Nede

Nede is a ball of energy, mischief, and outright trouble.  She also tries to get herself out of all punishment with a smile, contagious laugh, and a big kiss and hug.  She know right the right buttons to soften you.  Her mother died only about 2 years ago and so she has memories of her.  She remembers what family is like.

The search for her family was a long one that only the Lord could orchestrate.  It started with a couple failed meeting attempts with a one armed man (appropriate literal translation for the name he went by) at a market about 70 km away. 

Then one of the aunties at the clinic I work at overheard conversation and said that she knew where Nede's family lived.  So on one very hot afternoon she took us to where she thought we needed to go.  It turned out to be a distant relative, very distant.  But there was relation and they knew who we were looking for.  The day in total was a 40 min ride on paved road, 70 min on bush road (which in only meant for foot traffic not car) and then 4 hours of walking through the bush with a very spry elderly Mozambican women who was tiring us all out.  My confidence waned a little each time we got close to a house.  Close enough for them to hear her yelling at them asking if the people we were looking for lived there, still lived where she thought they lived and if anyone had seen them lately.  But this was bush, bush.  Kind of what I would imagine the prairie to be like back in wagon days.  The families stuck together and did not venture out too much.  The reports received from each call out were very vague but enough to keep our guide going so we all kept going. 

This is the second visit to the family we eventually found.  Nede is sitting on her grandmothers lap.  He father is first on left.  Middle is a faithful servant and translator and the right is Nede's grandfather.

Nede lived with her grandparents for a while but now lives with her father and his first wife.  Nede adjust very well in the beginning but I've been told that she has become very quiet and withdrawn as of late.  Please keep her in prayer too.  That she is safe and protected, healthy, that whatever is causing her sadness would be lifted/revealed, and that she would be free to be her normal joyous, mischievous self. 

Tenache

Saying that Tenache is special little girl is an understatement in relation to the little part.  She is four years old now and is still tiny!  But as it seems to go, her personality is not to be missed.  She knows what she wants and how to get it.  It's usually by bruit force with a furrowed brow and a quick grab.  She also craves hugs and cuddle time.

When she first went home she lived with an auntie, sister of her father.  Her father was still alive at the time but very sick with AIDS.  After he died, the auntie took her to live with her sister because of cultural beliefs and fears.  The sister gladly took her in and she is doing great.  She is more at peace in herself.  The feistiness is still there but the furrowed brow doesn't bend quite as much as it used to. 

This is the family she lives with now.  Tenache is front row left and her sister is in the middle.  This is still a culture of polygamy, the women are all married to the same man.  But Tenache is well cared for, loved, and belongs.

A prayer request for Tenache is for her health.  She really is a little girl; small in stature, low weight.  Since I have known her she has been very prone to malaria.  The difference of her being at home is that her caregiver now is not a nurse with immediate access to medicine.  She gets very high fevers quickly and convulses at a lower temp than the average child.  It is scary for one thing and not safe for her.  The family does a good job getting her treatment when needed but this is Africa.  The nearest hospital is about 15 km away and the only transportation at night time is walking.  A night is a long time to wait when a child has high fevers.  Please pray first of all for complete healing and protection from malaria and also that with all illness the family would continue to seek medical help from the hospital and not from traditional medicine.  That also is a very real thing here. 

Toni

Toni has always had a contagious smile.  He has an easy laugh that can get him out of most anything.  He is very creative and tries hard to be obedient.  He has one of the biggest hearts I've ever known in a 5 y/o.  He is someone whom I wish all would have the opportunity to meet and know how special he is.

This is his family (and some neighbors too).  His dad is on the right next to Toni.  Grandma is back middle, and step-mom is back left.  He has 2 little sisters and one older sister. 

I can not express how delighted Toni's dad is with him and being able to have him at home.  He works as a guard at the orphanage where Toni lived the first 5 years of his life.  He has known nothing else.  Toni's dad has watched him grow up from birth but he never interacted with him; in the beginning, when he was asked if he could he was not allowed.  He stopped asking and Toni stayed at the orphanage knowing from an early age that his dad worked 100 yards from where he lived..  I honestly had a hard time walking by the guard house without a feeling of disgust against this man who seemed to be the deadest of all deadbeat dads.  But when he was approached about taking Toni home there was no hesitation.  His response was, "Yes, when can we start?"  From that moment on, there was no looking back.  Since Toni's first day at home, neither him nor his dad desire anything else.  When we got together to go swimming for Christmas, Toni had to be convinced that I would bring him back home and not take him to the orphanage.  It was a big struggle for him.  We all had to promise him several times that I would bring him back and then his dad had to carry him to the car.  Once we picked up the other kids he relaxed and had  fun.  But he was ready to go back home.

There are a lot of reasons I can come up with as to why Toni was not allowed to live with his dad before; a lot of people I can blame.  But that doesn't matter anymore.  He has been restored unto his daddy.    The redemption of a father and son.  I know this makes the Father smile.

Dorca and Agosto

This is Agosto and his auntie Dorca at their home.  His sister Dorca was away with their cousin having corn ground this day.  They were at the orphanage because Agosto was being neglected by this same family who now are taking good care of both him and Dorca.  I've seen the pictures and heard the stories of when he first came to the orphanage.  He was severely malnourished with fine, red, brittle hair.  Big unhealthy round tummy.  Severe thrush throughout his mouth and gut.  He was a sick little boy.  Dorca came because her little brother was not doing well without him.  He would cry out for her and only her for the two weeks he was there without her. 

At the orphanage Agosto was quiet, contemplative, slow to speak, slow to smile.  He appeared happy and  content but something was missing.  Since going home he has blossomed into a confident young man with an easy gentle smile. 

Dorca has had a harder time going home.  She had an easy life at the orphanage compared to life for any 8 y/o girl in the bush.  She has had to learn to fetch water, cook, care for younger cousins.  It is not just playing and going to school any more.  She does say that she would rather be there than at the orphanage. 

For girls especially, orphanages don't help equip them for a hopeful future.  The orphanage is a very western setting compared to the average and even higher than average lifestyle in Mozambique. In the orphanage, there is no need to walk miles to collect water. There is no concern for where the next meal will come from,  no understanding for why the ability to grow a garden is a necessity for life.  The most common professions for girls here are teaching, nursing (which is still predominantly male), being a wife, and prostitution.  If they do not have the aptitude to be a teacher or nurse, they do not come out of the orphanage with very desirable skills to be chosen as a wife by a Mozambican man.  So that basically leaves one option.    

Compared to the other children that are at home, Dorca and Agosto have it the hardest.  Their family is the poorest.  The relatives left are the most distantly related: a grandmother and an aunt.  They attend the poorest, most over crowded school.  But I know that there is no way the family would have welcomed them back unless it was the Lord's will for them.  He will protect them and provide for them.  I still get to be involved in their lives with visits and am able to help when they need.  They have recently had a new roof put on their house and are in need of a new house all together.  Once the rainy season ends, that process will begin.  It is the hunger season now and so they occasionally need help with food. 

It is still hard sometimes to understand that this is what is best for them, what the Lord knows is best for them.  My eyes still look through western glasses that see poverty and pain not the Lord's protection, provision...plan.  He loves them more than I am capable of and His plans are greater than I can even desire for them.

Passing of Time

Writing on this blog has been one of the things that unfortunately has turned out to be one of the last things I do.  I apologize to all who still are checking this site and am also amazed by you. 

Allow me to go back to Christmas and thank all of you who sent and helped in sending gifts for me and the kids (I received the packages the Christmas Eve and just received one of the packages today.  Go figure)  It was a great time with us all together again.  At the time 4 of the kids had been reintegrated with their families and all of them had been home for at least a month.  They all were missing each other and so was I.  It was good to be together again.

After all of us were together, we went swimming at a local hotel that has graciously allowed us to go swimming there once a week for free.  It was a great blessing. 

 

 

Tony playing in the playground after swimming.

 

 

 

 

 

After swimming we went back to a friend's house and opened Christmas gifts.  I wish everyone involved could have seen their excitement and confusion.  They have opened wrapped gifts before but not often and it took a little encouragement to get the kids to open them rather than just hold them and save them for later. 

 

Nune concentrating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vasco delighted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also had a birthday cake for Jesus and sang Him Happy Birthday.  One of the kids favorite songs.

 

 

 

 

(I have to add a story here, even if it's only to help me remember.  I went down to where the children live one afternoon and Gina, one of the 2 y/o twins was playing a in big pile of sand sticking sticks into it.  She was very serious in her work.  Then her brother Nune comes and starts helping her.  When all the sticks are sufficiently pointing up out of the sand pile, Gina starts singing "Dear Nune to you.  Dear Nune to you." Of course to the tune of Happy Birthday. - One of the favorite moments I hope never to forget.)

A lot has changed since Christmas.  First, all but 3 of the kids have been reintegrated back into their families.  I'll share their complete stories in separate blogs.  They are all doing splendidly.  I am still able to visit them at least monthly but the need for doing so is not to assure their safety any more.  They are all doing so great.  The two girls who do not have family; Carolina (6) and Carina (1) have hopeful adoptions into Mozambican families.  It is only by the will of God that Carolina has a family that desires a 6 y/o rather than a baby.  They are a pastor and his wife in a nearby town who have been unable to have children and greatly desire to have a child.  Carina's hopeful family is a women whom I work with at the clinic/nutrition center.    Please keep them and the processes in your prayers.  That nothing would prevent the adoptions and that the Lord would provide for and bless the families. 

Getaway

Just a quick note to update. The Lord has paved the way for one more of the little ones to live with her family, an Auntie. I visited her for the first time after 2 nights of being with her new family and she was too content to even bother greeting me! That provides for a great feeling. She too wanted to stay and not come back to the mission. Praise the Lord!

I know am in South Africa with a friend on a short getaway. It is good to have a bit of a break and change of scenery. Puts things in a bit of a more complete perspective. It is too easy to get busy with the immediates of life and forget about the world around...that there is a world outside of yours. The children are all being taken care of by very competent hands and am thankful for the help and chance to get away. Blessings! South Africa is a beautiful country to visit as well.

There's no place like home.

I don't even know where to begin...

I believe I have written the statement that 'I don't have the right raise these children unless I can guarantee that I can do a better job than their families'.  If I haven't written it before know that I've been pondering it and praying through it a lot.  The truth is that all but 2 of the children do have family; fathers, grandmothers, sisters.  The reasons they are here at the orphanage vary and all are valid reasons.  Part of it is that they were at a very vulnerable age when they were first taken in.  They had no rights within the families.  No ability to speak for themselves.  They are older now, knowing right from wrong.

I have many personal struggles with the idea of reuniting them with their families.  Most selfish.  I love these kids more than I have known love for anyone.  The Lord has captured my heart for them.  I know that this love is a love that is only from Him.  I'm not capable of it.  I came here willing and thinking that He was asking me to take them all, keep them all, and create a family.  Not exactly.  He has asked me to love them enough to reunite them with the families He created them to be in.  Children belong in families, not in orphanages.  Period.  It sadly isn't always possible.  But for some it is. 

Dorca (8) and Agosto (5) have been at the orphanage for about 2 1/2 years.  Right now they are at their grandmother's home on their 3rd visit.  We (Adao, a friend who has been helping me and I) returned to pick them up after the first visit and Agosto did not want to come back!  Dorca was ready to come back.  The reason they are at the orphanage is because Agosto was being neglected by the grandmother and the rest of the family for cultural/spiritual reasons.  He was severely malnourished when he came.  Dorca was brought in later because Agosto was very lonely for his big sister and he needed her close by. 

The grandmother who neglected him is the same one who now has accepted him and Dorca back.  The last time I took them home, Agosto went over to where she was sitting right away and sat next to her.  Content.  Where he belongs.  With his grandmother.  Please believe that this is only of the Lord.  He has changed her.  I am told that the grandmother's response is not the norm.  I was anticipating having to fight for Dorca and Agosto.  To convince the grandmother that they belonged with her.  But there was no need.  She has welcomed them back.  Both Dorca and Agosto are now doing very well at home.  The only problem is that they are missing there friends here at the orphanage.  Very understandable.  They come back for a few nights and then are ready to be at home again.

Toni (5) just finished his first visit to his father's home.  It lasted 1 week.  He was supposed to come back after 3 nights but he too did not want to!  His father did not want him to come back either!  While visiting, the dad's wife (not Toni's mom) said that 'Toni is a happy, fun boy and nice to have around'.  She said it with a big smile.  Since she is one who takes care of the children, her acceptance is huge.  Culturally a child whose mother died is considered an orphan.  They do not usually live with the father.  Praise the Lord!  Toni gets to live with his dad and he looks great!  He too is where he belongs.  He is with his family.

Toni is the one the Lord used to really begin the prayers for this process.  Around 1-2 months ago, before bedtime, he asked if he could go live with his papa.  Toni didn't really know what that meant.  He has lived at the orphanage since he was a baby.  He knew who his dad was.  They even saw each other weekly but they never interacted.  So we began to pray every night for his papa and that someday Toni could live with him.  I also began to pray with all the kids that they could have a chance to grow up in and be loved by a family.  For Dorca, Agosto, and Toni the Lord has begun the processes of answering those prayers.  Being faithful to fulfill the desires of their hearts.  The desires He placed there.  We will continue to try to walk along the path He made.  Continuing as fast or slow with the process as the children need. 

My commitment to their lives continues no matter where they are living and in a way seems stronger when they are home because I believe that is what is best for them.  I want to facilitate that as much as possible.  Also, my love for them exists no matter where they live.  I don't know what our future together looks like but pray the Lord will allow me to continue to be part of their lives in some way. 

Please pray for these 3.  Specifically for protection from illness, continued blessing in the transition home, and peace about being there.  Please pray for the others (Vasco, Nede, Tenache, Nune, and Gina) that the Lord would prepare them and their families just has He has been faithful to before.  For Carolina and Carina, that He would allow them to be part of and loved by a family as if they were born into it.  For me, continued strength and endurance.  I know what it is to be weary, (feak and weable as a friend here would say).  I know that many are praying for me because I would not still be here if it were not so.  Pray for continued provision for us all.  I plan to go vehicle shopping tomorrow.  A vehicle has become a necessity this last month because of taking the kids home and visiting them.  I have no clue what car buying looks like in Mozambique.  I guess I will find out tomorrow.   Thankfully, friends have been borrowing me their vehicles when I have needed one.  There are GREAT people over here that I get to walk along side of (and slightly behind).  I am blessed.  The Lord is faithful.