There is a driver and a door man (he collects the money). It costs 7.5 mets to go anywhere...that is about 20 cents. But, because there is a capped cost no matter how far your route is people want to be on the chapa that goes the farthest and the driver/door man want as many people on as humanly possible so they make more money.So we exit the hospital at RUSH HOUR in the city. I look at Domingos and he just laughs and says...here it goes! So we waited on the side of the road at the main chapa stop in the city. Domingos is only allowed to get on a chapa that goes all the way to Zimpeto (to the center) with visitors because changing chapas halfway through would be too crazy and dangerous because it was getting dark. So we finally find one that is still allowing people to get on (several of the others really were too full...although I'm not sure Mozambicans ever believe chapas get too full). I walked up first to the door of the bus...there were people EVERYWHERE, I was pretty sure I could get on but the other 4 visitors and Domingos...NO WAY! Well, that was my inexperience talking...we all SHOVED on and spent the next 30-45 minutes being shoved, pushed, crammed, smashed and everything else you can think of as we rode back to the center. Each time the chapa stopped more people got on...the door man was hanging out the door holding onto the poles that are suppose to help you get up into the bus. Seriously there were people in the seats with people on top of them and people standing in front of them, not to mention the people that were packing the aisle and the others who were hanging out the windows. It was out of control but such an African experience!
We finally made it home safe and sound. I was just thankful its "winter" not 125 degrees at the moment!
And for all those wondering, we are not allowed to ride chapas as missionaries unless we are with a pastor or on a certain outreach activity...hence this being my first experience in over 10 months. No need to worry!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Estado onde?
"Where have you been?" (in toddler Portuguese) is one of the first things I heard when I walked into the Baby House this morning. You have probably been wondering the same thing. Little Luis came up to me during breakfast and wanted to know just why I haven't been around. He clung to my leg as he asked if I was going to stay with them today and play. Very cute!
So what has been keeping me away from the Baby House (for the last almost 7 days)...a few things but we'll focus here on the major perpetrator...PAINTING! I decided awhile ago that I would tackle painting the ceiling of my new room (Erin's old room) while Wilder was here and could help me. The task has turned into much more than I could have EVER imagined...as most things do here in Moz. Bright WHITE paint was bought to cover up the mold/dirty/grime/nastiness that was my ceiling...just take a look...
So we first took to scrubbing and then painting. It has been a VERY long process that would be no where near finished if Wilder hadn't spent countless hours working (not to mention the amazing help Emily has pitched in as well!!!!). Thanks so very much! We first tried scrubbing with bleach water and brushes...sponges were determined to be the better option quickly. So if you ever need to scrub a corrugated ceiling that is growing mold use sponges...I know, I know...a useful life lesson!
But, just take a look at that amazing WHITE ceiling!!!
Next came my brilliant idea to paint the walls as well! I headed off with Wendy (another missionary) to buy paint leaving Wilder scrubbing the ceiling in the biggest of 3 rooms...yes, he is amazing! While in the paint store Wendy and I noticed a man working IN the ceiling. We commented on how we hoped he was careful and didn't fall out. Not 10 minutes later as we waited to pay for our paint there was a crash. Not just a small someone knocked something over crash...this was a crash that ended in 3/4 of the ceiling being on the floor and a man hanging from a beam with wires dangling around him. The absolutely Mozambican part about it all was that no one screamed, no one seemed startled...instead after waiting what seemed like forever someone finally walked over and gave the man hanging from rafters a ladder to get down. INSANITY I tell you...I live in insanity!
After that we headed to one other store to pick up some other paint...can you guess what happened next. There were 2 guys, wiring, and a ladder involved! Yep...you guessed it...they were working in the ceiling. Wendy and I spent the next 20 minutes laughing at this country while we picked out the best shade of VERY light blue for my walls! I absolutely love it! I walked into the room tonight just to admire it and dream of what it will look like when it is actually complete and I live there. I know you can't really see the shade of blue...I'll work on that in a final picture but you can tell just how different it is...and just imagine when that ceiling is white. I cannot wait!!!
For now I still have painting to do. Because this same day when ceilings were caving in and people were working in ceilings...Wilder took a little spill as well. I got home to, do you want the good or bad news first. I sad bad as all smart people do...the good second always makes the bad not so upsetting.
***a little back story...that morning I had spent about an hour painting on a makeshift ladder. It was a stack of plastic chairs on top of a wooden table. It was sturdy...not good quality ladder sturdy but better than the rickety old about to fall apart ladder we have here.***
Ok...so the bad news was the Wilder had fallen off my makeshift ladder. Apparently I forgot to tell him the edge of the table was sloped...oops. The good news was he wasn't too hurt (at least only bruises and stiffness) and the paint thinner we had cleans the floor really well. The other part of the bad news was that we didn't have enough paint left to actually complete the ceiling (because of course during the fall there was a bit of spillage). At this point we just switched to the walls and they are completed other than a bit of high edging...now if I can just get the energy up to scrub the rest of the ceiling and paint it I'll be ready to move in!
And for the record if you EVER choose bright turquoise and dark tan as wall colors think twice (you know I love you Erin!) because they take 3 coats to cover. :(
Tomorrow it's back to painting (as well as working in the Baby House for 7 of the next 8 days...back to the normal busyness of my life)...wish me luck!
So what has been keeping me away from the Baby House (for the last almost 7 days)...a few things but we'll focus here on the major perpetrator...PAINTING! I decided awhile ago that I would tackle painting the ceiling of my new room (Erin's old room) while Wilder was here and could help me. The task has turned into much more than I could have EVER imagined...as most things do here in Moz. Bright WHITE paint was bought to cover up the mold/dirty/grime/nastiness that was my ceiling...just take a look...
So we first took to scrubbing and then painting. It has been a VERY long process that would be no where near finished if Wilder hadn't spent countless hours working (not to mention the amazing help Emily has pitched in as well!!!!). Thanks so very much! We first tried scrubbing with bleach water and brushes...sponges were determined to be the better option quickly. So if you ever need to scrub a corrugated ceiling that is growing mold use sponges...I know, I know...a useful life lesson!But, just take a look at that amazing WHITE ceiling!!!
Next came my brilliant idea to paint the walls as well! I headed off with Wendy (another missionary) to buy paint leaving Wilder scrubbing the ceiling in the biggest of 3 rooms...yes, he is amazing! While in the paint store Wendy and I noticed a man working IN the ceiling. We commented on how we hoped he was careful and didn't fall out. Not 10 minutes later as we waited to pay for our paint there was a crash. Not just a small someone knocked something over crash...this was a crash that ended in 3/4 of the ceiling being on the floor and a man hanging from a beam with wires dangling around him. The absolutely Mozambican part about it all was that no one screamed, no one seemed startled...instead after waiting what seemed like forever someone finally walked over and gave the man hanging from rafters a ladder to get down. INSANITY I tell you...I live in insanity!After that we headed to one other store to pick up some other paint...can you guess what happened next. There were 2 guys, wiring, and a ladder involved! Yep...you guessed it...they were working in the ceiling. Wendy and I spent the next 20 minutes laughing at this country while we picked out the best shade of VERY light blue for my walls! I absolutely love it! I walked into the room tonight just to admire it and dream of what it will look like when it is actually complete and I live there. I know you can't really see the shade of blue...I'll work on that in a final picture but you can tell just how different it is...and just imagine when that ceiling is white. I cannot wait!!!
For now I still have painting to do. Because this same day when ceilings were caving in and people were working in ceilings...Wilder took a little spill as well. I got home to, do you want the good or bad news first. I sad bad as all smart people do...the good second always makes the bad not so upsetting.***a little back story...that morning I had spent about an hour painting on a makeshift ladder. It was a stack of plastic chairs on top of a wooden table. It was sturdy...not good quality ladder sturdy but better than the rickety old about to fall apart ladder we have here.***
Ok...so the bad news was the Wilder had fallen off my makeshift ladder. Apparently I forgot to tell him the edge of the table was sloped...oops. The good news was he wasn't too hurt (at least only bruises and stiffness) and the paint thinner we had cleans the floor really well. The other part of the bad news was that we didn't have enough paint left to actually complete the ceiling (because of course during the fall there was a bit of spillage). At this point we just switched to the walls and they are completed other than a bit of high edging...now if I can just get the energy up to scrub the rest of the ceiling and paint it I'll be ready to move in!
And for the record if you EVER choose bright turquoise and dark tan as wall colors think twice (you know I love you Erin!) because they take 3 coats to cover. :(
Tomorrow it's back to painting (as well as working in the Baby House for 7 of the next 8 days...back to the normal busyness of my life)...wish me luck!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Bemvindo (or Welcome in Protuguese)!
In my lapse of blogging we have said welcome to 3 new little ones. First, Felizardo! Felizardo has joined us in Tracey’s dorm. This is a transition dorm that helps our Baby House children move into a larger dorm easier. She keeps about 8-9 kids for a year before we transition them fully into center life. Felizardo came from another center in the city along with 4 other boys. He seemed smaller and more fragile than the others so instead of going directly into Laura’s dorm (6-9 year olds) he is going to stay with Tracey for a year. We were told he is 6 although I would guess closer to 4 or 5. He came in with a chest infection and possibly has asthma. Please be praying with us for Felizardo's continued adjustment to our center and that one day we will be able to find his family.
Second and Third...we have new twins! Their names are Maria and Amelia and they are only 2 months old. Oh my goodness...I could eat them up they are so cute. I was just saying to Erin I would LOVE new baby babies...and here they are! (Maria is on the left and Amelia on the right.)
They are completely healthy so far, drinking all of their milk, growing by the day, and adjusting to the Bercario (Nursery) just fine! The tias seem to love having babies around again and especially healthy ones. They are with us because their mother passed away during childbirth and their father could not care for them as well as the 4 other children in the household. Soon their 3 year old sister may be coming to live with us in the Baby House as well. Please join us in prayer that they would continue to adjust to life in the Bercario and would grow up healthy and strong to know Jesus as their Lord!
Second and Third...we have new twins! Their names are Maria and Amelia and they are only 2 months old. Oh my goodness...I could eat them up they are so cute. I was just saying to Erin I would LOVE new baby babies...and here they are! (Maria is on the left and Amelia on the right.)
They are completely healthy so far, drinking all of their milk, growing by the day, and adjusting to the Bercario (Nursery) just fine! The tias seem to love having babies around again and especially healthy ones. They are with us because their mother passed away during childbirth and their father could not care for them as well as the 4 other children in the household. Soon their 3 year old sister may be coming to live with us in the Baby House as well. Please join us in prayer that they would continue to adjust to life in the Bercario and would grow up healthy and strong to know Jesus as their Lord!
A Visit from MOM!
MOM CAME TO VISIT ME! She got to experience so much in the short time she was with me. I think just telling you about the day she got her will help you understand what her visit was like. I went with another missionary to pick her up from the airport. I didn't want to overwhelm her with the reality of Africa before we even got her back...but that plan all changed. We ended up stopping on the side of the road to pick up some phone credit (we buy phone minutes from men who sell little cards with numbers that you type into your phone on the side of the road) and then we drove up to our local market to buy a fresh pineapple for dinner. So the first time mom set foot on African soil away from the airport was at a bustling market...so much for not overwhelming her. The I had a wonderful plan of showing her around the center her first afternoon...which turned into her following me around as I tracked down patients, assessed kids, gave out medications and the like.
Pretty much her visit continued like this. She was thrown directly into what my life is like. It is BUSY. It is FULL of needy kids. It is never the same one day to another. But I think she loved it and I loved having her here.
We did spend a few days in South Africa getting me a new visa and going on SAFARI! We stayed at an amazing bed and breakfast in Nelspruit for a few nights...it was absolutely gorgeous and we saw giraffes just walking in the reserve across the street!
And, we even went on a walking safari. That is right we walked in a group of 10 with 2 safari guides with guns. Seriously we were in a field with 2 rhinos and were told to hide behind a bush so they didn't charge us!!!! Absolutely amazing. 
We also saw lions and tigers and bears...oh wait...not really...but we did see lions (a whole family, babies and all!!!), hyenas (with babies!), tons of elephants (with babies!!!), many many monkeys (with babies!)...are you seeing the theme? The park was FULL of babies this time. It was absolutely amazing!
Mom can tell you quite the story about the HUGE giraffe that surprised her behind our car at one point!
Other than that we saw everything we could have seen except water buffalo...so mom is 4 out of the Big 5. Maybe that means she will just have to come back to Africa?!
Ok...enough on the animals of Africa...now on to the kids my mom loved so much and I call my own!!! I think Antonio and Chelsia were her favorites. They both seemed to really warm up to her and LOVE to be held by her. Mom taught Antonio how to stack blocks (her pieces of a train...but whatever this is Africa). And she loved Chelsia through her cold/flu that knocked her out for most of the time mom was here.
Mom also got to experience Children's Day here in Moz. Children's Day is almost as big as Christmas for our children. I will blog about this day later. But, here is one more photo of mom and I together getting ready to serve the plates of food for all the kids!
Altogether it was a great visit. Mom helped a lot in the sewing room teaching the girls how to applique, smock, and shadow applique. She got to experience my day to day life, Children's Day, and South Africa. It was a jam packed few days, but I loved it!
Pretty much her visit continued like this. She was thrown directly into what my life is like. It is BUSY. It is FULL of needy kids. It is never the same one day to another. But I think she loved it and I loved having her here.
We did spend a few days in South Africa getting me a new visa and going on SAFARI! We stayed at an amazing bed and breakfast in Nelspruit for a few nights...it was absolutely gorgeous and we saw giraffes just walking in the reserve across the street!
And, we even went on a walking safari. That is right we walked in a group of 10 with 2 safari guides with guns. Seriously we were in a field with 2 rhinos and were told to hide behind a bush so they didn't charge us!!!! Absolutely amazing. 
We also saw lions and tigers and bears...oh wait...not really...but we did see lions (a whole family, babies and all!!!), hyenas (with babies!), tons of elephants (with babies!!!), many many monkeys (with babies!)...are you seeing the theme? The park was FULL of babies this time. It was absolutely amazing!
Mom can tell you quite the story about the HUGE giraffe that surprised her behind our car at one point!
Other than that we saw everything we could have seen except water buffalo...so mom is 4 out of the Big 5. Maybe that means she will just have to come back to Africa?!Ok...enough on the animals of Africa...now on to the kids my mom loved so much and I call my own!!! I think Antonio and Chelsia were her favorites. They both seemed to really warm up to her and LOVE to be held by her. Mom taught Antonio how to stack blocks (her pieces of a train...but whatever this is Africa). And she loved Chelsia through her cold/flu that knocked her out for most of the time mom was here.
Mom also got to experience Children's Day here in Moz. Children's Day is almost as big as Christmas for our children. I will blog about this day later. But, here is one more photo of mom and I together getting ready to serve the plates of food for all the kids!
Altogether it was a great visit. Mom helped a lot in the sewing room teaching the girls how to applique, smock, and shadow applique. She got to experience my day to day life, Children's Day, and South Africa. It was a jam packed few days, but I loved it!
Goodbye Mana Erin
So May 29th we said a sad goodbye to Erin. She has been here working as a nurse in the Baby House/Bercario (Nursery) for 2 years. She was a huge part of my life here in Moz. She was my nursing preceptor (something every nurse has in their first job out of school), my friend, and my family. She has kept me sane and talked through the pain with me. We have laughed more times than I could count. But, she is headed home for a time of restoration and study. Her heart is to be back in Mozambique in a different area in January 2011. For now I’m missing her here!
We had a fun dinner at a restaurant in the city for her...and just look at the amazing present Tracey put together for her from the Baby House!
It is all the babies little finger prints made into the shape of a rainbow or Arco Iris (Portuguese for rainbow and what they all Iris Ministries in Portuguese). Adorable if I do say so myself!
We also had TONS of baby play time in her last few days here. It was fantastic to just slow down and spend some time with our favorite tots together.
All that being said...I miss her. The first night she wasn't here I picked up my phone to text her and tell her when dinner was. I have walked by her room (soon to be mine) many times and went to peak in the door only to remember it is closed because no one is home. Sadness...
***One thing to look forward to though...Erin had started an Adopt-a-Tot in Prayer program and has passed the reigns onto me. So just as soon as I get some spare time I will sit down, update everything, figure out what tots still need a prayer partner, and send out the information to everyone. This way I can spend you specific updates on your Tot and you can be praying for them! I'm super excited about this despite the fact that Erin is not here to share it with me.
Please join me in praying for Erin's restoration and relaxation as well as all the details she is trying to work out for going back to school. Her plan is to live in Nashville, take graduate level classes online, and work part time in a NICU in Nashville...God is working out the details for her as I write this!
We had a fun dinner at a restaurant in the city for her...and just look at the amazing present Tracey put together for her from the Baby House!
It is all the babies little finger prints made into the shape of a rainbow or Arco Iris (Portuguese for rainbow and what they all Iris Ministries in Portuguese). Adorable if I do say so myself!We also had TONS of baby play time in her last few days here. It was fantastic to just slow down and spend some time with our favorite tots together.
All that being said...I miss her. The first night she wasn't here I picked up my phone to text her and tell her when dinner was. I have walked by her room (soon to be mine) many times and went to peak in the door only to remember it is closed because no one is home. Sadness...***One thing to look forward to though...Erin had started an Adopt-a-Tot in Prayer program and has passed the reigns onto me. So just as soon as I get some spare time I will sit down, update everything, figure out what tots still need a prayer partner, and send out the information to everyone. This way I can spend you specific updates on your Tot and you can be praying for them! I'm super excited about this despite the fact that Erin is not here to share it with me.
Please join me in praying for Erin's restoration and relaxation as well as all the details she is trying to work out for going back to school. Her plan is to live in Nashville, take graduate level classes online, and work part time in a NICU in Nashville...God is working out the details for her as I write this!
I scream, You scream, We all scream for ICE CREAM!
37 babies, about 15 adults, one bus and a minivan...that's what it took to get the entire Baby House out for the morning. This was part of Erin's final wishes...or her idea to bless the tias and kids she has been serving for 2 years...whatever you want to call it. So we all piled in and took the babies for ice cream and a little play time at a park in the city. Here's what we looked like in the bus on the way...so funny!
I have to say for 37 kids that live their life in a center and don't see the "outside world" too often they were extremely well behaved! The sat nicely on their mats waiting for ice cream. But this is when the funniness happened! Most of these kids have never eaten ice cream before. They eat plenty of candy and yogurt but never anything like ice cream. Too funny...just watch the different reactions of something COLD and sweet in your mouth...
I have to say for 37 kids that live their life in a center and don't see the "outside world" too often they were extremely well behaved! The sat nicely on their mats waiting for ice cream. But this is when the funniness happened! Most of these kids have never eaten ice cream before. They eat plenty of candy and yogurt but never anything like ice cream. Too funny...just watch the different reactions of something COLD and sweet in your mouth...Admira thought it was pretty tasty!
Enoque was VERY excited!
Enoque was VERY excited!
Lucia wasn't too sure and tears came soon.
Nemias was a bit timid but decided it was ok!
Dionisio after some explanation thought drinking his was a good option!
Nemias was a bit timid but decided it was ok!
Dionisio after some explanation thought drinking his was a good option!
In the end after all the ice cream had been consumed, it was time for group photos and then play time on the jungle gym! Altogether it was a fun day minus the end result that Erin leaving us soon. :(
Here is Erin with all of our Baby House tias...
A Visit from Chris!
So some of you might be thinking that my brother came to see me...well I'd love that but I also loved Chris (a former missionary who I was very close to) coming back to see us and the kids and pick up the rest of her belongings. She was with us for a week, and it was fantastic. We spent late nights laughing, ate meals together, went on a few excursions into the city, and played with tons of kids as usual. The best part was, it felt like she never left. She so easily fit back into our lives here. All of that to say I loved having her here and was sad to see her leave...again!
She is now living in London (VACATION SPOT!) and studying to become a nurse. She was inspired by what she saw here in Moz and lead by God to apply for nursing school. I cannot wait to see where she ends up after school. God has some amazing plans for her!
(Erin, Jannie, Me, and Chris...and that's the Indian Ocean people!)
(Erin, Jannie, Me, and Chris...and that's the Indian Ocean people!)Thursday, June 3, 2010
Apologises...
Ok, so who thinks nothing happened this past month?? NO ONE, I HOPE! That is certainly not what no posting means. Quite the opposite really! Instead it means I'm exhausted! So much has happened...new kids, many clinic headaches, chicken pox, mumps, visitors, goodbyes, and even Children's Day! It has been a jam packed month for sure. Like I said, I'm exhausted! All that being said...I have a bunch to catch you up on. I will do my best to start that process tomorrow...baring medical emergencies/situations and after I send out my monthly update to all your supporters out there!
...so I miss you (whoever you are) and promise to catch you up and fill you in VERY soon!
...so I miss you (whoever you are) and promise to catch you up and fill you in VERY soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
