Update: Baby Boy & Coming Home

Baby Joshua--God's miraculousness in a tiny bundle!

Wow, where'd time go?! I can't believe that August is almost over with! So much for blogging at least once a week! Things have been incredibly crazy here in Liberia! There are only two of us on the ground, so we've been working long hours, trying to get everything taken care of. Combine that with plenty of sick kiddos, and one baby that just wouldn't come.

SO...first of all, baby news. After more than 60 hours of labor, no sleep, and finally a c-section, Jogma delivered a healthy six pound baby boy on August 16th! He's lovingly called "Small Joshua", but his name is Joshua. He's so little (but big, for Liberian standards), and does plenty of sleeping! Jogma is recovering from the c-section, and is still in pain, but she's doing well. I have loved watching her be a mom! I've spent alot of time laying in bed, or sitting on the porch with her since she's been home from the hospital. I cannot wait to see her as a mom a few months down the road! But, more on Jogma and Joshua in another post.

Speaking of down the road...

I am still in Liberia because I was waiting for the baby to arrive. I really felt like I needed to 'finish the journey' with Jogma. Even though I swore off being here in August, it has been really great! God is still holing off the rain to help me stay sane, and He's just been teaching me so much over the past month or so! But, since Joshua is here, it's time for me to head home. It is hard to believe that I've been here for 6 months and that I'm still this healthy, energized and feeling good overall! It's such a different world being in Liberia and feeling this good! But, it's time for me to go...even though I wouldn't mind staying longer (as long as this crazy beautiful weather keeps up, ha!). So, I'm leaving Liberia on Friday!! Yes, I know...it's soon! I have a huge to-do list, and I need to have a healthy wrap up/prepare-for-life-in-America-again period. But, most of all, I just want to soak up these last few days with the kids and with my ORR family. A few more days to soak up beautiful weather, sunsets, the ocean, laughter, listening to God's voice (of the Liberian-English variety), Ma Mary's cooking, my best friend Momo, and everything else that I love about this crazy place.

Honestly, thinking about being home in a few days doesn't seem real. In the weird Liberia time-continium I feel like I've been away from home for forever, but I feel like I've only been in Liberia for a few months. I don't think I'm prepared for America--total weirdness, being a face in the crowd (yes!), closed doors and windows, no walks to the beach (boo to being land-locked!), being unable to communicate with my eyebrows, not speaking Liberian-English, not being woken up every morning with Momo at my window, the hum of the generator (ok, I can handle silent electricity!), and being with the kids day every day!

But, there are also so many things that I'm looking forward to--family, friends, my bed, spinach salad, hot showers, peace and quiet, ice cream, sweet tea, my sewing room, my church family, driving on real roads, walking around Target, blending in, walking barefoot on carpet or in the grass, wearing normal clothes, fast internet, geocaching, garage sale-ing, Braves games, my mom's cooking, cooking my own meals, grocery shopping...with choices, veggies straight from the garden...alright I'm getting carried away.

These are some of my random thoughts tonight. I have so much to share with you, but it might just have to wait until I get stateside. Please pray for me in these last few days--that I would finish well. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support over these last 6 months!

(And, for those of you who want to know, yes...I will be heading back to Liberia in a few short months!)

Prayers

Today has been chaos. Heck, this past month has been chaos! There have been alot of children that have been heavy on my heart, so I thought I'd share some of their beautiful faces with you. It's good to share the burden. And your prayers are much appreciated!

You can start your prayers engines tonight for Joe Sackie. This morning, there was a fire in the kitchen at his orphanage. It was scary, as a burning pot of hot oil got out of control, and eventually exploded into a big fireball. We happened to be there (we don't normally go to that home on Tuesdays), and we had just sent our driver back to the house to pick up some medical supplies. He was supposed to be getting basic first-aid supplies, but thankfully the instructions were lost in translation, and he brought back burn supplies (before there was any burn to treat). Praise God that only one child was injured, but the hot oil splashed into Joe's eye. We sent him to the emergency room at the only eye clinic in the country, and as of earlier this evening, his eyeball sustained a burn, but he is able to see!

Robert Lee is one of my favorites. We have a very special relationship...I'm not quite sure what you'd call it. But, we have so much fun together...and we love to give each other a hard time (or maybe I just love giving him a hard time!). You can pray that Robert Lee would feel and know that he is loved, and that God (and us) will not give up on or forget about him. Pray that God would restore his joy and laughter.

Moses needs to know that he is still a part of this family and that he is so loved. He needs to know that we still believe in him, and that he can do anything that he sets his mind to. He is not a failure, and it's never too late to try. Pray that God would grab hold of his heart and that he would change his ways. Moses needs freedom and encouragement, love and acceptance.

Beautiful Anna. It's alittle more difficult with Anna. She's very quiet and shy, but I know there are some major internal battles going on within her own self. I haven't really been able to get through to her, so you can be praying that the walls would begin to crack, and that there would be honesty and trust. Anna needs to feel God's love and to know that she's beautiful just the way she is!

And then there's Jogma...my favorite sewing, quilting and baking partner! (You might remember some of Jogma's work.) Jogma and I have spent hours and hours together sewing and baking, and there's also plenty of laughter! You can be praying for Jogma because she is due to have a baby any day now! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby M, and there's a big debate on whether we'll have a boy or girl (it's totally going to be a girl!). Pray for continued good health for momma and baby, and for a smooth delivery. Jogma has reached the miserable stage, and we're just waiting for that baby to drop! Despite being miserable, Jogma is still sewing away, and I have a feeling that you will be seeing more of her handiwork very soon!

These are just of a few of the kiddos that I've really been praying for. There are so many more kids that need an army of prayer warriors lifting them up to the throne! Thank you so much for your prayers, and I will keep you updated on these special kiddos!