song of the trip

here is one of the two songs that has been consistently on my heart and mind throughout the whole trip. speaks to men, women and children of Kenya who are able to change the world through God's love.

Brothers, let us come together
Walking in the Spirit, there's much to be done...
We will come reaching, out from our comforts
And they will know us by our love...

Sisters, we were made for kindness
We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us...
We will come reaching, with a song of healing...
And they will know us by our love!

The time is now
Come Church arise...
Love with His hands
See with His eyes...
Bind it around you,
Let it never leave you,
And they will know us by our love...

Children, You are hope for justice,
Stand firm in the Truth now, set your hearts above
You will be reaching, long after we’re gone,
And they will know you by your love!

Christy Nockles- By Our Love

photo of the week

after a long night Annabelle usually wakes around 6:30..an hour before I get up and quickly get ready to start the day. i have come to love this time since i give in and we both sleep for the remaining hour. sleeping with and praying over this precious girl is a gift i can't fully explain.

enjoying the moment

(disclaimer: sappy post. its bound to happen)

the reality of having 2 weeks left in this country has hit me hard the last few days.

yes i am looking forward to being home. to having a hot shower with actual water pressure, eating good american food (such as a zingerman's sandwhich which i have had dreams about). but the thought of leaving the aunties, my babies, the women at the shop and the boys makes my stomach hurt and makes me cry daily.

but i know that this trip is coming to an end. and i have been consciously soaking in every single moment...seeing the joys and being thankful for the small things, the moments that i will miss when i am home. today i have seen God in even the moments that have become a hassle or a frustration over the last 4 months.

so today:

- I enjoy the one-on-one time with Tracy laughing and talking about life while cleaning what felt like 43,728 dirty dishes.

- I memorize the sound of David's belly laugh while i tickle him during the dreaded 5pm-6pm before dinner hour.

- I spend the morning break not showering as planned but walking around the compound hand in hand with miah, chasing chickens, kicking balls and finding bugs.

- I focus on annabelle sleeping on my chest while listening to the children's sing-a-long video that I have seen every day since being here.

- I laugh with Lizzie who thinks that Joseph shaking his milk is the funniest thing she's ever seen rather than focus on the milk puddle.

- I deal with the nasty smell of literally 5 pounds of ugali because I know it means that tonight the boys will get a filling GOOD meal while visiting the baby house.

- I celebrate with EVERY person in the house when Miah actually pooped IN the potty even though it meant getting that stupid potty out every hour.

God is here and I am so thankful for every moment of these last 3+ months and cherish these last 2 weeks. I am praying that I continue to see Him in the small things, and that each one of these people I love will feel this love and will know a fraction of how they have each changed my life.

epic battle

since the rains have come in Nakuru, so have the mosquitoes.

which means i WILL get eaten alive.

and each bite WILL swell up to the size of a huge welt.

my arms look like i have some sort of peculiar disease...

i have found most mosquito attacks come at night and i may be paranoid but i feel like they are just WAITING for me to fall asleep to attack..

so tonight i arm arming myself with:

- a plug-in bug repellent.

- bug spray on my person.

- room bug repellent sprayed 45 min prior to room use as directed on bottle.

i smell terrible but at least i wont have MORE bites (hopefully)

Goodbye Solomon

Yesterday we got a call from the children's department saying there was a mama looking for her 1.5 year old son and they asked if we could come and identify if it was Solomon, the boy we took in from the children's department a few weeks prior.

Turned out it was Solomon's mother! and turns out our Solomon is really Caleb! She had told his father to take him to the hospital to get medication for a cold and the father abandoned Caleb on the way. The mother has not heard from the father since and was told by people in the community her son was abandoned and brought to the police station...starting her on the journey to us to find Caleb!

We had him for one more night, in order for courts to move custody from our home back to his mother's care. When we walked in after meeting his mother we called him "Caleb!" and he was VERY excited and kept repeating it clearly! "Caleb! Caleb! Mimi!(me!)"

Today we brought him to his mother and you could see the relief on her face! two weeks without your baby boy is a long time! That's also evident because he was indeed attached to us and our home: he was happy to see his mother but was NOT happy when we walked away...shows how quickly our babies feel at home. but his mother's love is definitely more important and where he belongs!

We love you little Solomon and were blessed by your adorable smile, laugh and love!

New baby Winnie!

today we welcomed the second new baby girl to the baby house! Welcome, 3 day old baby Winnie!

She was found by 2 students on the side of the road in a plastic bag still covered in afterbirth, then brought to a police station then to our home.

she is a VERY calm, quite alert little girl!!

now my baby has an "age-mate" and is the BIG one of the two of them! crazy how fast they grow!

we are thrilled to have another beautiful baby girl in our home! Welcome Winnie!

photo of the week

handsome boy.