Friday, June 29, 2012

Friday 3:27am CST from Julie: Some of us are at the market today buying supplies with the Aland money.  Shopping for goods here is sooo funny!  We will try to blog tonight, we were all too tired yesterday.  Babies are NOT sleeping!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wacky Days/Nights in Otutulu

Where do we begin....Tuesday in the wee early morning hours the giggles began.  As mentioned in our previous blog, the women are caring for 2 little baby boys whom need a lot of attention, love and care.  It was Barb and Kim's night to do the night shift with the little squirts and did we have a night of fun.  Not only did we have to wake up every 2 hours to feed it was the critters that added to our evening.  First it was a fairly large roach that started up high on the wall then ended up crawling on Barb's back followed by "the giant monster roach" that appeared on our wall scaring us silly.  We figured out that it must have crawled over the flashlight casting a very large shadow on the wall.  Then a few hours later we heard banging behind the armoire in our room.  It was already mentioned to us there is a bit of a rat problem around our apartment and was ready to take action if necessary.  Our traps had not come out yet but after hearing the many bangs the traps are now placed out ready to catch these pests. So far, 2 roaches made it their resting place.

After waking up we had a full day ahead of us.  We witnessed a medical case that was hard to see.  A father and mother brought a baby girl, 5 months old, Faith, who has Hydrocephylus (spelling?).  Prayers need to be lifted for Faith and her parents as she only has a few months to live.  It was off to school to do art class with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders.  The kids enjoyed crayon rubbings, songs and marshmallows. What excitement these children had in doing this project and our time spent together.  We were taught "Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes" in their language, Igala.  It was fun for us to enjoy this time with them, too.  The afternoon brought time playing with the kids outside with baloons.  Oh did the kids light up when we came out with them.  What a joyous time we had playing and watching how much fun a simple baloon brought each of them.  Many pictures captured this moment for you all to see. 

These children are all so amazing and happy for us to be here.   Once we leave our apartment it is as if we introduced ourselves real loud for them all to come running.  They just know we have come outside because they are waiting for us to join them in play.  We are incredibly blessed to be here with these children meeting them, loving on them and attempting to learn names.  So many names to try to remember.  Thank goodness for cameras.

We all send you a big "hello" and our love. 

Posted by Kim

Monday, June 25, 2012

We're Here and Doing Well!

Hello from the MOM Orphanage in Otutulu Africa!  Our travels have brought us through many airports, long layovers, through many towns and BUMPY roads!  It was a 2 1/2 trip before we finally arrived at our ultimate destination.  We spent our first night at Hope Eden in Abuja.  It was a great place and we all learned how to shower with a pail of cold water and a cup to use to pour the frigid water over our heads.  The next morning we stopped by the Lakoja orphanage where we handed out, much to the thrill of the kids, Trix cereal and left them with a new blow up playhouse and slide set.  In return, they gave us two babies to care for the next two weeks.  The mothers of both of these babies had tragically died while giving birth.  The two new additions to our family are Jushua, a 3 week preemie and Ele, a 6 week old baby. 

We then departed for MOM and arrived mid afternoon.  Once there, we were greeted like we were rock stars with over 200 kids running out to meet us, all holding our hands as we got the grand tour. Today we made a trip into the market which is over an hour away from the Orphanage down, you guessed it, more bumpy roads.  Market was an absolute trip, with motorcycles, cars and people all swarming around like a bee hive.  One thing we learned was here in Africa, the cars and not the pedestrians, have the right of way.  With horns blaring and crowds moving, it was a challenge to cross the streets without getting pegged by a speeding motorcycle.  It was really an exciting experience, much different than going to our market in La Cantera!

While we were all dodging the cars and motorcycles, Barb stayed behind to care to the babies and play with some of the younger childern who don't yet go to school.  She said that while she was hanging out outside caring for the baby, at first a couple kids came out to hang with her.  Within a little bit, she had roughly  15 kids and aunties laughing and playing with her.  Barb used very sophisticated methods, like putting pipe cleaners in her hair to look like antennas, to attract the crowds.... if only we were around to take a picture of it!

The terrain around MOM is absolutely breathtaking, reminding several of us of the terrain found in Hawaii.  It is amazing to see such beauty serving as the backdrop of such poverty.  Even though the residents are poor, you would never know it by the smiles on their faces.  It has also been an absolute joy spending time with the kids at MOM who so appreciate the attention and love we try to give them.  A big thanks goes to our immediate families as well as our family at C4 for making this trip possible.  Nafedowe (We love you!)

Sunday, June 24, 2012

5:54am CST:  Team arrived safely in Anygba and will now turn to go up into the bush.  The women have been assigned to very small and weak babies to tend to.  Please pray for Ele and Joshua that they may do well and improve in our care.  Also that the women stay strong - making it through feedings in the night.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

10:18 am CST - Just landed safe and sound in Abuja!

Friday, June 22, 2012

From Julie on Friday at 6:57pm CST:  Team FINALLY boarding 1.5 hours late!  Still waiting for pilot to arrive.  Many delays and cancellations due to storms.  Everyone is doing great but anxious to get going.  Please pray for journey mercies and remember that the team will be arriving at least 2 hours late.  Love to family and friends, Team 21012

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

2012 Nigeria summer trip is almost here!!

Well,  in less than 2 days at this time the C4 team will have already taken our first flight and will be wondering around the airport in New York, passing the time until our next flight headed for Abuja, Nigeria. 

We are a small but mighty team of 6!  One awesome teen, one brave man, and 4 crazy woman.  We finished up our final team meeting on Monday and now everyone is scurrying around tying up loose ends.  I think we will all just be happy to get on the plane resting in the truth that God is in control. Not only of our little team but also when it comes to our families and responsibilities at home.

Different members of our team will take turns while in Nigeria updating you on our activities.  PLEASE feel free to reply or make comments!!  All of our team members are on there first trip of this magnitude and I know that hearing words of encouragement or love from friends and family from home is food for the soul. 

Well this team leader better go finish packing,
-julie