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.