Hello!

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement, I can feel them every day. Monday and Tuesday were me and Katherine’s first two days of “work” and I enjoyed them greatly. The days went by really fast because we were so busy that we were exhausted each night. But it was a good kind of exhausted. On Monday, two of our little boys were adopted-one was adopted by a family in Holland and another by a family in Sweden. Katherine and I bathed them extra good and they looked great! One of the boy’s family changed his African name to a name that is common in our country. Most of the Holland adoptions usually change the children’s names. Two of the smaller babies were moved up into our group-they are about 3 months old. Let me tell you our schedule:
At about 6:45 a quick breakfast
7:00-wake up the children if not already awake (so fun!) Give baths and put on lotion, nappies, and clothes for the day. Door of Hope does not have heat, so the children need about 3-4 layers and we put a big coat on them! I am surprised about how cold it is here. Remember last time when I said that most winters are blue skies and sunshine? Well, it has been rainy and cloudy this week and has gotten cold! I wish I brought more warm clothes, but it okay wearing the same clothes again and again, right? It is not common for South Africa to have rain in their winter months; it is supposed to stop soon. Oh my, how did I get to talking about the weather?

After baths, which takes a while, it is time to feed the children and give medicines. About 5 are eating cereal and the others are still drinking from a bottle. Then we play and love the children until 10:15 and it is “tea time”. The children then take their morning nap. The tea is so popular here…putting a tea bag in a cup of hot water with lots of sugar and milk in it. I have tried it and it is yummy, especially on cold days it is nice to get something warm to drink. At 11:00 we have staff devotions, which is awesome. It is always great to read Scripture together and share how this Scripture has impacted our lives and how it speaks to us. It is also encouraging to share prayer requests and pray together. Then the children begin to wake up from their nap and we begin feeding lunch and changing nappies. Feeding the children lunch is fun but challenging. Many times, I have a hard time getting the child I feed to open his mouth wide enough, he wants to touch the spoon, getting very messy, and when he is eating, he spits the food out of his mouth at times…I laugh a lot during this time. At about 4:00 we begin to change the children into their pajamas. Then we play and love and feed more bottles and change more nappies. During the afternoon, I like to have music time with the children. We get out a few of the toys that are similar to little maracas and the children shake them to the beat.(well, you know, they try) I dance with a couple of the children and act crazy, clapping my hands and dancing around. A few of them look at me like I am a crazy person, but most of the children really enjoy this time. We sing and dance to a kid’s worship CD. And it has the song “How Great is Our God” on it, which is my favorite. Then about 6:00 it is night-night time. We tuck the children into bed and put lots of blankets over them so they do not get cold in the night. There are three rooms-one room for boys, another for girls, and another room where the youngest babies sleep.

Katherine and I have been blessed to get to know Maria and Heather from Virginia. They have become close friends of ours and they love the children so much. Heather brought her guitar and she has a beautiful voice. Maria plays the drums and also has a beautiful voice. One night, after Katherine and I had been working, Heather brought up her guitar and Maria got out a pot (she used it as a drum) and we praised God together in song. I am very thankful for their friendship.

This Wednesday, two week old twins were brought to the Door of Hope. They weigh under 3 pounds and are so small that they were put into the isolation room where only 2-3 aunties can go in to feed them because they can not get sick. The Mom brought the twins to the baby house that in the inner city and said that she could not take care of them and wanted them to be adopted and loved. I can not imagine how hard that must have been for her to do. In the isolation room, there is also a little girl who is HIV positive and she is battling this to her fullest. She is only two months old and so little. We give her several different types of medicine that helps her feel better and will hopefully help her get better. There is so much that can break your heart here, especially when you hear the children’s stories, but I keep remembering that God has a plan and purpose for every child that he fashions and creates beautifully. I am thankful for the opportunity to love and care for these precious children.

I have also been amazed at how small acts of kindness can show others love. Katherine and I went to the mall on Wednesday and ate lunch out. We then decided that we wanted a CD to play in the car and to play upstairs when we are working with the children upstairs as background music. We found a three pack of Hillsong CD’s for about 99 rand, which is about 15 dollars in America. I asked the cashier lady if she was having a good day and she looked at me funny and said, “Why do you want to know?” I told her that I was asking to be nice and because I cared about her. She smiled really big and told me that I had just made her day. She actually came around the counter to hug me and ask about where I was from and why I was in South Africa. I was also surprised how this small act of kindness meant so much to her. Do I take the time to do this in Yadkinville and Boone? I challenge you to think how you can show someone love and kindness through a small act today.

Tuesday night was the first time that I had felt homesick and cried when I called home. You see, Lucas was graduating that night from Forbush and I wanted to be there to support him and when I called home, everyone, including Uncle Buster and his family from Charleston were there and I was sad. But Momma reminded me that I am doing what God has called me to do; she encouraged me so much. And then I cried when I called JJ…but then I wrote God a long letter and looked at the Scriptures that comforted me greatly. I have been absolutely fine since then, but at night sometimes I can get a little bit homesick. Mom, Dad, and Lucas left today to go to Costa Rica to celebrate Lucas’s graduation and I hope they have a fun, safe trip.

Scripture I want to share with you that has spoken to my heart greatly these past few days:

Colossians 1:9-14 Paul prayed “…asking God to fill you with all the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this so that you may live a life WORTHY of the Lord and may PLEASE him in every way: growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great ENDURANCE and PATIENCE, and JOYFULLY GIVING THANKS to the Father….”

When I was so homesick and sad on Tuesday night, God led me to this verse:
John 12:26 “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
My study notes said “In God’s will is the safest place to be because not only are we glorifying God by following Him, but we are also covered by His grace and power in a might way.”
I realized that as Christ’s disciples, we must follow where He leads us, because only when we follow His will can we find true purpose, fulfillment, and joy. God reminded me that He was with me and I should not be homesick….

I love you all and thank you for taking the time to read my blog and encourage me. J

If you could pray:
~for the 4 children who are very sick here and need God’s healing
~for loving, Christian parents to be found for each precious child
~that Katherine and I will be lights of love here to the “aunties”, “uncles”, and other volunteers

If there is anything that I can be praying specifically for any of you, let me know! I have lots of free time on my days off and am able to spend much time in prayer and reading the word. If you do not want to post it on the blog for others to see, email me at rb75848@gmail.com.

Thank you so much!