Buba
Poni
Kiden Helen, Gua Rose, and Nalia carrying babies
Preschool class
Jurugo
Sarah
Luka
Kiden, Simbi, and Nalia
Boro and Juma
Preschool class in crowns on Rachel's birthday!
Juan, Nicholas, Wani, Bosco, and Celina on the potty
Friday, February 29, 2008
St. Bart's kiddos
Buba
Poni
Kiden Helen, Gua Rose, and Nalia carrying babies
Preschool class
Jurugo
Sarah
Luka
Kiden, Simbi, and Nalia
Boro and Juma
Preschool class in crowns on Rachel's birthday!
Juan, Nicholas, Wani, Bosco, and Celina on the potty
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Life in Sudan
We're home in Jinja! Pictures coming tomorrow.
For those of you who know Arielle and I personally, or even those who feel like they know us from reading our blog, you might know that we like a challenge. We love to be outside our comfort zone. Love to be put in situations that aren't all fun and games. Love to work hard. Love to try new things. Love to make a difference and help people in need. That was life in Sudan.
We spent most of our time caring for the youngest orphans. We would often care for all of them while the mamas cooked or washed laundry. We took them outside to sit on a straw mat in the shade and would sing songs and make them laugh while they played with the lined up jerry cans full of water from the boarhole or dumped sand all over their shaved heads. The babies would sit in a baby bathtub with blankets in it. They would fall asleep covered in flies with sweat dripping down their chubby little faces. We grew to love them quickly and fell right into their routine- working hard and helping the new mamas learn that babies and toddlers need LOTS of attention and affection. That they need to have a schedule and can't sit in their beds for too long. We showed the mamas how to work and stuff the Fuzzy Bunz diapers we brought for them (from Amani) and tried to show them that the children should be put into clean clothes after a bath or when they are dirty. During school with the older babies, we worked hard on discipline and manners along with fun and lessons. Again, trying to teach the mamas the importance of praising good behavior and dealing with bad behavior.
We enjoyed hanging out with the older kids, remembering when we were with them that even though we couldn't speak their language and had a hard time communicating, time together was special to them. They liked doing our hair and pushing on our skin so that when they lifted up their fingers they could see the imprint of their hands. Listening to them sing was amazing. It was the kind of sound that gives you chills all over your body. "Ha ha ha haaa halelujah, today is beaut-ee-full day. Let us enjoy the day. We ah hoppy indeed." We worked hard and were tired at the end of each day.
St. Bartholomew's doesn't have all of the conveniences of an orphanage located closer to a town or a city. There is not a steady supply of volunteers and toys coming in. Kids don't ever leave the compound for a trip to town and they learn at a young age that they don't need toys to have fun playing or treats to make a meal worthwhile. They make their own toys, using water bottles or wrappers. They play a game using mango seeds and moving them into different holes they dig in the dirt. They are happy to eat their beans and sorghum 2 times a day, each day of the week.
Life was different in Sudan. Different good. We met some of God's sweetest children, learned their lifestyle, and were challenged in some cool ways. We missed life in Jinja. Missed the Amani kids and knew things were going on without us. For the first time since being gone last year and this year we felt like we were ready to come home- home to the US. It was a strange feeling, one we hadn't felt yet. Maybe it was being secluded from the world or hitting a lull in our time. But God pulled us through. Being secluded, we spent time in the mornings doing a Bible study together and were able to spend some really quality time with God. Ashley and Jose, the 2 long-term volunteers that were there were great, especially in the faith aspect. Ashley reminded both of us about the importance of having solid Christian friends at home, who are still super fun. We love her!!! Jose was so smart about the Bible and always took time to answer our questions and discuss things with us. Plus he told us we were really tropical because we like tropical fruit...hahaha we loved him too! There was no computer or phone or going out to get street food, just learning more about God. It was awesome. Sometimes you need God to call you back to remind you how important that is, how important He is...He called us to Sudan for that.
For those of you who know Arielle and I personally, or even those who feel like they know us from reading our blog, you might know that we like a challenge. We love to be outside our comfort zone. Love to be put in situations that aren't all fun and games. Love to work hard. Love to try new things. Love to make a difference and help people in need. That was life in Sudan.
We spent most of our time caring for the youngest orphans. We would often care for all of them while the mamas cooked or washed laundry. We took them outside to sit on a straw mat in the shade and would sing songs and make them laugh while they played with the lined up jerry cans full of water from the boarhole or dumped sand all over their shaved heads. The babies would sit in a baby bathtub with blankets in it. They would fall asleep covered in flies with sweat dripping down their chubby little faces. We grew to love them quickly and fell right into their routine- working hard and helping the new mamas learn that babies and toddlers need LOTS of attention and affection. That they need to have a schedule and can't sit in their beds for too long. We showed the mamas how to work and stuff the Fuzzy Bunz diapers we brought for them (from Amani) and tried to show them that the children should be put into clean clothes after a bath or when they are dirty. During school with the older babies, we worked hard on discipline and manners along with fun and lessons. Again, trying to teach the mamas the importance of praising good behavior and dealing with bad behavior.
We enjoyed hanging out with the older kids, remembering when we were with them that even though we couldn't speak their language and had a hard time communicating, time together was special to them. They liked doing our hair and pushing on our skin so that when they lifted up their fingers they could see the imprint of their hands. Listening to them sing was amazing. It was the kind of sound that gives you chills all over your body. "Ha ha ha haaa halelujah, today is beaut-ee-full day. Let us enjoy the day. We ah hoppy indeed." We worked hard and were tired at the end of each day.
St. Bartholomew's doesn't have all of the conveniences of an orphanage located closer to a town or a city. There is not a steady supply of volunteers and toys coming in. Kids don't ever leave the compound for a trip to town and they learn at a young age that they don't need toys to have fun playing or treats to make a meal worthwhile. They make their own toys, using water bottles or wrappers. They play a game using mango seeds and moving them into different holes they dig in the dirt. They are happy to eat their beans and sorghum 2 times a day, each day of the week.
Life was different in Sudan. Different good. We met some of God's sweetest children, learned their lifestyle, and were challenged in some cool ways. We missed life in Jinja. Missed the Amani kids and knew things were going on without us. For the first time since being gone last year and this year we felt like we were ready to come home- home to the US. It was a strange feeling, one we hadn't felt yet. Maybe it was being secluded from the world or hitting a lull in our time. But God pulled us through. Being secluded, we spent time in the mornings doing a Bible study together and were able to spend some really quality time with God. Ashley and Jose, the 2 long-term volunteers that were there were great, especially in the faith aspect. Ashley reminded both of us about the importance of having solid Christian friends at home, who are still super fun. We love her!!! Jose was so smart about the Bible and always took time to answer our questions and discuss things with us. Plus he told us we were really tropical because we like tropical fruit...hahaha we loved him too! There was no computer or phone or going out to get street food, just learning more about God. It was awesome. Sometimes you need God to call you back to remind you how important that is, how important He is...He called us to Sudan for that.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Card Project-o-rama
How beautiful are these kids?!?
Juru
Tatai
Sabia
We have come up with a really cool fundraiser for the baby's home here in Sudan. We have been making hand print cards with the kids and then adding our own little details to them. A woman who is here now for a short time has agreed to go home and sell them in Canada. We're excited to be a part of this project and think it will help the new babies home a bit! We've made 50 so far and the kids have loved it.
We have a mouse in our hut who keeps us up for ridiculous amounts of time in the night. We have cockroaches in our pit latrine that almost crawl up our legs! We love Sudan!
Juru
Tatai
Sabia
We have come up with a really cool fundraiser for the baby's home here in Sudan. We have been making hand print cards with the kids and then adding our own little details to them. A woman who is here now for a short time has agreed to go home and sell them in Canada. We're excited to be a part of this project and think it will help the new babies home a bit! We've made 50 so far and the kids have loved it.
We have a mouse in our hut who keeps us up for ridiculous amounts of time in the night. We have cockroaches in our pit latrine that almost crawl up our legs! We love Sudan!
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Our first week in Sudan
Hi Everyone...things are continuing to go great here in Kajo Keji, Sudan. We are feeling at home here and have full days of work. We wake up each morning to the sounds of children and animals outside our hut and head over to the babies. We help the toddlers brush their teeth, feed the infants, and get all the kids ready for breakfast. After helping them drink their porridge we clean them up and dress them for the day. You would never guess what we are doing here...teaching preschool! Weird huh? We have a cute bunch of Sudanese kiddos who love to learn though and they are so excited to learn the letters of the alphabet and the sounds. The children don't speak English, so it's sometimes interesting, but we do just fine. We are learning the song, "head, shoulders. knees and toes" and they love it! Tomorrow we are working on painting cards that will be sold in the states for money for the orphanage.
After preschool we help the kids eat lunch, bathe them and put them down for naps. We head up to our hut and eat lunch and have some time in the afternoon to do various other tasks before the littles wake up. We have been organizing medical books for all of the 50 or so children here and have weighed them all as well. There is a lot to do here and we love projects so we stay pretty busy cleaning, sorting, organizing, and doing other things during nap time. In the afternoons we have enjoyed spending time with the older kids doing art project type things or putting ring worm cream on their heads, you know just fun stuff like that. All of the kids here are great and we love them!!!
Yesterday we went to a Leper colony to deliver food and supplies to people with Leprosy. When we arrived people were singing and clapping and we all sat down and introduced ourselves. The people were old and so sweet. They had very visible signs of leprosy including fingers and toes missing and disfiguration. Either way they are more people to love!
We hope to get some pics up soon of the great kids and the amazing scenery here. We are in the middle of the bush as they call it, just dry land full of sand and mud huts everywhere. Close your eyes and picture what you think Africa to look like...we live there. We are so blessed! God continues to give us amazing experiences and connects with awesome people. We have so much to be thankful for!
After preschool we help the kids eat lunch, bathe them and put them down for naps. We head up to our hut and eat lunch and have some time in the afternoon to do various other tasks before the littles wake up. We have been organizing medical books for all of the 50 or so children here and have weighed them all as well. There is a lot to do here and we love projects so we stay pretty busy cleaning, sorting, organizing, and doing other things during nap time. In the afternoons we have enjoyed spending time with the older kids doing art project type things or putting ring worm cream on their heads, you know just fun stuff like that. All of the kids here are great and we love them!!!
Yesterday we went to a Leper colony to deliver food and supplies to people with Leprosy. When we arrived people were singing and clapping and we all sat down and introduced ourselves. The people were old and so sweet. They had very visible signs of leprosy including fingers and toes missing and disfiguration. Either way they are more people to love!
We hope to get some pics up soon of the great kids and the amazing scenery here. We are in the middle of the bush as they call it, just dry land full of sand and mud huts everywhere. Close your eyes and picture what you think Africa to look like...we live there. We are so blessed! God continues to give us amazing experiences and connects with awesome people. We have so much to be thankful for!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Suuuuuuuuuuuudan
Hi from Sudan!!!
We made it to St. Bartholomew's orphanage!!! We were welcomed with children singing and clapping and had a wonderful, squished, horribly bumpy, dusty 15 hours in a car to get here. We are safe and happy though and have already met the wonderful kids and had a bucket bath next to the pit latrine. It's pretty awesome... the babies have names like Bosco, Buba, Wani, and Sabia. They're beautiful and we're excited to get to know all of them! We won't be able to update a ton, and probably not many pics, but we will keep you all posted and fill you in when we can. Love you all!
We made it to St. Bartholomew's orphanage!!! We were welcomed with children singing and clapping and had a wonderful, squished, horribly bumpy, dusty 15 hours in a car to get here. We are safe and happy though and have already met the wonderful kids and had a bucket bath next to the pit latrine. It's pretty awesome... the babies have names like Bosco, Buba, Wani, and Sabia. They're beautiful and we're excited to get to know all of them! We won't be able to update a ton, and probably not many pics, but we will keep you all posted and fill you in when we can. Love you all!
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Picture Post and Quick Update
Things are still going great and we are happy to announce we have another new baby with us. Baby Emmanuel came just 2 days ago and is a healthy newborn. We're excited to have him! We leave for Sudan tomorrow and will be away from Jinja for a month. I don't know how we are going to live without these kids...I know I miss them after even just a few hours of being away. As many times as we are puked on, pooped on, peed on and spit on each day, all of our time with these kids is truly a blessing. We are privelaged to be able to care for them and will miss them so much.
Please pray for safe travel and health while we are in Sudan! We'll let you know when we settle in there!
Please pray for safe travel and health while we are in Sudan! We'll let you know when we settle in there!
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