My Gifts

Well...the summer has come and gone.  It's flown by at lightening speed!  We've had a great time and a lot has happened since I blogged last.    However, the fact that time is flying past and so much is happening in so many different areas of life is telling me that it's time to slow down.

Several months ago, I heard about a book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I still haven't read it, but I know the gist.  Slow down.  Realize the gift of this moment that God has given you.  Take notice.  The moments are what we are going to remember....what my sons will remember.   Be intentional about living.  All these things I've been pondering lately as I've been writing some curriculum for a missions class I am going to teach this year at a homeschool co-op.  Then I went to a parent meeting at that same co-op and this is the video they opened the meeting with....I think God is trying to tell me something. :)



So, I'm going to start writing about my gifts.  The moments of our day that really matter.  The small things that I will forget if I'm not intentional about remembering.  And I'm going to try to get my camera back out and use it more often...like I did before life was so very busy.  The moments that matter to me will probably not mean a hill of beans to anyone else, but that's ok.  They are my gifts.  Gifts He gave to me...because I'm His and He loves me.

Still Here

Hello Blogland!  Just checkin' in to let you know we are still here and doing well.  Much has been happening here at the Widhalm house to keep us busy, as always.  Thought I'd give you just a quick update about a few things around our house.

School - After a short stint in public school for Jackson and Carter, we have learned that homeschooling really serves our children and our family in a way that the school system cannot.  I would never make judgements about what is or isn't right for another family or other children.  Schooling is not a "one size fits all" matter, in my opinion.  In our family, though, we have come to truly appreciate the opportunities and the lifestyle that homeschooling enables us to have.  I'm happy to have all the boys back home with me and looking forward to new studies and activities in the fall.

We will continue in our math, history and literature studies over the summer, which will include various summer reading programs, classic read alouds,  math memory work, history/geography of the middles ages, phonics and copy work.  The boys are doing extremely well with their studies.  I couldn't be happier both with our curriculum plan and their achievement.

Summer Fun! - Summer has officially began and we are enjoying its benefits tremendously!  We paid a visit to Silver Dollar City yesterday and today we hung out with new homeschool friends at a backyard pool party.  On the agenda next week is White Water and initiating the pool in our own backyard.   Having so many fun things to do is a great motivation for getting our schoolwork and chores around the house finished!

Missions/Africa - Africa continues to have its place in our heads and hearts each day.  It is never far from our thoughts.  We are praying daily for our friends and the kids we love so much in Sierra Leone, as well as for God to give us opportunities to serve.  Although we don't have definite plans of traveling back to Sierra Leone soon, we are able to Skype with the children we sponsor as well as another sibling group who is very close to our hearts on a monthly basis.  It's such a joy to see their beautiful smiles in person, but it sure does make us "Africa-sick".

There is a possibility that I have an opportunity to travel to  Guatemala to serve at an orphanage called Shadow of His Wings.  I'm not sure whether or not that will come to fruition, but we are praying about it.  It's not nearly as expensive as a trip to Sierra Leone is, but I love Sierra Leone so much that it's hard to make the choice to spend resources on airfare to someplace else.  I know it would be another wonderful experience, though, so we'll see what God has in store.

I had a wonderful opportunity to serve the people of Joplin, MO, last weekend.  What they have endured is beyond anything I can express in words.  The photos on the internet and the news do not do it justice.  However, even among the tremendous turmoil, God is at work.  It's always amazing to me that when we put ourselves in a position to serve others, we receive such an incredible blessing of our own.

God is continually bringing people across our path who share our passion for orphans and other ministries.  My heart is still being stirred and new thoughts and ideas are never ending.  We continue to wait in prayer and be open to whatever He has for us.

I hope you are all enjoying the blessings of sunshine and summer as much as we are!

Peanut Butter, Bread & Water

Gathering peanut butter jars from anyone who would donate and making trips to several different grocery stores in town to find the best peanut butter deal became an obsession in the weeks before we left.  Tiffany is the "Coupon Queen", but there are not coupons for peanut butter.  Find the deal, collectinhe g donations and mking the purcase was time consuming and sometimes even frustrating.  We were SO blessed, though!  God proved Himself faithful...AGAIN...and provided more than enough!  He even gave us a surprise at the end of the packing by allowing us to check more suitcases for FREE than we expected.  Yea, God!

All the prep work was for the kids and mothers who were waiting for a miracle at Ola During Children's Hospital.

Doug caught a power nap while we waited for the water and bread we needed

Tiffany and I with the nurses in the Nutrition Ward

Ola During Children's Hospital has a special place in my heart.  I suppose because I have had to be in the hospital with my own children, it is just easy for me to have a heart and want to reach out to these moms and their babies.



A severely malnourished baby at Ola During.

The only way I can describe it in words, is to say that many of the children look just like the kids you see on the info-mercials on World Vision.  You know the commercials I'm talking about....the ones that you glance at and then pick up the remote to change the channel because it is too hard to see.  It is hard to see, but it is real.  They are real children with real mothers, just like me.

Tiffany with one of the mom's in the Nutrition Ward

We were so touched by the families in the hospital last May that we wanted to go back to give what we could.  If you've read about it in previous posts, you know that the hospital does not provide food for the patients or for the mothers in the ICU.  Sounds crazy, doesn't it?  Even when I think about it still, I just can't believe it.  In the nutrition ward, they do give the babies Plumpy Nut, a nutrient dense peanut butter-like food.  The mothers, though, have to take care of themselves.

We brought enough gift bags for each family both in the nutrition ward and the ICU to have one.  In fact, we had plenty and even gave a bag to each of the nurses in both wards, too.  Everyone that received one was very thankful to have them.  In conditions like that, a jar of peanut butter and small loaf of bread is a huge blessing.  Each bag had a packet of water, peanut butter, bread and a beanie baby.

There were four families that really stood out to me that day.

The first was a mom with a set of twins in the nutrition ward.  One of them was healthy.  The other was severely malnourished.  The one that was sick was in terrible condition.  She was so tiny and fragile, with no muscle to her little body at all.  Tiffany and I sat with the mom and prayed that God would peace, comfort and healing, and that His will would be done.  The mother seemed very thankful that we had taken time to just sit with her and care about her baby.



The twins. 

Not far from the twins was a beautiful young mother with a sweet baby girl on her lap.  The mom was absolutely beaming as she looked at me with sparkling eyes and a bright smile, holding the gift bag in her hand.  She repeatedly told me, "Thank you" and asked for me to take a picture of her with her little girl.  I wish so much that the language barrier was not quite as great and that I could've gotten to know more about her and her sweet little one.

 

 



As we were finishing up in the nutrition ward, I caught the eye of another mama.  She motioned for me to come to her, so I did.  She was trying to talk to me, and I understood the words "other country".  I smiled and said, "Yes, we're from America".   She kept making hand motions and pointing to her little boy, who was obviously not doing well at all.  Finally, I got it.  I said, "You mean you want me to take your baby to another country with me?"  She gave me a big smile, nodded and said "Yes!  Take him.  Please take him."

This mother tried to get me to take her baby with me

I took a deep breath and told her that God had given her this child and that he wasn't mine.  He belonged here with her, and I couldn't take him.  She begged me.  I looked her in the eye and told her that I would get into very big trouble if I took him, and that I was very sorry.  It was heart wrenching.

Now, maybe she could've been thinking I'd pay her a good amount of money for him.  But still.  To be in a situation in life that there would be so much desperation that you would offer your child to a complete stranger, I can't imagine.  What I do know, though, is that only but for the grace of God is it not me in that situation.

I met a young mom in the ICU that had a beautiful boy named Samuel.  Samuel had been in the hospital for two months and was still not well.  When we asked what was wrong with him, she didn't really have an answer...only described a symptom or two.  The interesting thing about Samuel is that he was obviously from a Christian home.  His mother had her Bible laying open in his crib.  Samuel's head was laying on it.  She was very happy to let us pray with her, and was excited to see her with her son on the back of my camera when I took her picture.


Samuel in his crib, laying on his mother's Bible

It was another time of realizing, again, that God has blessed us beyond measure.  I don't know why, but He has and I'm so very thankful.  The people of Sierra Leone endure things on a daily basis that you cannot imagine if you have not seen it for yourself.   It's an amazing experience to be there and be able to give just a little and watch God use it for His glory.   I highly recommend it.  However, be warned:  it's addictive!

On The Street With Pastor Daniel

Monday evening, we met Pastor Daniel and ten of the children from The Covering at 6:00 GMT.*  The ten kids were chosen because of their good behavior.  We were all walking together into the community near the center to meet with people, pray for their needs and to give them a free Bible.

We were blessed to be able to take two cases of Bibles with us.  I wish we could have taken more.  We had a total of 40 to give away that evening.  There were also many copies of the Book of Hope at the guesthouse which were left by some missionaries.  We took everything we could fit in our four backpacks.

I'm sure we were quite a sight as we walked down the hill into the neighborhood nearby....ten local kids all dressed up in their finest and looking cheerful, the pastor, the social worker from the center, and 4 white people who were sweating profusely (definintely not looking my finest) and loaded down with backpacks full of books and magazines.  LOL

It didn't take long for people to figure it out, though.  Pastor Daniel has an amazing gift of being able to just walk right up to a stranger and start talking about Jesus.  The first stop was a beauty "salon".  There were a couple people sitting outside while just inside the little shack there was a lady getting her hair done.  When the group stopped walking right in front of their business and Pastor started talking, everything was quiet and all eyes were fixed on the pastor.

                                               The beauty salon

As he talked, others started to gather round.  He shared the gospel with everyone standing within earshot.  After the short mini-sermon, we asked if there was anything we could pray for on their behalf.  The entire group (kids included) prayed for God's provision and protection on each person and their family.   Pastor Daniel even led everyone who would, in a prayer of salvation!  He was sure to let them all know he would be available to answer any questions they might have and to invite them to Sunday services at the center.  They were all very interested and seemed excited that there was a place nearby they could worship.

                                                Pastor leading a group in a prayer of salvation


When the discussions were over, we broke out the Bibles.  There would be a similar reaction here in the States if you were handing out 100 dollar bills on the street.  They were ELATED!  We were only in that one spot for a few minutes, but it didn't take long to realize that we didn't have enough.  We sent the guys back to restock the backpacks with more magazines.

                                             
Pastor Daniel led the kids along with Tiffany and I farther down into the village where we kept praying with people and offering them the Bibles and magazines we had.   The Bibles were gone before we got to the 2nd or 3rd stop.  People were running up to us asking for one and we kept giving until we had no more.  There was an older lady that came back and followed me for a few feet, with a huge smile holding her new Bible next to her chest and just saying, "Thank you, thank you!"  It was really an amazing experience.

                                             The crowd starting to gather

The last stop was at the bottom of the hill in an area that was occupied by several small shacks and many people.  By this time, all we had left were Books of Hope.  Again, Pastor Daniel spoke about Jesus and then we prayed both for salvation and for God's blessing on His people.  Word throughout the area spread quickly and before we knew it, there was a really large crowd gathered.  Most of them were women and many, many children.  After the prayer, we opened up our backpacks and all sorts of chaos broke loose.

                                                         Doug handing out Books of Hope

There were kids jumping and shouting, reaching and just trying to get hold of one of those magazines.  We guessed that there was near 75 to 100 or so kids.  Being the school teacher and having taken a few groups of kids on field trips, I was more than a little nervous about locating the ten kids that belonged to us and keeping an eye on them.  It was extremely loud and people were everywhere.  I tried to get a head count in the madness, but it was impossible.  I think Pastor Daniel thought my preoccupation with the kids' safety was a little comical.  Neither him nor the social worker on staff were in the least bit concerned.

                                                

After all the magazines here handed out and there was a huge mass of village kids standing with these books in their hands, looking at pictures of the life of Christ, Pastor told them to shout the name of Jesus on the count of 3.  It was an amazing sound to hear...I hope I don't ever forget it.  The kids were thrilled with their new books and it was a blessing just to see them smiling and so happy.

On our walk back to the center, we passed the beauty salon where we'd first stopped.  Every person there was sitting with their Bibles open on their laps, smiling.  They were looking at these Bibles Doug and I purchased for not more than $1 each like they were the biggest treasure they had.  Just this one evening was worth all the time, planning, inconvenience and expense of our trip.  It was all worth it.  Every single penny...and I'd do it all over again.  In fact, I'm certain that I will do it again.

I'm so glad to know that even though we were only there for a week, we left behind something that will affect their lives and give them hope for an eternity.

Out & About in Freetown

On Monday, we hired a taxi driver to drive us around town for a while to do a little exploring on our own.  Musa is a friend of Osseh's (who is trusted staff at the center) so we knew we'd be in good hands with him.

First stop was the beach at Lumley.   There were fisherman on the beach pulling in their nets.  It's quite a sight to see, so Musa pulled over so that we could get a closer look.  He explained how the boat takes the net out and drops it.  Then, it is pulled in by a team of men.  They pull one side and then the other until the net is close enough to shore to close and bring in the fish.

When we got out, we were approached by one of the men who explained further and invited Rich and Doug to help pull the net in.  The boys ran to help while Tiffany and I got out our cameras.    It was alot of fun watching the guys...pulling those nets is apparently harder than it looks! :)  It didn't take long for the Americans to give out.  I asked Doug if he'd like to give up his job to fish every day, and it didn't take long to get a firm, "No!"

After we'd been there a while, another one of the fisherman came up to me and asked if we were having a good time.  I smiled and said that we were really enjoying ourselves and thanked him.  He was speaking English, but with a heavy accent and doing so rather quickly.  I was having a hard time understanding exactly what he was saying, but it ended up with something about having food and drink together.  I thought he was being really nice and inviting us to eat with them after the catch.

He could tell, though, by the look on my face that I wasn't really "getting it" so he approached Tiffany and started his conversation over.  He wanted us to have food and drinks, all right!  On US!  LOL  He wanted us to pay him and his crew since we got to enjoy ourselves and take pictures.  That might not have been a problem, but there were more than a dozen of them - maybe closer to 20.  Needless to say, we quickly gathered up our husbands and headed back to the taxi.

Next stop was Crown Bakery.  We had eaten there before, so we knew what we were in for, and we were hoping to see chocolate donuts in the display case.  We enjoyed a great lunch chatting with Musa.  Doug and I shared an avocado sandwich and a chicken shawarma.  They were both yummy!  The shawarma is a wrap with chicken and a cucumber sauce.  We were disappointed there were no donuts, though.

On our way back to the center, Musa pointed out the more important landmarks we were passing and drove us through Kroo Bay.  Doug hadn't seen it before.  He didn't get the full experience of actually getting out and walking into the village, but he definitely was able to see the devastating poverty.  Musa also drove us by another slum that was built on a trash dump.  There was no ground to be seen under these living quarters....just trash.   Even though I had been before and knew the extent of the poverty, it was a painful reminder of just how blessed our nation has been.

It was a great day getting to know Musa and learning a little more about Freetown.

By the end of the day, we were anxious to get back to the guesthouse, though.  Our plan was to go with Pastor Daniel and a few chosen kids for the evening into a nearby community to pray with people and give away some Bibles.

Sunday at The Covering

One of the things I was most looking forward to on our trip, was being in church with the kids at The Covering.  Watching them pray and worship is an experience I cannot describe to you in words.  This group of children pray with emotion I've never witnessed and worship their God with abandon.  It's absolutely beautiful..and humbling...and such an incredible example of the way we SHOULD worship.

We were so blessed by the beautiful music (accompanied only by about 3 boys drumming and the entire crowed clapping - no keyboard, strings, horns or choirs needed) and powerful message.  Pastor Daniel is an amazing pastor that I'd be happy to sit under every week.  He's an amazing man of God who does not beat around the bush or make things "pretty" - even for the children.  He tells them straight up the way the Bible lays it out.

Several of them were baptized a few weeks ago.  One of the points he made was that now that they had made a commitment to Christ, it was their responsibility to begin to minister to others.  No excuses.  If you have the luxury of Christ and eternity in heaven - you also have a responsibility.  Period.   Whether you are 9 or 90.  You have Kingdom work to do.

I love that he is not playing games with them or entertaining them.  It would be so easy to do.  In many ways, it's what we do here in America.  He's training them to be soldiers in the army of God.  It's serious business.  He even called one little guy out who was misbehaving and told him that he would not be able to participate in communion because his heart was not in good standing with his brother.  Pastor  Daniel rocks!  He's an amazing vessel being used by God in the lives of many, many people.  I'm so blessed we were able to spend some time with him this week.

The service was extra special Sunday, because the children who were baptized were being served their first communion.   I didn't take pictures, because I didn't want to be disrespectful, but I wish I could show you the two lines of kids lined up holding their bread and "wine".  It was just beautiful.  Being there with them for such a special time in their spiritual lives was such a blessing.

Many, if not most, of these children were living in Muslim homes not much more than a year ago.  The Raining Season has not only rescued them from homes that were not healthy or the lack of a home...but they're being rescued from an eternity without God.   It's just incredible to see God working and how the lives of these children are being transformed.  In fact, it's not only the lives of these children, but also the lives and hearts of many caregivers, staff and even American sponsors and travelers who are being changed from the inside out.  I'm so glad we are part of it!

I didn't take pictures of the service, but I did snap a few shots of the kids before and after.  They were all dressed up and looking pretty.  We tried to look as good as we could...but my hair and makeup wilted before I ever even walked in the door.

Sunday evening we were blessed to be able to go to an international service for people who are serving in various capacities in Sierra Leone.  Some were missionaries and some worked for non-profit organizations.  We met one young lady who is living very near Kroo Bay and working there each day serving that community by administering basic first aid.  Another is working for an organization that sends her out to various places to work doing OT and PT with handicapped children.  It was a great experience to meet different people from all over the world who are giving of themselves and serving in different ways.

Happy Birthday, Aunty Marie!

Our first full day was Saturday, April 2nd, which was also Aunty Marie's birthday.  Aunty Marie has a special place in our hearts.  When Tiffany and I visited last May, she was caring for the babies in the baby room through the night.  In a tiny room, with 2 cribs and a foam mattress on the floor, she cared for the twins we sponsor, Kadija and Kevin.  She has a perfect personality for working with young children and she loves them with all her heart.   Currently though, she cooks and takes care of laundry at the guest house, so we got to see her a lot on this trip.

We were excited to know before we traveled, that we would be there to celebrate her birthday.  We purchased a few things for her before we left and planned to take her out for dinner to celebrate that evening.   I explained to her that at my house, a girl gets what she wants for dinner on her birthday - so it was going to be her choice.  She didn't quite know what to say, but eventually said she really liked to eat pizza.
 
The plan was to meet her at Mamba Point, a nice restaurant nearby, with a variety of choices on the menu.  Later, we learned that she has only been to that restaurant one other time and she was a little unsure of whether or not she could even get in if she came in by herself. 

We arrived before she did and set her gift basket at the head of the table, where she would be sitting.  She was shocked to see that not only was she getting to eat dinner in a restaurant, but we had brought along gifts, as well.  She could hardly speak!  It was such a blessing to us to be able to pamper her for the evening and give her a birthday celebration that she has likely never had before. 

We brought her a gift basket with all sorts of kitchen supplies....sponges, towels, washcloths, scrapers, cutting mats, a colander, hot pads, etc.  The biggest surprise was an electric hand mixer! 

We ordered pizza for everyone and even had a couple of sushi rolls!  The Philadelphia roll is just as good in Africa as it is here! :)  She had never tried sushi and it was a treat to watch her experience it for the first time.  She preferred to separate the contents and eat them by themselves rather than all at once....and she LOVED the ginger. 

Even though it was a celebration in her honor, she sat with her plate full in front of her and only picked at her food until we were finished eating.  When we finished, she ate with enthusiasm and enjoyed her meal.  I assumed that she must not have liked it, but rather, she was selflessly waiting for us to have all we wanted....she waited for the leftovers.

Later in the week, we got to help her prepare a meal for our day at the beach.  She had to make a special trip to the market to buy food, and then worked hard to prepare a special meal for everyone who would be there.  As Tiffany and I were helping her in the kitchen, she explained how joloffa rice was a meal they enjoyed only occasionally, usually at important holiday meals.  And, because the kids all love chicken, she prepared one piece for each of us. 

Marie with Kevin strapped on her back..bent over chopping veggies for our lunch

Tiffany stirring the beef stew for the rice on beach day.

This oversized mortar and pestal is what she used to mix the onion, pepper, tomato paste and spices for the stew.

Joloffa rice...cooked with tomato paste, onion, garlic, and pepper

Aunty Marie worked tirelessly all week long taking care of us at the guest house.  She has the heart of a true servant, and I'm honored to have had the priviledge to get to know her. 

Day 1

These are just a few shots from today.  We spent the majority of the day just hanging out with the kids at the center.  It was a great time!  We were welcomed with a sweet ceremony, lots of music and the most precious prayers you've ever heard! 

By Air, Land and Sea!

Well, we got here safe & sound and had a great time all along the way.  We left home about 11:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.  Jackson was at school, but Carter & Harrison were at our house with my sister.  Carter was sad when we left, but there were no tears.  I was thankful for that, although when we got in car and I looked to my left, Doug was the one about ready to turn the teary faucet on.  Thankfully, the drive to the airport what a short one.

After a stop in Chicago, we were headed to Washington.  I was concerned for Doug on the overseas flight, but we were SO blessed!  We lucked out and got seats in the first row, so we all had extra leg room and a fairly comfortable place to sleep for the night on the plane.  10 hours and 45 minutes later, we landed in Accra, Ghana.   None of us had been in the Accra airport before, and we were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was.  There was a wonderful airport employee who took great care of us, got our boarding passes for our next flight and made sure we were taken care of.  By the time we got to Accra, Tiffany and I were nearly jumping for joy and counting down the minutes until touchdown in Freetown.   :)

We came in contact with a very interesting group of  Chinese people in Accra.  There were about 15 men in suits wearing NEON pink, blue and yellow baseball caps.  It was a hilarious sight to see! They provided us great entertainment. lol

After a smooth flight into Freetown, we had an experience with a ferry boat that I truly cannot describe well enough with words.  The water was rough and we had to board a water taxi by walking across the flimsiest dock I've ever seen.  The wooden slats seemed to be just a few inches on top of the water and were riding the good-sized waves in a way that made it hard to stand up and walk.   We could only walk across one at a time and had to hold on for dear life to the man who was escorting us.  Poor Rich nearly lost it and ended up in the water. 

The real site was the Chinese men with the "colorful caps". LOL  They were COMPLETELY overwhelmed with the water taxi.  The walk on the dock must've caused a couple of them to be motion sick, because they just got sat down when they pulled out their barf bags and started using them.  The four American on the boat (us) were busting a gut laughing at the entire situation.  It was absoluetly hilarious!

When we arrived at the other side of the bay, yet another Chinese guy bit the dust.  We were sitting at an oudoor waiting area, when to locals came carrying the poor Chinese dude up the ramp.  He instructed them to lay him down on a table where he proceeded to flail around and looked like he could hyperventilate at any moment.  There were five locals rubbing his hands, feet, head and one lady standing on the table top fanning him and pooring cold water all over him.  It was quite a sight. 

Eventually, we made our way to the guest house and met the single moms and their kiddos.  Marie stayed late to make sure we had a good meal to eat  before we went to bed....spaghetti, chicken, french fries and chocolate cake!  It was yummy!  We were thankful to be off the plane, off the boat and on dry land. :) 

Just One More

We have just one more day at home before we leave tomorrow afternoon for Sierra Leone.  We are SO very excited to be going!  I can't wait to see the kids again, and to see Doug's reaction to all the Lord has to show him through this trip.

However, we could really use your prayers.  Here's a list of a few specific things you can be praying for over the next 10 days or so.

1. Safe travels.  It is harder to leave the boys this time, because Doug & I are both going.  Please pray that we arrive and return safe and sound.  
2. Peace of mind.  The kids are starting to get nervous and worried.  Pray that God would bless them with peace and a give them a measure of happiness while we are away.  I've had a lot of discussion with Carter about how God will take care of him even when I am not here, so please pray that God shows him in a way that would be clear and comforting to him. 
3. Clear "way" & open hearts.  Please pray that we would have clear opportunities to minister and share the Gospel while we are there, and that those individuals would have an open mind and heart toward us.  Specifically, we will be spending some time at the Children's Hospital praying with families and giving gift bags.  They will have some bread & peanut butter, along with the REAL "bread of life", a new Bible.   
4. Wisdom & guidance.  Please pray for Doug and I.  We feel very strongly that the Lord is leading us further in our walk with Him and into something new for our lives.  Through this trip, we are expecting to see some revelation about what that is.  Pray that we would be open and willing to do WHATEVER He calls us to.

Thanks SO much for joining me on this journey!!  Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated much more than you'll ever know.  I'm expecting to be able to post fairly frequently about what we're doing.  Lots of pictures to come...so stay tuned!

Countdown to Sierra Leone: 7 Days!

Well, we are down to only a week until our departure and we are just SO excited! 

Our flights have been rerouted, which has been a huge blessing.  With the airline change, we have one more flight change, which I'm actually happy about since it will give us time to walk around again before we head across the Atlantic.  We also get to take more luggage with us, which is just great!  We were having a problem with the weight of the peanut butter and getting the other supplies in the bags that we needed to take.  Praise God that He knew and took care of those details for us!

This past week has been busy.  We left home last weekend to see Doug's parents and I decided to stay at my sister's house with kids.  Doug is coming back to get us tomorrow.  We've still got some packing and organizing to do before we go.

We are very excited to be going, but Doug and I have never left the boys like this before.  Please pray for all of us.  Harrison seems to be getting sick, which is not a good thing.  He will struggle the most while we are gone.  If he is sick, mommy being away will make it even worse - for him and for my sister.  You can also pray for Kate, my sister.  She is going to be staying with the boys and her hands will be full with my three and AnnaJo, too.  Pray that God will give us all the peace we need to relax and enjoy this time, even though we will be separated. 

Thanks so much to those of you who have helped provide peanut butter and prayed with us to this point.  I appreciate your encouragement and prayers more than you know.  You are such a blessing!

Made To Crave

I have to tell you that I am not trying to lose weight this time without a little (a lot of) help.  About a month ago, I decided to join a Bible study at my church.  I'm new at the church and decided it would be a good way for me to get to know some ladies, mostly.  The name of the study is Made To Crave by Lysa Terkeurst.  I honestly didn't give the topic much thought.  I've done Bible studies about weight loss before.  I have tried EVERYTHING to lose weight and keep it off..I'm not even exaggerating.  Well, everything except surgery, I guess. 

At any rate, the study has been the reason I am giving this weight loss thing another try.  And...I have to say that my perspective is completely different now.  So, as I share what is happening on this part of my "journey to life", I'm sure I'll be referencing this book along the way.  We are about 4 weeks into the study, and the last week or so has really changed my thinking.

Made To Crave isn't a weight loss plan.  In fact, it really doesn't cover a food plan or way of eating at all.  What it does do is make you think about what scripture has to say about food and allowing God to have control over everything in your life...including your diet and health.  This is an excerpt that helped to think differently about my struggle.

But, what if this battle with food isn't the curse we've always thought it to be?  What if it's actually the very thing, if brought under control, that can lead us to a better understanding of God?  What if we could actually get to the place where we thanked God for letting us face this battle because of the rich treasures we discovered on the battlefield?
My friend E. Titus sums up with I am discovering as well:
When I get all caught up in how unfair it is that my friend is skinny and doesn't have to work at it, how she can eat what she wants when she wants, and how much it stinks that I can't be like her, I remind myself that God didn't make me to be her.  You see, He knew even before I was born that I could easily allow food to be an idol in my life, that I would go to food, instead of to Him, to fulfill my needs.  And in His great wisdom, He created my body so that it would experience the consequences of such a choice, so that I would continually be drawn back into his arms.  He wants me to come to Him for fulfillment, emotional healing, comfort - and if I could go to food for that and never gain an ounce, well then, what would I need God for?

Hmm...God knew me before I was born.  He knew what my struggles would be.  He created me.  He created me imperfect with issues, because He wanted me to learn to turn to Him.  That includes my issues with food.  He knew before I gained this weight that my true struggle isn't weight, it's trusting and leaning on Him instead of my own devices.  My own devices, food in this case, are harmful to my size and my health.  And, now I realize that He knows I can't do this on my own.  And I realize that I can't.  My own willpower isn't enough, and it's not supposed to be. 

A New Discovery & Confession

I've been pondering this post for a week or two now and I'm still not sure exactly where to begin.  So, I'm going to just jump in and let my brain unravel a bit.

I've blogged so much about Sierra Leone and our new found passion or orphans and mission work, that it's easy for me just to write about SL or things related to a trip, fundraising or whatever.  However, my intent when I started the blog was to just share my heart and the journey our family is on with the the LORD.  We've definately realized that a true willingness to let God have everything in our lives is hard, but the most joyful experience we could've imagined.  

In a lot of ways, we've come a long way in a couple of years.  We've sold lots of our stuff, given as much or more away, reached out to the poor and needy both here and in Africa.  We've sacrificed financially to make these mission trips possible.  So...we are making progress.  We're not "there" yet, but we are growing.

However, one of the areas of my life that I STILL struggle with and haven't truly been able to move myself out of is my weight.  It's been a life-long issue that I am just plain ol' tired of battling and had just given up.  As long as I can remember, I've felt fat.  It began when I was in elementary school and continues on to this day.  When I look back at pictures of myself in high school, I can't believe how great I looked.  I was athletic and healthy and looked fabulous.  The problem was, I didn't feel that way.  I wasn't a size 4 and I wasn't happy.  

Rollercoasters are not something I enjoy, even at an amusement park, but I've been on this dieting ride as long as I can remember.  Confession:  Today, I am heavier than I have ever been in my life.  More than when I delivered my babies, even.  Ugh.  I decided a while back that I just didn't care anymore and it really didn't matter.  I rationalized that as long as I was happy with myself, everything was just fine.  After all, being happy with myself was always the issue.  No matter what my size - I was never happy.  So, why go through the hassle of losing the weight again when the weight loss really wasn't going to solve to make me happy?  At least, I've learned that lesson.  Weight loss does NOT equal happiness.  I'm tired of feeling guilty, deprived, restricted, and like a failure...so why even try?  That's where my head has been over the last year and a half or so.

The problem with that line of thinking is that it just didn't reconcile with my heart for God and wanting to *really* live out my faith in a real and tangible way.  I tried for a while to just push it out of my head and ignore those small whispers of the Holy Spirit, but that just isn't working anymore.

I know that God's best for me isn't to be this size.  It's not all about size.  In fact...the size is only the result of the bigger problem.  The true issue is health, fitness, and prevention.  God's best for me is NOT heart problems or diabetes.  And, in fact, if those health issues crop up (and likely, they will) I won't be able to be the wife, the mom or the missionary he's called me to be.  

This battle really isn't about me at all anymore, actually.  It's about surrendering an area of my life to Christ that I've never been able to give up before.  An area that my enemy has won in the past, and used to keep me from fulfilling all the things I was created to do.

This week a shift in my thinking has happened and I pray that God continues to reveal Himself and His plan for me.  Please help me pray that I will have the courage and strength to grow even closer to Christ as I seek to give Him everything, including my issues with food.

Because this is truly another part of Our Journey To Life and living out Matthew 10:39, I'm going to start blogging about it.  I hope that the accountability to the blog will help me muster up some strength.  And, I hope that if any of you who might be reading struggle with these same issues, that I might be an encouragement to you, too. 

Concrete Christianity

As we are really getting focused and preparing ourselves spiritually, mentally and physically for our trip to Sierra Leone in just a few weeks, God has continued to show Himself faithful.  At every turn, we have confirmation that He is truly directing our steps and this trip is just exactly what He has for us right now.  I can't begin to tell you how excited we are to board that plane!

Coincidentally (not really...God is awesome how he orchestrates details like this!)  this upcoming week, the church we have been attending is having a missions conference.  We heard two sermons from two pastors today with the same core message......We need to have "Concrete Christianity."  Concrete versus abstract, that is.  Christianity with some action behind the theory.  Things that people can see and understand....in other words, concrete.

What started out, honestly, as a journey to a possible adoption has turned into so much more.  This is about so much more than saving one child or even one sibling group to add to our family.  This is about living out our faith....  Deciding what it is we REALLY believe in and putting action to the words we've spoken for so long.

I've been in church for a lifetime.  Served in the church since I was a young child.  Sang solos.  Led praise and worship.  Taught classes.  Organized choirs.  Directed children's ministries.  Led women's Bible studies.  These are all good things, don't get me wrong.  I hope and pray that all my involvement in the local church all these years has been a blessing to those around me.  However, right now I just don't feel like it's enough.  I know it's not, in fact.

I've learned alot about the Bible over the years, but have I truly lived like I believe it?  Regretfully...the answer is, "No, I haven't".  But times, they are a changin'!  And, thankfully, my God is full of grace and mercy and second chances!

So..in light of living out our faith, having "Concrete Christianity" and this weeks recent events, I was reminded of this scripture.  (Thanks, Sis, for posting it!)  

Luke  21:10-11  "Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise agains nation, and kingdom against kingdom and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."  vs. 25-28  "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  And then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory.  But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

We were reminded in church today that the death toll in Japan is now 10,000 and will probably rise.  How many of these people new Jesus?  Their lives are over.  In a blink of an eye, they are gone.

A young man lays flowers in front of the Japanese Embassy in Moscow in 

honor of the lives lost in the earthquake this week.

Matthew 28:19-20  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Doug and I are headed out to the nations.  Yes, we are spreading God's love just by loving on those precious orphans of His.  Yes, we are blessing a handful of people with some peanut butter and bread.  Unfortunately, the peanut butter will be gone quickly and we will board a plan to return home in just 7 short days.  However, the Word of God lasts forever and will not return void.  We would be wasting an opportunity to share the Gospel if we didn't take advantage of our time in a nation that is at least half muslim.  There are millions of people in Sierra Leone who need to know Jesus!

I know we have already asked for your help in providing peanut butter for the hospital, and I can't thank you enough.  Still, I'm going to give you another opportunity to partner with us by providing funds for us to purchase Bibles.  We'll take them with us and hand them out either at the hospital with the gift bags, or  to the poor in the community where we will be staying.  I found a source to buy cases of paperback New Testaments for just a little over $1 each.  There are 100 Bibles in the case, so the total will be about $105.  If you'd like to purchase one or all one hundred, we'd love for you to be involved if you feel led to do so.  You can use the Donate button on the sidebar.

Please continue to pray that we would walk by faith and be led by the Holy Spirit as we prepare to go and do work that will add to His Kingdom.

Much Love,
Jodi

Hospital Project Update

I just wanted to let you know that God has blessed us with plenty of peanut butter!  I think that my boys thought we might be eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from now until forever as they started seeing jars and jars of it being carried into the house.  hehehe

We are so thankful that you, our friends, and a local grocery store, Harter House, donated enough peanut butter that I am hopeful we'll be able to serve both the ICU and the Nutrition wards at the children's hospital in Freetown.  If God changes our plans, for some reason, we'll be putting the gift bags together for the poor who live in the community where we will be staying.  We know that whoever receives these gift bags will certainly be blessed by them.  Thank you so much for helping!

Please Come Along With Us!

Doug and I would love to invite you to be part of our journey to minister to the poor, the widow and the orphan in Sierra Leone!  We are leaving here March 31st and will return April 9th.   While in country, we will be spending lots of time at The Covering with the children and helping with odd jobs around the facility.  We are also hoping to be able to make a trip to the children's hospital I told you about in the last post.  We'd love for you to be involved with our mission and there are a number of ways you can do that.

A young boy abandoned at the hospital last year.
Hospital staff thought he was 4 or 5 years old.

1.  Please pray for us.  We, along with our friends Rich & Tiffany, will be leaving five children behind in the hands of very capable family members.  Please pray for our health leading up to our departure and while we are away, safe travels, and for our children who will be without both parents for 10 days.  Mostly, pray for God's will to be accomplished in Sierra Leone and in our hearts and lives.

2.  Sponsor a Care Package for $5.  Moms who have children admitted to the hospital are usually on their own and responsible for getting their own food (no cafeteria in this hospital) and sometimes even food for their sick babies.  We will be giving one care package to each mom in the ICU and the Nutrition Ward.  It will consist of a jar of peanut butter, loaf of bread, water, a small toy, and a couple of dollars.  You can provide a care package for one family for just $5!  This is a HUGE blessing to these mothers who are trying to care for their sick children.  We'll put your name on the bags you sponsor and even a note of prayer or encouragement if you would like.


3. Donate peanut butter.  We are hoping to be able to give a care package to each family in the ICU and the nutrition ward at the hospital.  The packages will include one regular sized jar of peanut butter, a small loaf of bread, water, a small toy, and approximately $2-3 cash.  If you live locally, I'll be happy to pick it up from you.  To feed both wards, we will need 50-60 jars.

3.  Donate gift bags.  Small gift bags with handles would be ideal, but nothing fancy is required.

4.  Buy bread & water.  We will purchase the bread and water just before we arrive at the hospital.  It will take approximately $100 to buy enough bread and water for both wards.  You can help provide these things by using the Paypal donation button on the right sidebar.

5.  Buy a T-Shirt.  For $18, you can purchase a Simply Love - Sierra Leone T-shirt.  The picture on the sidebar doesn't do it justice.  You can help us spread the word by purchasing one for yourself or someone else.  All proceeds from shirt sales thru March 4th will go toward providing care packages at Ola During.

6.  Spread The Word.  Even if you can't help right now financially - you can help us spread the word!  Please re-post this, put links on your posts, share it with your FB friends and Twitter!

To make a donation or buy a shirt, use the links on the side bar.  If you'd like to donate peanut butter or gift bags, contact me and I'll be happy to pick them up.

No matter what you choose to do to help out, THANK YOU!  We appreciate your efforts to help us serve those who are the "least of these"!

My last post was about the level of healthcare and service we have in American hospitals.  Today I want to share with you what a children's hospital is like in Sierra Leone.  The Raining Season has built a relationship with the Ola During Children's Hospital in Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone.

The team I traveled with last May was able to stop at the hospital and minister to the families there by feeding them, praying with them and holding their babies so the moms could get a much-needed break. It was a very emotional day that I'll never forget.  Of all the sights and experiences I had in Sierra Leone, the hospital is the place that touched my heart the very most.  I suppose because I have been in the hospital with my own son, I saw each of these kids and this place through the eyes of a mom.

To compare "apples to apples" so to speak, we'd need to compare it to one of the biggest children's hospitals in America.   The moms who make it to this hospital have come to the best place Sierra Leone has to offer in children's health care.  In fact, it is the only hospital dedicated to pediatrics in the country.   The staff of doctors is only four. Available medicines and treatment plans are very limited.  Even electricity is not reliable.

 This is what mom see as they walk up to the building.

Imagine carrying your sick baby on your back for hours, maybe days and walking up to this.  You would probably find a long line of women with their babies waiting to be evaluated.  You might be able to stay or you might not, depending on how many people were there and how much room the hospital had.  Healthcare for children under age five is now free, but the hospital is still lacking adequate staff and supplies.

If you were there because your baby is suffering from severe malnutrition and starvation, you would be taken into the ward shown in this short video.  There would be a bed for you and your child, but no sheets.  If you want sheets, you'll need to supply your own.  There will be a special formula for your baby, but no food available to you.  It would be up to you and the other mothers to arrange for the moms to have something to eat.  

If you have a child sick with malaria, TB, pneumonia or another serious condition you would be taken to the ICU.  The ICU looks very similar to the Nutrition Ward, except the beds have maybe a foot or two between them.   What's different about the ICU is that the hospital doesn't even provide food for the patients.  The pictures that follow were taken by TRS team members over the past year.

Please read the next post to find out what we are planning to do to help the families with children in this hospital.  Doug and I are excited to be traveling to Sierra Leone with another couple at the end of March, and we'd love to invite you to be part of our journey!

Good Gifts

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

Have you ever had sick kids?  I'm not talking about a little runny nose or pesky cough.  I'm talking about an illness or condition severe enough to put them in the hospital. 


Well, I hope you haven't, but I have.  I've been with my own precious son in the hospital and I've sat with my younger brother MANY hours over the course of his life...not to mention various children of friends along the way.  My son, Carter, has had two hospital stays of 2 or 3 days each.  My brother, unfortunately, has spent more days in a hospital than I can count. 

Children's Medical Center - Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Having sick kids is just so very stressful to the parents and to the whole family.  We want to protect our kids, keep them safe at all times, shield them from the hurts of the world, from being sick and definately from anything that would be tragic or life threatening.  Sometimes, though, we just can't help it.  And it is so very hard.  Hard to watch them cry.  Hard to see their fevers spike as they lay limp and lethargic.  Hard to hold them down while they are screaming in fear as blood is drawn or IVs are started.  Being the mom of a sick child is so hard and it hurts.

St. Jude Research Hospital

Thank God, though, for the nurses who hold your hand and give you encouragement as you are trying to control the tears welling up in your eyes...and for the beautiful, clean facility that is just standing there waiting for you as you pull your vehicle into a parking garage because something about the looks of that building just make you feel a little more confident that things are going to be ok....and for the surgeon with years of experience and surgery room that is sparkling with clean medical equipment....for the cafeteria with a buffet of choices...for the playrooms, libraries and stacks of movies for entertainment to pass the long hours....for semi-private and private rooms....for donors who contribute to these organizations so that our children can benefit from everything that is available...and so much more.

Children's Hospital at University of Pittsburgh

You see, a hospital stay is extremely emotionally exhausting and difficult...no doubt about it.  However, our sick children and their families have access to the best medical care in the world.   This is a promotional video for the hospital where my brother was most recently.




If you don't want to watch the video, here's a short list of services offered in an extraordinary, beautifully designed and built facility. (If you watch the video, skip the bullets.)

• Child Life Services that include: the ultimate playroom, library, educational materials, school room, social workers that will play and help your child deal with fear and anxiety caused from being away from  home, teen lounge and access to a roof-top, outdoor garden complete with garden swings, walking paths, and even a pond with stepping stones you can walk across.
• Ronald McDonald House for inpatient families that provides: a family room atmosphere decked out with beautiful leather furniture, a extra large flat screen tv, computer lab, kitchen where you can find free snacks and small meals, a refrigerator to store your food, coffee, tea, microwave, laundry rooms, showers, and a volunteer to answer any questions you might have or help you find other things you might need.
• a beautiful cafeteria and atrium dining area...a full buffet of food choices from burgers & fries to roast beef & mashed potatoes, pizza, salad, sandwiches, fruit, soda and snacks. It's a mini-grocery store.
• The Family Resource Center is a library of books and movies for your patient or waiting family to enjoy.  There is free internet and computer access here, as well.
• The Social Services Dept. is available to help your child deal emotionally with his/her hospital stay.  They provide charts and materials to help your child create a schedule for each day, provide information about services offered in the community and make sure you are as comfortable and happy as possible during this difficult time.
• Dining On Call offers room service for patients and parents.  Three times each day, meals are delivered for the patient and a parent.  A menu is provided and you get to choose whatever your rumbling tummy desires.
• In Room "Fun"...a tv w/dvd and gaming.  Plenty of satellite cartoon channels to choose from as well as age-appropriate closed circuit TV.  You can bring movies from home or check them out at the Family Resource Center.
• A chapel and chaplain to support and encourage 
• A gift shop 
• Beautiful artwork that adorns every wall and sculptures strategically placed for your enjoyment
• A parking garage adjacent to the hospital with an enclosed bridge over the street that opens directly to the front desk, where you will receive your visitor's badge or admitting instructions.

It's a wonderful, incredible place that brings hope and encouragement to families during a very difficult time.  There are so many more around the country that offer care at this level of service - and even beyond.  The people who have spent hours to develop these programs, services, facilities and teams of doctors, nurses and staff are angels among us.

So..THANK YOU    

Words aren't enough, but Thank You!  Thank You, St. Louis Children's for being there for my friends and family when they needed you.  Thank you for supporting and encouraging parents and putting smiles on children's faces even when they are hurting.  Thank you, St. John's Hospital, for taking such good care of my own baby!  Thank you for taking care of me while I was trying to take care of my son.  

THANK YOU to all the thousands of people in this country to devote their lives to helping restore health to others, even while they sacrifice the time and attention their own families deserve and need from them.  

And..Thank You, God, for putting me in this place and in this time where I have access to these wonderful blessings.  Thank you for giving people the desire to study biology, the developments that have come from it and the knowledge and wisdom that years of study and practice bring. Thank you for providing the needed funding to build the facilities that are pictured in this blog and so many others like them.  Every good gift is from You, and our access and level of health care is an incredible gift and blessing.  Thank You.  Amen