Orphan Mama's Blog

Shocking!

orphanmama — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:08:24 +0000

You’ll probably get teary-eyed, but this is a must read. So many people have made comments to me about doing things for suffering Americans instead of strangers on the other side of the planet. The link below will allow you to read the latest post on our Kenyan director’s blog and clear-up any similiar question you might have.

You will never read anything more heart-breaking, but you can see why I help in Kenya when people in our own country are hurting. Read “The Morgue” at…
http://mayfamily.wordpress.com/

You Probably Have Wondered…

orphanmama — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:07:38 +0000

I have tried to get my friends to go with me on these trips to Kenya. I always mention that there is plenty of work to do, but we can take a day to do some fun things or stay longer and add a safari to the adventure. So far, no takers. Certainly a trip to Cabo or Maui would be far more fun and relaxing. What I have found after those kind of trips is a renewed strength to carry on. It’s a good thing. When I come back from a work trip to Kenya, I find myself tired and uncomfortable with my life. Doesn’t sound like a good thing, right? Seeing me like that probably does not entice friends to tag along next time either. What is amazing though is the excitement I feel on the inside. I don’t feel I can merely carry on; I feel like a kid again with all the optimism and energy to make a difference. After the year we’ve had in this country, I think everyone could benefit from the latter.

My traveling partner this trip is a junior at U of O. I met her the day we bought our airline tickets. She is not an ed major but has a heart for missions. We will be very busy and she’ll probably be able to run circles around me. At the very least, she’ll be able to drag me back to the apartment at the end of the day.

So what is it that we’ll be doing? We will be “in country” nine days, working eight of them…

Day 1- add, inventory and reconfigure our instructional materials and supplies

Day 2- training the mommies how to stimulate brain growth and insure good mental, physical and emotional development in their babies

Day 3- working with the social worker on program materials for the mommies

Day 4- training the nannies who care for the abandoned babies

Day 5- working with our sewing/small business teacher

Day 6 and 7- third training workshop with the preschool teachers

Day 8- beginning the library project with translating our initial gift of boardbooks

Day 9- sight-seeing in Nairobi

The we have 24+ hours to sleep on the plane as we head home. Yes, we’ll be busy but the return is far greater than any paycheck I ever got.

Hard to Imagine but True

orphanmama — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:52:38 +0000

Here is the link to the latest blog from a staff member at our Centre. The truth is hard sometimes but, just like the sign over the gates to Dachau Concentration Camp, “Without this knowledge, we are doomed to repeat it…”

I know it’s easy to judge the mothers for abandoning their babies. I don’t choose to do that. I choose to affirm the lives God allowed. We can be their mommies and love them like Jesus loves us

http://megansteele.wordpress.com/

An Emotional Trip

orphanmama — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 03:39:33 +0000

In just a few weeks, I leave on my sixth trip to Kenya. I feel this trip will pull at my heart much like the first one did. How could anyone look into the eyes of an abandoned baby without intense emotion?

I think it will be an amazingly joyful experience, not sad at all. The Bible says God knows us as we are being knit together. The Bible also says if He knows when a bird falls, how much more does He know and care about us. I will look into those babies eyes, knowing that I have played a small part in saving children who mean so much to Him. It’s like I will finally be giving God a gift! It’s about time after all He has done for me :-)

Sharing the Gift

orphanmama — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 03:14:10 +0000

I have been thinking about what I might do with the young mothers to share my faith on my upcoming trip in July. Last time I gave my testimony.

A testimony tells others about your faith. It can explain why you are a Christian, experiences you have had, how you overcame sin, and more. Testimonies are often presented to other people to help them through situations.

I talked about how my dad’s death, when I was only 15, led me to question God. I had been faithful all my life, but this was just too hard to understand. I shared how I finally understood many years later that God doesn’t shield us from all the terrible things of this world. He does, however, promise to use all things for good. I finally recognized how God used this tragedy to provide me the financial means to attend college. I used that education to touch many children’s lives, even today after retirement as I serve in Kenya. Although my dad’s death was a heavy blow, God’s blessings came out of it.

How can I follow-up on that with these young girls so that they might see how blessed all of us are, even them in such difficult circumstances? How can I help them see the good God calls out of tragedy? How can I help them see how totally undeserving we are for any mercy and kindness but He gives it to us?

I think I’ll do a study of the book of Ephesians. If you have never read it, you really should. Paul, the author of many new testament books, is trying to show the Ephesians that God’s grace is amazing. He wants to show them that once we are believers, we are part of God’s family. We will suffer on Earth but our gift is assured. We are sinful but our gift is assured because our sins have been paid for in full. Amazing grace.

I could go on and on about Ephesians. I love Paul’s joy and his deepest desire to help us all feel it too. I have provided a link to a great site for helping people study Ephesians below. Even after being a Christian for 50+ years, Ephesians helps me feel excited about God’s gift to everyone who asks.

http://www.godswordforyou.com/bible-studies/ephesians

One of the Best Days in my Life

orphanmama — Sun, 23 May 2010 16:57:55 +0000

For those of you following my efforts in Kenya, you already know we have tried for 5 years to rescue orphans. Today it is official. With licensing issued, we have taken in our first abandoned baby. I want to dance. I want to cry. It want to hop a plane and hold this little one. You must read about his circumstances on “Karibu Centre” Facebook site. Please pray with me for all the little ones who have been rejected by this world.

The Billion at the Bottom

orphanmama — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:48:53 +0000

Just finished reading a book about the plight of third world countries. Poor Africa really has little to hope for unless the major players shift their direction. As a volunteer for an NGO there, I know too well about their hurdles. The author points out that aid is a necessity but it’s a bandaid. We all know that. I would never stop helping there, though, even if there is unbelievable corruption. We have to for many reasons.

For one, without the ability to compete with China and India, African countries will remain at the bottom indefinitely. Thousands of people will die, thousands others will be driven to do terrible things. The author proposes no trade barriers like tariffs and import duties among other ideas. We have got to make investment in Africa a good risk and, to me, this seems like a way to get it going. With jobs for more people, Africans should have less threat of war. And, if we can eventually get away from aid, we can weed out the corrupt who steal our gifts. I kind-of like the idea but my husband says it will never work… too many powerful special interest groups here who can and will interfere with change. He’s probably right. So, the whole nightmare for them will continue I guess.

I wish I had ten lives and could work ten lifetimes.

Sixth Trip in the Works

orphanmama — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:21:21 +0000

It appears my next trip will be the end of this April. That gives me several weeks to prepare. I am hoping to rock many babies!

Hope and Trust

orphanmama — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:32:28 +0000

If you read the Mays’ blog, you know our young resident moms were surprised to hear I have had many troubles in my life. They think white people, Americans, have perfect families/perfect jobs/perfect everything. I told them otherwise as a part of my testimony. I wanted them to see how God can make something good from even the worst of situations. For me, losing my dad at fifteen to cancer was the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me. As an adult, I’ve come to understand the world gave my dad cancer and, for some reason, God chose not to intervene. But, what He did do, was use that loss to provide me a means to attend college. He gave me a career I loved and training that has given me a chance to serve Him. In even my darkest moment, He had a plan to use it for good.

It was hard to read their faces as I choked through the words. They were so still, so serious. I hope they remember my story in the way I intended. I don’t want them to feel sorry for me. I don’t think even understanding that all people struggle is the best reaction. I hope they become more aware of God working in their lives when times are tough. Living in such poverty can appear so hopeless, and now they have a baby to worry about too. I’m sure they’ve felt hopeless before. Hope is what we offer. Trust is what they’ll find as they get to know God’s ways better.

Our First Business Idea

orphanmama — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:24:30 +0000

Yo-yo doll

Here is a craft you might recognize. Usually it is in the form of a clown but I improvised a bit to get something more in-line with Africa. It started with the idea of all the fabric scraps that get thrown away because no one there has any idea that they too can be used to make money. Hopefully the residents will make more to sell. And, PLEASE, give me your cotton scraps for my next trip!