Warming Up!

It's warming up around here in more than one way.  The weather is HOT...not just warm...HOT.  It's over 100 degrees most days, but praise God the rainy season is upon us and gorgeous thunder storms are cooling down the nights!  I can't help but think of South Carolina in the summer...minus the air conditioning of course.

But, in other news all of our new little ones are warming up to life here.  Their personalities are starting to shine.  They are constantly smiling and giggling...it's SO cute!

Check out Ozias (Zito)...this is him with his brother, Edson, the other day.  I told you his brothers LOVE him.  It's so adorable!

And here is Horacio!  He thinks I am absolutely hilarious now.  We spent over 30 minutes playing with a little towel, and he had me rolling in laughter!  Love him!

 And here are our little peanuts...so cute and cuddly!  Just thought they would make you smile!

Mãe de Fernanda!

Today I was working in the Baby House.  And something absolutely miraculous happened in the midst of all the other things (I'll update you in a moment).  Tracey (the missionary in charge of the Baby House) came up to me and said..."Guess who is outside??"  She looked super excited and then went on to tell me that Fernanda's mom was here to see her and her brother, Pai!  If you don't remember when Fernanda was brought to us, close to death from malnourishment, her mother was in the hospital and her grandmother was not able to care for them along with her children.
Fernanda's mom is now out of the hospital and just getting strength back enough to walk.  She braved public transportation and the crazy streets of this country to come see her children today.  It was Pai's birthday on Saturday and today Vella (his dorm mom) had decided to have his party.  So he got the best present possible...he got to cuddle in his mom's arms for this birthday!

I wasn't around when she came to see Fernanda, but I can't imagine she recognizes anything but her eyes.  She has experienced a miracle and is completely transformed.  She is a happy, healthy, rambunctious little girl now!  And today she got to share her gorgeous smile and loving hugs with her mom!

My prayer is that their mom will continue to improve and one day very soon the family can be reunited again!

As for other news...8 (maybe 9) of the babies now have chicken poxes.  Tomorrow is going to be a very itchy, fever filled day.  Be praying for them and us as we walk through this time together!  Pray there are no complications or secondary infections, fevers are controlled easily, and there are plenty of arms to cuddle them and comfort them!

Our New Peanut and her Adorable Big Brother

Meet the newest members of our Bercario (Nursery).  The little peanut is Silvia, and she is one month old. She weighed in at 2.94kg (about 6 1/2 pounds).  Other than a slight fever that made all of the nurses a bit nervous yesterday she is very healthy and happily gulping down all her feeds.  The gorgeous 2 year old is Silvia's older brother, Horacio.  He is only in the Bercario for now because of our chicken pox fiasco in the Baby House.  And, I'm sure in a few days he'll be ready to be running around and will be driving the tias crazy, but for now he is darling.  He loves is little sister SO much.  It is nothing short of adorable.  Whenever she cries he brings her passy back to her and if he can't get her to calm down the tias said he just sits by her pouting.

Horacio is 26 months old and only weighs 8.8kg (about 19 1/2 pounds).  His hair is slightly discolored, and he has certainly been lacking some major nutrients.  We're very hopeful that after a few weeks of 3 meals a day, some extra calories through milk, and multivitamins he'll be looking much better!

These two precious children are living with us because their mom is  unwell.  Their father brought them in because he can't work, care for them, and for his wife.  I do pray that one day when they are older, healthy, and strong they'll be able to move back in with their family.

I do ask that you join in our prayers for their adjustment to center life, that they would bond and form relationships with other children, tias, and missionaries.  Pray that Silvia's fever was nothing serious and will be treated by the antibiotics she is now on.  Pray that Silvia and Horacio grow up knowing the love of their heavenly Father.  And pray that their bond as brother and sister remains strong even after Horacio moves to the Baby House.

Proclaiming a Miracle!

So today I'm proclaiming a miracle!  I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought about was...I should look at my passport to see when the next time I have to be out of the country is.
***Side note- for all of you wondering.  With the visa I have I have to be out of the country every 30 days.  So this means some times I just drive about 2 hours to the nearest border, stamp out and then back into Mozambique.  Other times I actually go out for a rest.***
Well, in my head I had remembered I would need to go out of the country again very close to the time I'm leaving to come home (Thanksgiving week).  This morning however I discovered...this would have been true only after I went out of the country on October 20th.  OOOOOOOPPPPPPSSSSSSS!  I big, could cost up to $100 a day oops.  So, today is November 3rd; day 13 of me being in the country illegally.  That's a fine of $1300 if you can't do the math.
My heart was racing, mouth getting dry.  If you don't know me well, I don't do this type of thing.  I'm a planner.  I'm obsessive about dates, times, meetings, getting things done the right way.  I'm a rule follower...don't color outside the lines kind of girl.  So I was stressed.  I headed next door to ask another missionary who had gone out of the country with me last time to check her passport, just to make sure I wasn't reading wrong.  No such luck.  We had gone to Swaziland on September 20th...therefore I should have been out of the country October 20th.
Next came the mad dash to figure out how I was going to get to the border.  About 25 phone calls later and an hour or so, Tracey (who is amazing!) had volunteered to drive me, the hospitality truck was free, and Sam (Praise God for her!) was going to go through the border with me in case something happened!  Next I got the best and worst case scenario pep talk from Steve (one of our base directors).  Here's what he said...best case- you'll walk right through, they won't even notice, and you'll be back asap...worst case- they'll hold you at the border, make you pay a HUGE fine and you can try to argue your way out of it if you want.  But, they cannot arrest you and they cannot confiscate your passport.
With this we headed off.  I was nervous to say the least, but also knew that in Mozambique nothing is a sure thing expect that everything is unpredictable...and today I knew that might work to my advantage!  So we make it safe and sound to the border.  With a prayer and smile Tracey lets Sam and I out of the car.  We walk straight up the counter...I was hopeful for a line so the border officer would want us all out and not really be paying attention...no such luck.  I put my passport on the counter and looked a Sam quite worried.  She says a little prayer...that included something about the woman's great hair and cute earrings...mainly to make me laugh I think...and next thing we knew we were stamped through and walking out of the building!!!!
What an experience of favor from the Lord.  Tonight I am so full of thanksgiving.  I can't help but remember the many times in my life my mom has said...God always protects those who are forgetful (or something like that).  Usually it was in reference to me leaving my purse somewhere in a store or restaurant, and it still being there when we got back after I'd remembered it.  I never liked hearing it then, but now I'm SO grateful for His protection!
Also, some days I still wonder why I'm here.  Usually this is when things are tough, I'm frustrated, or just can't see the difference my presence here is making.  Today I am reminded that God wants me right where I am.  I received a HUGE smile of favor today and for that I am full of thanksgiving and renewed in my want to serve!