Chris' Trip to Sierra Leone, Africa

Emotional Day

Wow!  It's been a long time since I've posted.  I guess I thought my story was over....but it continues.  As a team prepared for travel in September, I felt God calling me to travel again, or so I thought.  Through many discussions with Chris, we decided that it was his turn to take the leap of faith.  He seemed so sure that Sierra Leone was not the place God was calling him to, but something changed in just a matter of weeks.  His heart was opened.  Over the past few months, we have anxiously awaited his turn to travel, and it is here.

Chris left for Sierra Leone, Africa today.  Leading up to the trip, I have been excited for him, but today became an emotional roller coaster.  At first I thought it was just nerves...about his travel, him being gone, being a "single" mom for 10 days, but as I said my goodbyes and drove away from the airport, the overwhelming emotions set in.  I was excited for him. I was jealous that I was not going. I relived my trip.  I wanted to experience it with him.  I can't wait to hear his details.  I want him to love Fatmata and Umaru like I do.   As the day has continued, I have thought more about God's plan for us.  Why Africa? Why is he taking both of us there?  What are we supposed to do with this?  So many questions!

Chris is on a plane across the Atlantic right now!  I find it hard to sit at home and know what he is about to experience.  I want this for him so badly!  I pray that God will open his heart and the heart of the team.  I pray that the team will feel God's presence and allow him to use them.  I pray that the kids at The Covering will feel the love of "parents" while they are there.

As Chris and I talked about Fatmata and Umaru today at the airport, I again reminded him to attend evening prayers every day and tuck the kids into bed every night.  His words were exactly what I needed to hear, "I will treat them just like they were my own kids."  I am so proud of him!

God has big plans for us!

January 27, 2011-Our Final Evening Prayers and Bedtime

Tonight I was surprised by Fatmata.  She didn't seek me out at evening prayers.  She sat with Uncle Kelvin.  I was very saddened by this but understood that she was separating from me to make our goodbye easier.  I just wasn't prepared for the reaction.  She'd been by my side all week!

Shariff was already in bed asleep, and that left Umaru! :)  He wanted me to hold him, love him, and kiss on him!  I was happy to do so.  It was amazing to have some one-on-one time with him and give him the affection that he needed.  I loved every second of it.

After prayer, I took Umaru to his room, and walked Fatmata to hers.  I stopped on the way to talk with her.  I explained how much I loved her and that I loved her smile.  I asked her to greet me at the farewell ceremony with her big smile that she had on our arrival day.  She promised, we hugged, and I tucked her in.

...and we had a wonderful goodbye!  Although there were tears, I got to see that beautiful smile again!

January 26, 2011-The Children's Hospital

If a trip in Freetown could cause me anxiety, this would've been the day!  The city has no traffic regulations and traffic sits at a stand still for huge blocks of time!We loaded into podas to travel to East Freetown.  The trip took at least an hour or two.  We sat in hot, dusty traffic.  Motorcycles zoom up the middle at all times.  Instead of stopping or yielding at intersections, they speed up and honk as they enter the intersection.  I;m amazed at how God answered my prayers about travel and anxiety on this trip.  Not once have I experienced an issue with it!  From Nashville to Africa and all over Freetown, God comforted and took away my fears so that I could do his work.

The children's hospital was very tough tough to see today, but because of my emotional evening last night, I felt so numb to the shock factor.  Maybe I had prepared myself.  I really wanted to love these women and children while I was there and nnot let emotions get in the way.  Kay Warren's book helped prepare me for this.  She talks about just "being present."  It didn't matter if they spoke English.  I was there to pray with them, ooh and aah over their children, and bring them bread and water.  I couldn't believe how God had placed words of prayer in me.  I don't like to pray out loud, but it was easy to lay a hand on these children and hold hands with these mothers and pray for them.  I usually prayed,

"God, please be with this child and mother.  I pray that you'll ease this child's pain and your will be done.  Please give this mother the strength and patience she needs to be with her child.  Amen."

Patrick--He was a 10 month old.  Although he wasn't thin and boney, he had no strength.  He laid lifeless on his bed.  I sat with him and tried to give his mother a break.  As I leaned over, I noticed him reaching for my necklace.  He couldn't lift his head, but he wanted to play with my necklace, and touch my face and hands.  The entire time, though, his mouth continually moved in the way a hungry baby's does.  I picked him up, held him, made silly faces at him, and made him laugh! :)  He only had so much energy for laughing, though.  When it was time for him to eat, he wouldn't.  He fussed and cried.  Is it possible to be so hungry and malnurished that you can't eat?  I think many of the babies felt this way.  How many would survive?  Would any leave the hospital alive?  What will happen to Patrick?

Evening Prayers

Each evening, we return to the center for evening prayer service with the kids.  I have so much that I can learn from these kids!  They praise God in so many amazing ways!  They praise and thank God for blessings...they sing their praises...they pray standing up and on their knees...they pray for us, their aunties and uncles.  It's such an experience to witness these children who have so little still learning to love God and be thankful for what they have!

After prayers, we get the opportunity to walk the kids to their rooms and tell them good night.  This was very exciting the first few nights, but tonight it broke my heart.  After getting Umaru and Shariff to their room, and working through Shariff's nightly jealousy tantrum :(, I took Fatmata to her room.  We stopped in a quiet corner on the way, I told her how proud I was of her and what a great role model she is.  We continued on.  I took her to her room and watched her climb into her bed...up a ladder to the top bunk...the third level...of a wooden bed...under a mosquito net.  I reached up to her bunk to touch her one more time, and it hit me, this little girl has to sleep under a mosquito net, on a yucky foam mattress, with dingy sheets, on the third bunk.  I touched her hand through the net, and I broke down.

What am I doing here??????

Here I am playing mom to these two children in Africa.  They've been expecting me, they recognized me, and they've grown to love me.  I've grown to love them, too.  But now what?  How does God want me to use this?  How do I continue to have a positive impact on their lives?

They need forever families!!!!!

January 25, 2011: Beach Day

Today was amazing!  We got to relax, kick back, and play with the kids on the beach and shop.  I loved shopping at the vendors for handmade gifts.  I'm excited to take the gifts back to my family and friends.  Here are a few of the highlights from the day.

Alone time with Fatmata and Umaru on the beach

Watching them playfully run from the waves

BBQ lobster on the beach in a wooden shack...It was delicious!

Seeing Umaru's sand-covered cheeks in his white undies

Taking Fatmata out into the waves

January 24, 2011: A Day in the Life of West Freetown

This morning was my toughest day yet.  We split into two teams to minister to the community.  Our team of ten, with Kelvin, our guide, took 20 envelopes of 50,000 leones each into the community.  We wanted to spread the word of God, TRS, and distribute money to mothers in need.  It was so emotional to walk through their community, stand on the doorsteps of their homes, embrace them, and spend a moment in their lives.  We prayed with them, gave them money, and "snapped" them (took pictures).  I just couldn't believe the circumstances!  We know that God led us to each of the 20 moms.  We didn't search hard.  It's amazing!  You walk down the main street.  It's a dirt road, shack stores down both sides, people riding motorcycles, dressed in worn clothing.  It looks bad.  Then you begin walking behind the stores and find shacks of homes!  Each home had 2-6 adults and too many children to count.  They have chickens...with no feathers, gardens...that are dry and sparse, clothes hanging, dishes outside, children with no clothes.  Most of them living on less than a dollar a day.

What strikes me, though, is how proud they are.  As you approach, the women want to change clothes, "freshen up,"or fix their hair.  They want you to sit and visit, and they love to have their picture made...and see it!  Their smiles are BEAUTIFUL, but so few.  I don't blame them...not much to smile about.

We saw so many needs today...so many desolate situations.  I don't know why Hannah stands out to me.  I can't say her situation is the worse, or not, but I had a connection with Hannah.  As we walked to a house, our group passed Hannah.  She told me about her four children.  I said, "We'll try to come to you next," which apparently is a promise here. :)  As we approached her house, she beamed!  We did our speech, prayers, and "snap, snap."  As we left, I went to tell her bye, and we embraced...not a little hug...a long, strong, squeezing embrace.  I want to help Hannah...Kelvin can help find her.

Kroo Bay Pictures