Meet Chumba and Franco

According to the UN World Food Programme, over 1 billion people in the world don't have enough to eat. That's more than the entire population of the United States, Canada, and the European Union. Every 6 seconds a child dies from malnutrition and related causes.

This past week we had two children referred to us.  Actually there was about 15 but how do you decide who to take and who to wait on?  It's incredibly difficult.  We decided with our social worker to take the two neediest.  Leaving the place with kids hanging on us wanting to leave with us was so hard to say we will be back.  But because of those that have partnered with us to save lives, we can rest knowing we will be back to get them.  This is part of what sponsorship enables us to do.  

So meet our two newest babies!  

This is Kennedy Kipchumba, he knows his name as Chumba.  

 His mom is now in prison for wanting to kill him.  There was no family that wanted him.  We were told they thought he is about one years old since he just learned to walk.  We knew he was sick, we just didn't realize how sick.  The first time I picked him up, he was just in a tattered shirt, his bottom so very rough.  Diapers are hard to come by here and using cloth would just mean more laundry with more soap that cost something.  I took him to the doctor and found that he is probably almost 2 years old, he is just very malnourished.  I was a bit shocked but then again, not much surprises me these days.  The first time in the car ride, he cried and held on tight.  He probably had never been in a vehicle.  He was incredibly timid at first and it was obvious he cried a lot as a baby since his cry is so, well, off.  There's not much of a sound but you can tell he's sad and weak.

We also brought Franco home.  Franco is at least 5 years old.  He is a funny little kid.  He was orphaned due to the post election violence back in 2007.  He's smaller than our son Elisha.  Elisha just turned 4.  They are best buds though.  It's sweet to see them play together.  They both talk to each other in a different language, expecting the other to understand.  Neither of them understand each other but somehow continue to communicate without frustration.  I guess trucks and superhero action figures can bond any two little boys, regardless the culture.

 Chumba is now getting strong and healthy again.  Amazing how quickly a child can bounce back with medicine, good diet and a lot of lovin.  It turns out that Chumba is a very happy baby with a joyful personality.  We just couldn't see that at first from the malnourishment.

Thankful to see lives saved and restored before our very eyes.  Consider how you could sponsor the life of one of these boys.  They are orphans no longer but have a big family that loves them very much!

Everything's Rosie

I've been a little out of touch on updates. We now have 7 children in our home! OK, so technically one is an adult now (19yrs old) and two are teenagers, but none the less, we are a big family. Which I am so enjoying. But it means we're a taaaad more busy :-).

About a month or so before going back to Texas for a visit, we rescued Sharon and Phillip, who I recently wrote about. They were temporarily at a street kid rehabilitation center. This place is good for what they do which is get kids off the street, rehabilitated and back to their original homes. We have a huge heart for street kids but our mission is mainly to rescue orphaned, abandoned and completely destitute children. The two are quite different. And this street kid place is not a good permanent place for them. It's not a home. Every child deserves a home.

So when we rescued Sharon and Phillip, we met several children needing homes. Two of them were Josephine and Rosie. Josephine is 12 and Rosie is 3. They are sisters. Come to find out they also had a sister born in between them but she died. Their mother died in the hospital and had no extended family to go to. So they were abandoned in the hospital until placed at this rehabilitation center. When first meeting Rosie, she was in rags with no shoes, a snotty nose and bloated belly. But when she smiled, it lit up the room. My heart was won over very quickly with her beautiful smile and super shy but quirky personality. Josephine was similar, with a huge beautiful smile. She is tall and very thin. They were strongly on my heart while we were in the states. When we came back I just kept wondering when we'd be able to go get them. We wanted to settle in a bit and not overwhelm Claire and Elisha. As soon as it felt like the right time, I was there. Last week we went with our social worker to visit the girls and see what other children were needing placement. It was heart wrenching to hear many children's stories filled with destruction, abuse, and brokenness. The urgency to see love and justice show up rose up within me.

I couldn't leave without the girls and our social worker along with their staff felt it was great timing. So I picked them up under my arm and ran out as quickly as possible. No, not really, but the football liking side of me pictured myself doing that a few times. Actually there were about 10 others hanging off of me that would come too. We'll get them soon.

I'm thankful for a husband that was happy to receive them in our home temporarily. He was quickly won over too.

It's always a joy to see their fun personalities come out within days of staying with us. Going from being shy and timid to laughing and full of joy. They are really precious girls. Rosie has shown us what a hard headed little girl she can be. But with Jesus, he gives us grace and guidance needed with her (a pretty cool story on that I'll share later). Josephine and Rosie have been able to bond as sisters better. They are now going to school at Mattaw everyday and like it out there.

We are still trying to open house four by next week but might have to delay a week. Wanting to ensure all is in place and ready for a house full!

Until then, we just keep lovin on these precious girls, showing them what family looks like. Elisha and Claire have welcomed them in with arms wide open. We have the occasional tiffs between Rosie, Elisha and Claire over toys. Normal kid stuff to work through. And teaching them how to use an actual toilet has been, um, interesting. Overall though, it's been a sweet time.

Rosie is almost four but not much bigger than Claire, who will be two in a few weeks.

And she is finding new friends at Mattaw. Some pictures just don't need explaining :-)

Around here.... Everything is Rosie.