babies babies and more babies...

(Michelle, Jeni, Faith, Donna K, Donna B, Christina, & Cara)

What a great day we had today. This is the group of wonderful ladies I traveled with to Liberia. We share a passion for a common cause here and that is the sharing of our talents to help and encourage others while making a difference. While it is hard to see the struggling and the poverty, we also make time for some fun. Today we spent a little bit a time at the beach as well as we met several families with new babies in need.

We met with a family who had new born twins- boy and girl named Paul and Pauline. They were 2 1/2 months old but it was evident that they were born very small. They might be 6lbs now? Mom is a teen and her mother passed away and was buried yesterday. Her mom was the care giver of the twins. Mom doesnt feel she can raise them and wants them adopted. It was sad to see her in her grieve and certainly not a time to be making a decision. We were there to lend some support however we could.

Here Cara is sharing a little about adoption process and their options. And advising that while Liberia is not open to adoptions currently other than special needs, it will be very soon as she has been told and it can be discussed then. However kinship care is another option, and certainly seeing if the community can support.

This little boy definitely was not happy about having to follow his mama instead of being carried. It was funny.. no matter what country and whose kid it is. He was being very dramatic.

We also followed up with the twins we posted several months ago who ended up with wonderful sponsors through GOO to help them. Their names are Hattie and Harrison. Simply adorable. Everyone wanted to pack them in their suitcase and take them home. ha. Their foster parents are doing a wonderful job caring for them until adoptions open and an adoptive family can worked with an accredited agency in Liberia to complete their process.

Michelle and Cara holding beautiful 8 month old twins -Harrison and Hattie.

I met with the twins family to share about adoptions, sponsorships, and other options and that they have many decisions to make once their country allows adoptions soon. The twins birth mother died suddenly. Her parents who I met here shared with me that their daughter had a vision a few months before they were born. She said the twins were going to be going to America and would be raised by a family there. No one expected her sudden death of course but they find solace in her words. Her name was Marthaline.

Wonderful and proud Gpa of Harrison. Very caring and through on asking many questions and searching out answers to his grand children's options.

Gma and Hattie. They were so happy to see them as they live an hour away from the foster home and dont see them very often.

Emmanuel is the birth father. He had all he could do at first to look at his daughter. He said she reminds him of his late wife. He still grieves. The other two children are his too. Poverty creates so many sad situations in Liberia.

Gpa and Gma wanted a picture of all of us together. He stated we are all family who will work together for the best interest of the children. Yes that is what we do.

That Cara- loving on little Harrison again, Daniel, and I. Our vech broke down along side the road. We were thankful for the trees and benches that just happened to be where we needed to wait for a repair.

And Donna K didnt want to give up baby Hattie. These children have wonderful- calming personalities. They just went with the flow of the day with no complaints.

A common occurrence in Liberia unfortunately.. we had a vech break down yesterday too on our way back from the bush. All turned out well.

I shared with Daniel that this could be our new staff picture for the web. :0)
We were on our way down a corridor to see Triplets needing help.

This triplets are 2 weeks old and weigh any where from 3-4 1/2 lbs. So tiny. Their names are Varney, Joyce, and... well no name- they hadnt picked it out yet. This family too begging for us to take them and find an adoptive family. We brought many supplies to them and food. I couldnt help thinking while standing there whether there is any support network for families with new babies like we have in the states. How over whelming it must be and daunting to take home babies you have no way of feeding, providing, or caring for. And those around you cant help cause they live in poverty too. What does one do? Unfortunately too many babies die for this reason.

This is baby Ester. She is 7 months old and has hydrocephalus. Her's is not as prevalent as baby Joe's which I shared on last nights post or even Anthony who is here in the states now. She is one of our next medical outreach cases we will work on. However if a family comes forward willing to adopt her, she and that family can work with a recommended agency in Liberia to do so. We can help make the connections. She is in perfect health. Very chubby and cute. Mom is doing her best but there simply is no medical resources of this nature to help or sustain the medical care she will need.

And then we went to the beach where Christina organized a gathering of the FMN caregivers and kids for some time there. I didnt get to stay long but I know everyone enjoyed themselves. In this pic are all the caregivers along with Daniel and Christina who are the state side and country side coordinators for this program. They are all doing a fabulous job!

Cara and baby Survivor.

Kou and I with a few children on the beach.

Christina and Hope. More pics to come soon on this day...

in the bush today...

There was so much that we did today. We traveled 6 hours into the bush to meet families, see our sawmill business, visit Professor village and his community and so on. I will try to share our experiences with you here as best as I can.

At the beginning of the year, GOO was blessed with a sawmill donation. It has taken most of the year to get it operational. From the sale of the lumber, we will be able to help fund some of our projects as well as use lumber for building projects. This business also produces much needed jobs for the men in the area. I had opportunity today to see the sawmill in operation. It is a remarkable machine. Just shows God can use anything or anyone for his kingdom.

This is Dickson- he is the field manager. He is remarkable and does his job so well. And what a great attitude he has. Its an honor to have him as part of our team.

This log was huge!!

Global is involved in a reforestation program once the production is complete. We do select cutting.

Yep there I am- wearing Dickson's hard hat. I asked to try my hand at running the machine...they got a kick out of me running the machine although I dont think I can be trusted to do so..

Dont these precious children DESERVE to have clean safe drinking water? Do you know how far we drove to get to them? It is at least 3 hours to the nearest clinic. So when one gets sick with cholera or dysentery, there is no help. The next pictures are their water source for the village. Would you drink their water?

Does this look clean and safe to you? It reminded me of bath water once your kids were done in the tub.

He uses a rope to lower a jug down to the water and pulls the water out to dump in his pail.

We had to walk quit a ways to get to the water to begin with. It certainly was not convenient.

Cara enjoyed her first trip to the bush.

This is Gbarnsue Village. 500 people + children live there. None of these children go to school as there isnt one. They have a teacher that lives in village. His name is Samuel Flomo. There is nothing to do for these kids. No books, no school, no toys, no soccer balls. I cant imagine what they do all day long. We have agreed to partner with the community to bring a school there. They can build the blocks and we can produce the lumber. They have the people to build. They need zinc and nails and school supplies. Yes that simple. Lets help them, teach their children.



We met the village chief and speeches were given..yes I had to give one too.. But I didnt speak Pella. They had a good interpreter.


On the way to the bush we stopped to see Anthony Kollie's family. They were so excited to hear about him and receive the many pics I took. This is Anthony gpa who asked- when will he come home? How sweet..

Here Daniel and I are sharing the letter and pics with Miatta, Anthony's mother. She is so happy to know that we are taking good care of her son. It has to be hard for a mother to make the decision to send her child a world a way for a medical miracle. We all hope for the best.

While there, I met Hope's auntie. Imagine our surprise when we were sharing our picture book of kids we were helping with medicals and she said "ooh! that my niece". Small world. She too was happy to meet the people who were going to help her. It was reassuring to her to see Anthony pics and talk to his mother about this process.

And this is sweet Hope- I dont think she could possibly get any more adorable. She has really come out of her shell since we have been here. She climbed in my arms and was ready to go to America. You cant help but fall in love with her personality.

I met Issac today. He is 8 yrs old. He drank caustic soda which is what they use to make soap here. His mouth and throat are scarred. He throws up alot and is very small due to malnourishment of this injury. We hope to direct him to the right doctors who can help him.
So sad to see this happen as this is a life long injury he will struggle with.

Daniel is sharing our picture book with the community and the children we are helping with medical outreach. They are so excited to hear and be able to see with their own eyes.

We also met with Barvor's mother and sister. Barvor is here getting help for his eyes. His mother and brother are blind. His older sister is sick. His younger sister lives in our FMN foster homes. She too was happy to hear the updates and it is assuring to her that medical help might be the difference in preventing him from having the end result she has with her eyes-total blindness.

Barvor and Korpu's sister.

And of course.. we are always snapping away pics of the children and communities we visit. They have resilience. They encourage each other- they do have hope. All is not lost because they are born in a poor country. They have so much to give and so much to teach us as we help them.

*Dont forget to visit our FMN blog on the left of this page- Catch up on all our wonderful children in our FMN foster homes.!!