And baby makes 49

Tuesday I got a new son! He makes 49 little tykes! He turned 7 months just 2 days after he arrived. He is one stinking cute tot too! He's working on crawling, but he's got the smiling, cooing, giggling thing down pat. Snuggling too! Oh he's just a ham. And i love him! He came to us with an ear infection, scalp infection, skin infection, lung infection, and one bad case of scabies....and when i say bad....i mean head to toe and we're on our 3rd round of treatment and we still aren't rid of them! But we're getting there, and he's getting healthier every day!

His mom died a few months ago, and he's quite a little one for a dad to take care of alone without any food source for him....so we're going to love on him for about a year, till he's a little older and easier for a single dad to take care of! He came in with a witchcraft cord wrapped around his neck.....We prayed over him and then cut the cord off him first thing after he arrived! Stand with us praying for this little tyke to settle in quickly, to grow stronger and healthier each day, for the bonds of witchcraft to be broken, and for generational curses to have no hold on this little one! We are believing God for great things for Francisco! Note the faces of Francisco: top...."look at me i'm cute and pouty, come play with me!" bottom: "see, i really am cute and cuddly. i like to smile too."

In other news...my favorite toddler, Dionisio was returned to the Baby House about 13 months after we took him out to live in the Bercario for a little more one-on-one special attention. It has taken quite the adjustment.....we found out he hates juice and prefers water and will throw his cup and pitch a good little fit if the tias forget and give him juice (silly boy). He was also having a time realizing that he had to share me with ummmm....34 other kids and that sometimes i have to work and can't just sit and play with him. Big adjustment, lots of tears, tantrums, and scowls. But week 3 and he's doing much much better. He hasn't been crying if I'm not holding him. I can play and then leave without huge fits, and if he comes over excitedly squealing and clapping his hands, but i don't have time to play....i can hug him and tell him to go back to the group and we'll play later.....he actually does it and doesn't get upset. i've witnessed him playing with and alongside the other kids and smiling and laughing. small baby steps, but we're getting there! This has been a huge answered prayer. He has come such a long way in a year and looks so grown up! Perhaps that's because he's turning 2 in just 2 months. :)

The other half

I live in Africa.

In a children's center.

With electricity.

And thankfully, since it's over 110 today, with a fan by my bedside that keeps me cool.
There's running water.

It's safe to drink right from my faucet.

I can have hot water (for showers) when we aren't out of gas.

I have a stove to cook food on and even a microwave.

A toaster too.

I have a fridge.

I have a roof over my head, that only leaks a little when it pours.

I have a cement floor.

I have 3 rooms to my "house," including an indoor bathroom.

I share a washing machine.

There's a generator for when the city electricity isn't working.

I have internet (really slow and not all the time, but i have it).

I almost all the time have credit on my cell phone.

I have access to a car for getting where I might need to go.

I am blessed.

I live simply, but richly, compared to the other half.

They live in tiny houses.
With one room.

Smaller than a car.

Made simply out of reeds.

The mice eat the straw roof because it is their home.

It leaks when it rains.

There is no electricity.

No running water.

In fact, there's no water safe to drink for miles.

And there are no cars to go get that water.

And you have to pay for the water.

Only some people have a latrine.

No beds.

Just hard ground.

There's bugs.

Lots of bugs.

Did i mention the mice?

There's not always food.

Only when the harvest is good and there's rain.

The soil is sand.

There's no kitchen.

There's not a stove.

No gas either.

There's fire.

When you can find (or buy) wood.

It takes a long time to cook over a tiny fire.

Hours.

And it takes a lot of work to prepare the food.

I'm grinding nuts.

By hand.

No chairs to sit on.

No shelter or relief from the sun.

Just candlelight to dine by.

With good friends.

Cause you share the food you have.

Tonight there was actually chicken.

(Cause we bought and brought it to bless them).

And fruit.

Very (very, very) tart, wierd african fruit.

There's no where to store the food.

So we eat it the next morning.

For breakfast.

You eat when you have food.

And there's friends.

We're family.

That's all there is here: LOVE.

Cause sometimes there isn't enough.

And it's not fair.

But it's reality for them.

The question

I get one question a lot. it's often THE question. why I'm in Mozambique and why I'm doing what I am.....maybe not in those exact words, maybe it's in facial expressions, or often in nice polite southern ways of asking pointed questions without actually asking them, but sometimes it looks exactly like that. truth is....I know what you mean when you ask me. and I'd be lying if I said that I don't think the same thing from time to time. I certainly thought it before I came here. another truth is.....I don't have a really good answer for you. ok, I mean I do. and man is it good. I just mean, I often can't really put it into words and sum it up and wrap it into a nice little neat package like you want/need/will understand.

the short answer: God. He called me and to here, this place, and so here I am. for however long. till He says. doing/serving where and how He says.

the long answer: gotcha....like I'm even going to attempt that one on here right now. it's long.

the medium version is the one I'm trying to formulate and articulate better so that I can better describe the why and the what without bumbling like an idiot when asked. cause like I said. I have an answer. and man is it good. The other night after a particularly good day, a worship song was washing over me and scripture kept running through my head....and two pictures stuck. it's the reason. and while I can't use this in a conversation.....I can show you through this media......so maybe this will answer the why and the what. Warning: it's not so nice and neat.

"I have REDEEMED YOU; I have called YOU by your name, YOU are mine."
-Isaiah 43:1

I know and accept this, with all of my heart, as TRUTH. It is essentially the life force and motivation behind all my actions.

on admit

with Dino, a child his same age who was in the almost the same condition just a year previously

Lord I give You my heart
I give You my soul,
I live for You alone
Every breath that I take,
Every moment I'm awake
Lord, have Your way in me
-lyrics by Reuben Morgan

This is the only way I know how to respond to Him; to what He's given me. It's never even close to enough, but it's all I have. How thankful I am that He never asks us to repay Him. It's free and so am I.

Just a few days ago!

It's Latifo (pictured above), a complete miracle with full blown AIDS, dying from malnutrition, less than 10 lbs, barely able to sit, and almost 2.5 yrs old. 7 months later, finally walking and talking and ALIVE-physically and emotionally and pretty healthy, weighing in at 26 lbs.

It's D, who couldn't even sit up at 10 months, didn't smile or laugh, wouldn't make eye contact and was constantly sick. He had given up on life and refused food for WEEKS. After 6 wks of living with me and finally bonding to another person, he started turning around. Now after a year of living in a smaller environment and learning to trust and love and bond....he's walking, smiling, laughing, playing, talking and almost NEVER sick!

It's dozens of other babies and tots that I am absolutely blessed and privileged to care for, to breathe life into, to hold, and love, and dream with. I have watched HIM transform them right before my very eyes. And I can't do HIM justice to try to describe the beauty and paradox of these miracles amidst one of the poorest places in the world. But I do know, that what He did for me; how He redeemed me and called me; He has and is continuing to do for EACH and EVERY ONE of these that I am serving.

And I don't understand it. I can't explain it. Especially not eloquently. And I have no clue why He called me. But He did. So I'm here. And I have no clue how or when it's going to end. or even how it's going to look tomorrow. But He's faithful and good and I'm trusting in Him for each and everyone of the steps He's laid and numbered before me.

Now there's the adventure.

New faces

Well, I've been back for about 1.5 wks now, resting, catching up, and trying to settle back in. Meghann, the nurse covering for me while I was gone, did a wonderful job, so there wasn't much to have to clean up, but there's always figuring out the new kids and where each kid is versus where they need to be and how to get them there game that I play. So after lots of thought, and prayer, and plotting.....most of my plans will go into action tomorrow and we should all be back on track (or a new one) asap.

A few prayer points before my next newsletter:

• This Wednesday is election day....time for a new (or re-elected) president of the country. Prayers that a good leader is chosen, that the election will not be surrounded by riots, fights, or corruption; that they will be fair and that the transition (if there is one) will be smooth!

• Arsenia (who we recently found out by a visiting dentist is actually 12 yrs old and still in the BH) is going in for surgery (under anesthesia) to have several rotted permanent teeth removed. Pray this is successful, she does well with the anesthesia, and does not develop any infections in the process.

• Our medical team here at Zimpeto is growing. This is amazing and it gives us the opportunity to really expand our ministry in this area. Pray with us on how our resources and woman power could best be used at the present, as well as each of the new opportunities that we each will have to increase our own personal skills and abilities. Pray for wisdom and discernment during this process.

Opportunity to bless our children: Christmas is just around the corner and it's coming 2 wks earlier for us this year (not because we're in a weird time-warp, or in the southern hemisphere, or simply can't count, but because our staff will be too low on the actual day, so we're celebrating early). In the Baby House we are pretty much set with toys this year (thanks to a recent generous donation by one of our visiting teams), but our need is in clothes and a new baby swimming pool (for the 120+ degree days without air-conditioning). The director said that she's looking at spending about $8/child and we have 42 children at the present. The swimming pool will cost us around $50. Please email me asap if you are interested in donating or sponsoring a child for Christmas so I can tell you how to do this!

Most importantly.....meet our 5 new tots that arrived while I was gone (2 in the Bercario and 3 in the BH)! They are adorable. I'm getting to know them, each of their needs, and forming game plans to get them healthy!

Wesley is 6 months and....healthy?!?

Agostinho is 14 months and is starting to take his first steps.

Mai is 3.

Alfiado is 15 months and learning to pull up and stand for a few seconds on his own. He's malnourished, but getting stronger daily.

Neto is 2ish and still very quiet.

And just a few other (familiar) faces that we've all missed for almost 2 months......how can anyone NOT love these precious faces??!!!?? The newness (and the fact that they are toddlers and have the short-term memory of a well.....it's nonexistent) of me being back has NOT worn off and I'm still bombarded every time I enter with lots of hugs and kisses and screams and shouting of my name. I'm not complaining. Just stating it makes it hard to work! One individual (ahem: Dionisio) is still adjusting to the fact that I left him.....coping isn't part of his vocabulary and his daily toddler tantrums are in full swing lately.

Dino being very cheeky! All through church Sunday he sat making "caras de peixe" at me and giggling furousisly. Why? cause i make fish faces at them all the time and they think it's hysterical...what's better is that they can't do it back, but try...it looks like they are kissing. Dino has been practicing since i've been away and he's got it down!

Twins Catia (left) & Edsan (right) looking alot more healthy and well nourished after 3 months in the BH.

Lucia's walking well now and as always, full of personality @ 18 months

Latifo is now WALKING (at almost 3 yrs)! Look how big he is & how far he's come since March & 4.5 kg!

Chelsia is walking really well now....working on fixing her Vitiman D deficiency, but looking good!

most of the oldest room in the BH-goofing off!

I did NOT do anything to provoke him....this is simply cause i'm standing in the room and he wants to be in my arms. We're working through it.

kinda. with lots of tears.

Black Elderberry and the flu

Since it's flu season in the States and I love you all, I thought I'd pass on some very helpful information I recently received.  I have not trialed this personally, but have spoken with several who have used it tried and true for many years now and said it is a miracle worker and works as well as tamiflu, if not better and a lot cheaper.  You better believe that I grabbed two bottles and brought them with me to Africa and now have them for safe keeping just in case.  If you go into most drug stores (haven't seen it in grocery stores, walmart, or target) and down the cold and flu aisle you will probably be able to find a product called Sambucol or Black Elderberry.  If you don't, ask the pharmacist if they carry it.  I found it in Rite Aid and heard CVS (didn't check walgreen's) carries as well as well as most healthfood stores and GNC but you'll pay double the price at least at these places.  All you need is 1-2 pills a day as soon as you start feeling flu symptoms and reportedly you get better and symptoms disappear within 1-3 days as opposed to 5+ days.  I have heard that although the label says you can chew it or just hold it in your mouth until it dissolves that it works much better if you just suck on it until it's gone.  The taste is reminiscent of blueberries and not bad at all.  I researched it myself and have included a link to Wiki ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus and scroll down to medicinal uses unless you are a nerd like me) that will give you few facts about the trials done and how and why it works.  Also, there's a website about it as well called www.blackelderberry.info  It works for Influenza A and B per several proven studies....should work for H1N1 because of how it works and how viruses replicate, but no research at present....that's just me talking.  Technically it should work period with any thing that is viral, but I don't know if much research has been done on other illnesses (besides the flu) that are caused by viruses.  But I think it's worth a try with so many of you getting sick!  I believe you can even take it preventively 1x/day.  There aren't side effects and it's safe for adults and children.  Just thought you'd like to know I'm looking out for ya'll....even if you are all older than my preferred peds patients!  Oh and feel free to pass on the free knowledge.  Let me know what you think if you end up trying it or if you have or know people that have.  I'm always up for learning more on homeopathic remedies.....I mean I love meds and all, but they aren't for everything or everyone and they come with their own set of problems as well!