A visit to Julia's "first family" home

Since we will not be around for awhile, we took a trip to Julia's first home to let her family know that we going to America for awhile.

Julia's "first mom" is not doing well. She was much less alert and aware this time. She has no idea who Julia is. The whole time we were there, her mother never got off the ground.

It is so hard to imagine that this is Julia's home. This is where her life began. This is where she would be today if her uncle had not taken her to the government children's home, which he did for her own safety.

I can't even imagine how different my little girl's life would be if even a few things had played out differently in her first year. It is obvious that she does not fit well in that environment. Her personality would be squashed and her brightness would be extinguished in that place. Yet, all the while, it is her home. It is where she came from. It is her family.

Once again, my little Julia's life is a very clear picture of God's redemptive grace.

Things I will miss....

Yeseterday's post was a glimpse into the life that I will not miss, but the good outweighs the bad, and here are some things I will miss....

* Welcoming new babies into our home,
* Happy fruit ladies (Maggy & Grace) at my car door when I stop in town,
* Amazing flowers in bloom year-round,
* Boys who still greet me with excitement each time I drive in my gate,
* Beautiful Kenyan faces,
* Beautiful baby faces,
* Zebras on the side of the road,
* Warm welcomes from friends/waitstaff at our local restaurant each time we walk in,
* My Coke Lite w/ice brought to me almost before I sit down at Guava,
* Hearing "Mama! Mama!" when I drive up at the baby house, (already missing that since our "talkers" have left),
* Walking around with a baby in my arms or on my hip,
* my Land Cruiser Prado,
* aunties singing with babies,
* beautiful, exotic looking birds in my yard,
* boys playing futbol in my yard,
* a shamba full of vegetables in my yard,
* the view of Lake Nakuru and the National Park on my 3-minute drive to the baby house,
* Kenyan accents,
* Kiswahili (sort of),
* Knowing there are giraffes strolling through the National Park I see in the distance,
* Collins's pretending to have hurt feelings,
* Maina running with the puppies,
* Freddy's confused look when he thinks something is funny,
* Patrick's sneaky laugh,
* Humphrey pretending Dora the Explorer with Julia,
* boys redundantly singing "Happy Birthday" and "Jingle Bells" for hours, just for love of a 2 yr old,
....just to name a few.

And I have to stop there before I become a basket-case thinking of how hard it will be to drive away from the ones I love. In one week.

This is Kenya

There are many things that I will miss when we go to America - and I will share some of those in the next few days - but there are many things that I will not miss about living in the country, this country that I do love. Still it can be a frustrating place to live at times. 


While in America, I will not miss.....

* Boiling water to wash dishes,

* Days when there is no water coming from the tap,

* Matatus,

* Faces of abandonment - everyday, 

* Government officials giving directions to write in false info in official documents,

* Using pad locks to lock my doors,

* Seeing absolute desperation every time I leave my house,

* Power outages,

* Nakuru dust covered floors every afternoon,

* Being swarmed & followed down the street by people begging for money,

* Waiting for cows,

* Waiting for goats,

* "Mzungu! Mzungu!"

* Seeing glue boys,

* Drought caused starvation,

* Poverty cause starvation,

* "Tax Collector" stops (aka: police road checks)

* Boiling water to take a bath,

* Death, 

* People nodding and saying "yes" when they really have no clue what you are saying,

* Pit latrines for public restrooms,

* Traffic jams - and, no, the ones in Houston do NOT even compare!

* Bad roads - and, no, west Texas country roads do NOT come close to comparing!

* Smells,

* Officials hinting for bribes,

* Milk in a box or bag,

* hard-to-crack eggs,

* Picking up the pieces & dealing with unrealistic expectations of Kenyans due to foreign visitors who think they are doing the right thing by giving money, giving things, putting Band-Aids on bigger problems.


Many real things. Many superficial things. That is life. That is a glimpse into my life. Though I love my life and love what I do, there are things I will not miss about it. There are reasons why I need to take a break, to go home, to refresh, regenerate, and regain perspective.

I hope you read this as a glimpse into the reality of my daily life, not as a complaining list of negatives in my life. 


Because at the same time, I still count my many blessings in the wonderful life.....

286. Chasing a sunset.

287. Sending Little Girl off on her first game drive without mama.

288. Jully & Julia and Lizzy & Elizabeth out on an adventure.

289. First box to America PACKED!!

290. Days in single digits!!

291. Elizabeth singing & playing guitar for the boys.

292. Fun new shawls made by CH ladies.

293. One of the CH lady’s small bonus, big impact.

294. A line of blue backed birds on a wire.

295. Fresh baked brownies for the boys.

296. Boys acting silly.

Welcome Deli!

This little beauty was welcomed into Haven of Hope yesterday afternoon, just 12 hours old.

Fidelis (Deli) was named by her mother before she handed her over to us. I have known about this situation for some time and was prepared to take her into our home as a safe haven. We do not know how long she will be with us, but it is our hope that she will be able to safely return to her mother within the next two years.

Please pray for this little girl's mother, a child herself. She just gave birth to her father's baby and is now facing the repercussions of her family's wrath, though innocently caught in the web of cruelty. Though it seems illogical and unreasonable, it is the common view and reaction of some tribes here. Rather than the family and clan directing their anger at the father of the girl, they accuse the daughter and demand punishment, even death. At this point, the baby would not survive if she was taken into the family's home. We will be a safe haven for Deli until the time it is safe for her to return to her mother, until she can properly care for baby, until the family's anger has died down, until the situation settles, until the baby is old enough to not be easily "discarded" or thrown out.

Until that time, we pray for the mother of little Deli, and we will take advantage of every moment we have this little angel in our home, showing her Jesus, loving on her and giving her all the things she needs to begin a strong, valued life. She is a Cherished One!

276. Newborn, head still in need of a warm, cleansing bath.

277. Aunties’ welcoming yelps and joyous shouts for a new baby.

278. Teeny tiny newborn cries.

279. Cries for the tight comfort of a mother’s womb.

280. Soft squeezes.

281. Watching volunteers experience the joy of a new baby in the home.

282. Happy Auntie Jully, loving a new baby.

283. Auntie Maggie claiming “her girl” from Day 1.

284. New baby wearing the gift of our Cherished Handworks ladies.
285. Eyes squinting open, Deli's first glimpses of her new world.

Counting blessings....

Yes, I am still counting God's little blessings in my life, reminders of His great love. The everyday graces that I will miss while enjoying a different kind of blessing in America....

258. Twin baby bottoms sleeping in a princess tent.

259. Little Sammy smiles and steps.

260. William, becoming independent, sitting and playing like a big boy.

261. Sisters

262. Pre-cry pouty lips.

263. Unsolicited hugs.

264. Tent time fun with boys and aunties.

265. Healthy boy, healthy cheeks.

266. Joseph in overalls, cookie-eating little man.

267. Screen play

268. Fat cheek girl’s slight smiles.

269. Never-ending Uno game.

270. Guitar lessons from a new friend.

271. Quick picnic before the storm rolls in.

272. Tentative taste of new foods.

273. A big brother to play with, even in a princess tent.

274. Little brother’s tear stained cheeks.

275. Brothers’ forgiveness.

Yes, a blessed life indeed.

Letters to Julia - 11 Days and loving others, always

Dear Julia,

In just 11 days we will leave on the biggest adventure of your life! I can't wait to show you America! I know we are going to have a wonderful time. Your family there is so excited to meet you, and you are ready to meet them, too.

As I was praying for you this morning, I was thinking about how much I enjoy watching you love others. Yesterday while the babies were here, you were such a good big sister. You always know when others need love.
When we visit Heshima...

When we do street boy ministry...

Or when the babies just need a little extra love...

I pray that as you grow, you know real love in your life so that you can always give it to others. May you know how greatly you are loved by me, your friends and family, and above all, your Heavenly Father, so that love will always freely flow from your heart, naturally and abundantly.


I love you, Baby Girl!
~Mommy

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us."

(Ephesians 5:1-2a)

Father God, may my little girl always be sure of Your love for her. And because she knows love, let her ever show it to others.

Fun play day at Mama na Juju's house

We had a super-fun Saturday with the Haven of Hope babies! The babies and aunties all came over to my house for the day, and we had a lovely time!

The babies did great! They enjoyed being outside for the day....

Kennedy

Sam

Julia ~ David ~ Collins

Joseph ~ Auntie Tracy

Eating lunch....

Angie ~ Kennedy

Auntie Suzy ~ Julia ~ William

Hair time for Lizzy...

Napping...

Winnie ~ Annabelle

Kennedy ~ William

Well, most babies napped anyway...

These are the things I will greatly miss. What a blessed life I lead.

You can see more pictures of our fun day on Elizabeth's blog at.... "A Bigger Plan"