The Baptism of Paul

Greetings from Tom & Paula. This morning began with 6:30am Mass at which time Paul - the new arrival - was baptized by Fr. James.   We now have a Godchild on three continents!  How blessed are we?  It was a beautiful celebration.  After his baptism and annointing, the tribal bands were removed from his wrists and he was entrusted to the care of Our Blessed Mother.

 

The morning routine is to feed the children. After they leave for school, we then feed the babies - Anna & Ella are both running temperatures today.  We then work with some of the handicapped children with stretching and feeding.  Soon the children are home from school and time for lunch.  Siesta follows which can be a challenge getting 40 some children to sleep.  At 3pm, we gather in the chapel for the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Litany of Mercy - both led by the children.  An incredible experience for sure.

 

Rosary is at 5 followed by dinner.  Bedtime is 8 pm and then it starts all over again in the morning.

 

This is the routine. What I am leaving out is all of the special, magical moments that occur quite unexpectantly throughout the day but are the truly blessed moments.

 

Water is so precious here.  The tap has run dry, the tanks are near empty. The huge holding tank for the rain water awaits the arrival of the rainy season - still 4 months away.  Hopefully the tanker truck will arrive from Yendi.  

 

Please remember the children in your prayers. Thank you to all who have supported Sister. Sunday, the children will all have new clothes for Holy Mass thanks to many of our American friends.  They also have new rosaries. 

 

Our best to all. The Chief (that is what all of the children call me- lol) 

Thursday Afternoon in Ghana

Dear Friends and Family:

 It is so hard to get on the internet - I give the girls credit for their patience (a virtue I am admittedly lacking). 

A new arrival: about one hour ago: two priests arrived with an approximately three month old boy who has no mother and has been rejected by the tribe.  Sr. Stan named him Paul. He appears healthy and well nourished. Welcome Paul!!!

Thanks to all for your prayers for Ella.  They worked - she is SO much better today.  She is awake and cooing and her breathing is much better.  To God be the glory.

A priest arrived from Accra yesterday.  Fr. James is from the Society of African Missions and is a fascinating man to talk to.  He is well acquainted with Sr. Stan's work in Northern Ghana and calls her the mother of Ghana.  He gave us updates on the work of his order throughout Africa.  Truly amazing.

I was in the Adoration Chapel yesterday and the door opened. About 15 of the children came in and started to lead us all in the rosary. Here I am in the presence of 15 sure to be saints - each with their own story known mostly to but God.  Amazing experience to be sure.

Sarah finally received the package that her parents sent in November.  How crazy is that!!  

Thanks to each of you for your love and prayers.  Be well.  It is hard to believe that two weeks from today we will be on our way home.

Tom & Paula

Welcome to Ghana

We made it with the container and the duffels. We were welcomed by cheering singing children. Our first day included a tour of the home and getting to know the children. Paula is Mama Paula and they call me Chief. We are still working on some of the bugs of 3rd world internet so these updates from me may be spotty. Please remember us in your prayers and above all please know that our beloved missioners are well and doing amazing work. 

It'll Take a Miracle...

When I was in Ghana in January 2014 with Paula, I remember Sister Stan telling me about people who send many things over to The Nazareth Home for God's Children from the US.  They've gotten school uniforms from a school in Texas that was changing their uniform, food, clothes, toys and many, many things sent to them in 55 gallon containers.  They are shipped from a company in NYC called Karima Enterprise, sent to Accra, delivered to Sister's family there and brought to Sang either by said family or Sister herself when she goes to Accra on shopping expeditions.  Sister has a niece in NYC who helps to load the items to be sent.  At the time, I remember thinking how cool it would be to gather things, having been there and knowing what they needed, and shipping them here.

Well, I got back to Buffalo and was on a reentering bender for a month or two, then had a fantastic fundraiser for Sister with the help of my family and a local home schooling group, the Children of Mary, so it wasn't until about June that my thoughts turned to sending things to Sister.  Since by then I knew I was coming for a year, I thought I could throw in some things I couldn't fit in my luggage.

From there ensued this 4 month fiasco of communication issues and fun phone tag games that caused me to get several headaches and I thought of dropping the whole idea.  But in October(one month before my departure), Sister Stan came to the US, and to my house for dinner, and started the whole thing up again... if you weren't able to tell by now, Sister Stan is a mover and a shaker!!  So I finally got in touch with the right people and sent out a hail Mary pass "4th down scramble for Sister Stan" email to my family and friends, the Children of Mary and my work, and boy oh boy did people come through. 

We got so much stuff, I had no idea how we would get it all to NYC.  So, about two weeks left to go before I leave, my Aunt Mary tells me about her nephew in the shipping business who may be able to help.  So, long story short, Mary's family donated a 4'x4'x4' crate, her nephew Joe Tirone and the company he works for brought the crate from Buffalo to Karima Enterprise (free of charge), and the whole box of loot shipped out on November 5th, and I shipped out on November 10th.  I remember telling my mom, "It's on its way... but it'll take a miracle to get there."

Well, that miracle is on it's way here right now!!  Tom and Paula, having flown into Accra today, are enroute with 6 bags of luggage full of medical supplies and clothes for the kids, among other things and the crate, which by the way is full of teaching supplies, canned goods, clothes and underwear, candy, kitchen supplies, sports equipment, tons and tons of books, a large keyboard the kids will love, and a skateboard for Xavier who doesn't have use of his legs.  I can hardly believe the headache of an ordeal is now on its way here, and it'll be like Christmas all over again when Tom and Paula arrive.  I joked with Paula that, since they go around to friends and family dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus at Christmas time, that they should show up here dressed like that!!  Not that the kids would know who they are... but I'd get a big kick out of it!!

The bigger miracle is Tom and Paula themselves.  It'll be so much better than totally awesome to have their help, support, knowledge, and strength here with us.  Although, since Paula is the only missionary I have ever worked with, I have sort of emulated her here... her friendliness, her street savviness,  her faith, her ability to talk to anyone and the way she can joke and have fun in stressful situations.  I don't have it all put together in the amazing package that is Paula Radel, but I give it my best shot.  It'll be funny to see how we are together now.  I have always been sort of a wallflower in new situations before Ghana 2014, and I owe my new found adventurous spirit and sassiness to her.

It is pretty awesome how God works things in His own time, and for a while we can be completely in space about His timing and turning of events.  But I found blind faith is the way to go.  Make a plan, do the work, then let go of the steering wheel, grab onto faith and see what happens.  It's sort of a kamikaze way of living,  especially for Americans, I think, who are totally into control.  But miracles do happen every day, and maybe if we really took a look at ourselves and our faith deeply and fully, we'd see the miracles alive in our own lives... and discover they are not really miracles at all, just God doing His thing and saying "Thanks for trusting me."  xo

On Our way

On time departure scheduled from JFK. Ten hour flight arriving in Accra at 11am Sunday morning their time. 

So blessed to attend 5pm Mass in the airport. We are excited. Thanks to all for your prayers. 

Two More Sleeps

This is Tom again.  We are very excited to be heading to Ghana in just two more days.  Our flight leaves Buffalo for New York City on Saturday (no snow forecast for Buffalo, 3-6" for NYC - go figure).  After a several hour layover, we board a 10 hour non-stop flight to Accra, the capital city of Ghana.  In Accra, we are being met by our driver who will transport us, the container, and our six duffel bags to Sang.  This is a twelve hour drive (more or less) which will be be split between two days with an overnight stop in Kumasi (the largest city in Ghana).  What a great way to see this beautiful country! We are scheduled to arrive in Sang on Monday (1/26).  

Here is a map of Africa highlighting Ghana.  It is a country about the size of our state of Oregon. The population of Ghana is approximately 27 million.  It has been a free country since 1957.  It is the world's largest producer of cocoa and is also known for its gold and diamonds. Ghana is a largely Christian country (71%), although a sizable Muslim minority (18%) exists. Traditional (indigenous) beliefs are also practiced. There are over 100 dialects spoken throughout the country, with a large number of English speaking citizens.

Thanks to all for your prayers.  We will do our best to keep in touch.  May God bless all of you, Sarah, Mary Clare, Sr. Stan and especially the children. To God be the glory....

Running Errands in Africa

So, how many times a week do you think the average American runs errands?  Possibly two or three times?  I know we all try to get everything done in one trip, and really appreciate one stop shopping where available.  I have always enjoyed running errands for the most part.  Getting out and shopping, seeing people, grabbing a bite to eat on the road, etc.  It is relatively easy, at least in Buffalo, to run your errands, depending on how much you have to do it could take an hour or two, then done!!

Well, for the past three days, I have been running errands... for three days.  (3 days)

On Monday Sister wanted us to take some of our children to a special school for children who are deaf and/or cannot speak.  The school is a boarding school in Tamale and we had five children to take.  These children will benefit greatly from the education they can receive there and learn how to communicate well.  It is so wonderful to find a school who can help us help the children.  Well, then Sister also wanted us to take Mary to see the physical therapist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, and since we were going there anyways, we might as well take the children with a monthly appointment to the psychiatrist as well.  Oh, and since we are in Tamale, stop at the market, pick up some water, and a few other odds and ends.  So, off we went early in the morning with 12 children and a long list.  Well, we were at the hospital for at least 5 hours, then had to shop, eat and get to the school.  But shopping here isn't going into a Target or Walmart.  There are stores in Tamale, but they are not well supplied, so you end up going to multiple stores to get your goods, then the market is like a huge farmers market where everything from bras and underwear to packaged foods, fresh (?) meat and fruits and vegetables are sold.  It takes several hours to get from one end to the other.  Suffice to say that we didn't get to the school until 7pm (and they were understanding and welcoming to us, thank God!) and we finally pulled in at home around midnight.  How's that for a day running errands?

On Tuesday I had to drive to Yendi to have the cars inspected at the Cathedral.  It was another early day.  It took about 2 hours, but I got to know some of the priests and sisters around here a little more, so that was nice.  Then we had to go to the Yendi market for things we didn't get on Monday.  Lastly, we had to stop at a farm to pick up some yams and maize.  Yeah... that is we had to drive down terrible dirt roads, and some areas there was no road, to get to this farm only to have to harvest and pack the yams that Sister paid for.  I had no idea that we would have to do this work to pick up the yams, so I didn't put on sunscreen in the morning and was suffering for it in the midmorning sun.  Well, I felt like a snobby princess, but I had to wait in the car while everyone else finished up because I was my skin was getting burnt, and I have fair, Irish skin... easily burnt!!  The harvesting and packing took several hours.  Then we had to stop at the post office to see if Mary Clare or I received any packages (still haven't received any yet).  There wasn't one for us, but there was one for Sister, and the worker wouldn't let us take it.  This was followed up by several calls to Sister Stan where she tried to make the man give us the package.  Remember how busy I told you Sister was in an earlier post, well she does not have time to run errands... that's why she has us!!  The man knew us and Sister and still wouldn't release the package to us.  We got home by 7pm... an early night for us!!

Then yesterday, it was another trip to Tamale... returning to the boarding school to bring things we had forgotten or didn't know the kids needed, filling up the propane tanks with gas, doing more shopping and picking up the driver who will pick up Tom and Paula in Accra.  It was another day of waiting and shopping and lots and lots of walking.  We were home by supper, but I was seriously exhausted.  And don't forget, for two of the days we were bringing children with us, which is another fiasco getting them ready and then keeping them well behaved throughout the long days.  And when running errands with children in Africa who have to use the bathroom?  Super fun... no public restrooms, just public bushes and trees.  The hard part is finding an appropriate place in a city for the kids to relieve themselves. 

Today I am finally able to clean my room, wash my clothes, and get a little work done on the computer.  But there is a never ending list of  daily tasks to be done here as well.  I find the traveling and poor eating of the past three days has me in poor working condition today, and as I sit in my room writing this, all I can think about is my bed behind me and how I wish I could just take a few hours rest... however, there is work to be done, so rest will wait until siesta.

Update on Ella... She is smiling!!!  and laughing!!!  Well, sometimes she smiles at me with a kind of ok-is-she-crazy kind of smile, and her eyebrows go up... but a smile is a smile and I'll take whatever I can get!!!  Hip hip horray!!   Ella smiles!!  xo

Fill My Cup... Let It Overflow

I am so blessed to be in a house that has a chapel with consecrated Eucharist every day, every hour, every minute, meaning Jesus is present there and available to me whenever needed.  I know I do not take advantage of it as much as I should.  But sometimes I go in for just a few minutes when I need a renewal of spirit, and I sing the words each of my talented brothers have sung in high school, "Fill my cup, let it overflow.... fill my cup, let it overflow.... fill my cup, let it overflow, let it overflow with love," and with a few prayers, I do feel filled with love and patience, and am ready to open the door and get back to it. (not to mention the good feeling I get whenever I think of my brothers! <3)

I mention that today because my cup has been filled in a literal sense.

 Today is my mom's birthday... Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!!  I remember quite often the post I wrote last year here in Ghana on the eve of my mother's birthday, about the gift of life, how precious it is, and how ending it, whether before birth or after is equally wrong.  I was thinking this morning, how will I ever top that one?  Well, here's my best shot:

The other day I requested that on Sunday(today), my mom's birthday, we sing "Immaculate Mary" at the closing of mass in honor of my earthly mother, Jean.  Well, that was all it took for Sister Stan to get into the party mode again.  "It's Mommy's birthday on Sunday??  We have to celebrate!!"  The mass today was said for my mother and all day, Sister has been making preparations for a big celebration.  I thanked her for thinking so much of my mother, and she said, :She is my mom too, she is a mom to us all... she gave us you!!"  Eucharistic Adoration today will be in honor of my mother as well.  It's really beautiful!!

At lunch, Sister had me give an account of my mother's life, how she wanted to become a reverend sister, how she gave of herself to help my grandmother when 2 late, unplanned for sons came along, how my mother wanted to go to Quito, Ecuador for the summer and met my father at his house for Spanish lessons, and how they fell in love, got married, had 8 children, 36 grandchildren (plus 6 in heaven <3) and continued to live a life of giving as a mother, by teaching, working at a soup kitchen, and much more.  Then Sister had the kids try to retell the story I told about my...oops... our mother and two of them, Alice and Sammy, did a really good job!! 

After lunch I was in the dining hall and Mary Clare comes running in with a huge, huge smile on her face and says "Come... come and see!!"  She can hardly talk and goes running back into the kitchen.  So I run in and she is jumping and points to the back door.  So I go and, half expecting to see my mother standing there, I look outside and see the 2 cows, some chickens, the water running out of the spicket, the dogs... I almost turn to Mary Clare and say, "What???" when it hits me... water running out of the spicket... water running... running water... AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!  All of the sudden, there is Sister Stan standing next to me and hugging me and screaming," Look what a gift Mommy gave us!!!"

Fill my cup indeed... Fill my cup with the gift of water!!!

So I go running to the bedrooms to see if the water flows from the sink and shower, and it does!! 

Now, to explain, this is water from the Sang Village, who charges us an arm and a leg for the water.  It has been a hard and stressful battle for Sister to get them to allow water to come here, and for months she has been fighting with the village and the workers to lay the pipe and open the tap.  So, while we have water (yea!!!!!) it comes at a high price.  A well would be the ultimate answer, and plans for that are in the making I believe, but this is a joyous day indeed, and we are so elated and feel blessed to be able to simply turn on the tap and see water flow.  Amen!!!  Halleluiah!!!

So, thanks, Mom!  I am to tell you that you have just about doubled your number of grandchildren!!  You now may hold the world record for being a grandmother of 82 children!!  The children here marvel at the thought that someone so far away, who has never met them, loves them so much.  In truth, there are many, many people far away who love these children and, it seems so little, but all I can say is thank you. 

Tonight there will be singing and dancing in honor of our mother back in Buffalo, with cake and pop and many, many happy children!!  I know this celebration is being echoed in Buffalo with my family, and although I wish I could be there with them and hug my mother in person, I am happy to be here, celebrating her life with my new family and sharing my love for her with them.

Happy birthday, Mom!  xo

It Takes A Village

Greetings of peace.  I am Tom Radel and I have been given permission by Sarah to post to her blog. I do not have the literary gifts of Sarah but will do my best.

My wife Paula & I will be leaving on the 24th of January to spend 3 weeks in Ghana with Sarah, Mary Clare, Sr. Stan and the children. We are very excited and are anxious to give so many hugs from the folks back home.

Because of the limitations of the computer Sarah is using in Ghana, she has not been able to post any pictures to her blog.  Here is one from her trip last January:

These are just two of the 40+ children presently residing at the Nazareth Home for God's Children.  Sarah's stories of the new arrivals have filled our hearts with love and admiration for all that is being done for these children.

We are not going empty handed to Ghana. Through the efforts of many, many people (and the generosity of Delta Airlines), we will be carrying 6 duffel bags full of vitamins, bandages, clothing, school supplies, and SO much more. It takes a village...  Thank you to everyone for being so generous and working so many hours to purchase the items and in packIng the bags.

We are also carrying four water filters from a group called "Water With Blessings". These filters will allow us to drink the water delivered by tanker truck.  They work like a kidney dialysis filter removing all of the bacteria and impurities from the water.   According to the the coordinator of the program (Sr. Larraine), Ghana will now be the 26th country utilizing these filters through this organization.  Maybe there will be fewer "runny stomachs" and fewer sick children. They have a wonderful web site: http://www.waterwithblessings.org/

Last October, a container of school supplies, clothes and various other items was sent from Buffalo to Accra. Paula and I will be meeting a truck driver in Accra and we will be escorting the container on the final leg of its journey to Sang.  This will be a two day trip with an overnight stop in Kumasi. We are so looking forward to seeing the country.  (Ghana is about the size of Oregon).

We humbly ask for your prayers for us, Sarah, Mary Clare, Sr. Stan and especially for the children. May God bless us all.

Back to Business

Today was our get back to business day for Mary Clare and I.  After our nice retreat at the Bishop's residence, we felt rested and ready to go.  When we arrived home yesterday, it was to cheers and hugs and a warm welcome.  It was so sweet!!  Then, like a cold bucket bath, reality set in today and, man oh man, did I have a bad day!!

I kept thinking of how I just had a nice rest, I should be rearing to go, and I was this morning.  But I think this was the longest day ever in the history of my missionary work here at The Nazareth Home for God's Children.  I realize of course that is not saying much, I've only been here 2 months and two weeks, but still... These kids drove me nuts!!!!

Mary Clare and I were coming up with fun activities to do with the children, because of course teachers never show up during the first week back from Christmas break (??) !!  It seemed like time was flying by... we sang songs, played freeze tag (actually a difficult game to teach!!), duck duck goose, read a few books, had a snack and water... I was thinking it must be quarter to 12 by now... nope... 8:30!!!  What???!!!  So we had free time and played some more games, which took us to 9:00... I swear every time I looked at my clock, I wanted to change the batteries because I thought they must have stopped working.  Not only did we have to come up with one hundred and twelve activities today, but everyone was misbehaving, and my patience was at an all time low.  Yikes!!

I have been told by a large family expert (my sister Katie, mother of 11) that in most cases, the worst days ever are the first full day back from a vacation/trip away.  Boy, did she hit the nail on the head with that one!!  I was so relieved to hear that because I thought there was something seriously wrong with me!!  I really, really hope tomorrow goes better!!!

On to some new news... in just 9 days, Papa Tom and Mama Paula will be arriving in Sang.  The kids are so, so excited, and Mary Clare and I are ecstatic!!!!  I cannot wait to see them and give them hugs and a group of kids to teach!!!

Tom Radel has been a missionary with a medical team in Haiti and the Philippines for many years now.  He has touched many lives by his work abroad and at home, including his wife, Paula.  Paula has traveled with Tom on some of his missionary trips and has also been to Kenya, working with women and children with AIDS, and of course to Ghana with me.  Tom and Paula have influenced the lives of many missionaries in the making, including myself, and have been amazing witnesses to the Gospel throughout the world.

I am so happy and excited to tell you that Tom will be a contributing writer to my blog!!  He has written blogs before on several other trips and I think it will be totally awesome to have another voice, one of much more experience in both missionary work and living the faith than I, on this blog.  With a fresh perspective, because he has never been to Ghana before, and a vast knowledge of missionary work, I think Tom will add so much to the canvas I have begun here.  One writer can get a bit one dimensional, but add another voice, another palate of color, if you will, and the work comes alive!!  And maybe, just possibly, he will be able to figure out how to add pictures here in the black hole of internet service, Sang Village.

By the way, just had to tell you how cute Ella is being.  She is on the floor in my room on a mat and is moving in a circle kicking her legs like a teeny tiny slow motion break dancer!!  She is babbling away, about what I haven't a clue!  The mat has a checkerboard pattern on it and she keeps on trying to pick up the squares!!  Can't wait until Tom and Paula arrive with some toys for this cutie pie!!  Every so often, she flips herself onto her stomach and cries because she hates that position!! I hope she learns how to flip back over soon.  She's getting some chubs on her cheeks... must be from all that late night snacking!!  She was my saving grace today!!   xo










  

Stuck in a Culture Ditch

On the ride home from the Bishop's house today, Mary Clare and I were talking about all we had learned from Bishop Vincent about the family system in the current society.  I find that I keep on wanting to give the African people American sentiments and lifestyles.  I keep on combining the two cultures when they are completely different.  I can study them both, find similarities and differences, but I cannot lay one over the other and expect them to meld.

In America, there are poor people, of course, there are unemployed people and those in serious need.  But overall, Americans have what they need to survive.  And, in most cases, help is available for those who will accept it.  When your basic needs are met, it is natural to look around to see what else can be done or see to the wants that you have.  In America, most parents are able to spend time with their children.  In wanting them to get ahead and have a solid foundation on which to begin learning, I think most parents see spending time with their young children as an investment.  Sometimes parents are in a position to be able to hire someone, a nanny for instance, to do that for them.  Whether families have one or two incomes, hard work is a necessity on both the mother and the father, working outside of or in the home.  But I think most families see child rearing and care as a priority.  With that comes tenderness, love and protection.

In Africa, I have seen both men and women working, although, the Bishop described this society as patriarchal, meaning that the men have the power here.  Women are seen as workers, in the fields, along the roadsides, at home, the majority of the work is done by women.  This is another reason why polygamy has risen in Africa.  Many wives means much work gets done.  I have learned that children are seen as workers too.  Many children are seen working alongside their mothers each day, and if they are not doing that, they are often seen left to their own devices.  Since children now attend school, they are often busy afterwards in the farm or doing chores at home.  You wouldn't believe the number of miles these women walk each day with laundry, groceries, food or water in bowls on their heads.  It looks excruciating and must be completely exhausting.  Since childcare is another task given solely to the women for the most part, it just becomes another job that must be done.  Here in the north, most people fight all day to be able to have what they need to survive.  Sentimentality does not seem to be a part of child rearing.

I may be making another mistake here by just going by what I have seen and what I learned from the Bishop.  But I am seriously stuck in trying to understand how people in general, and women in particular, can give up their children.  Right now there is a 3 year old girl here in serious need of good nutrition and care.  Although 3 years old, she weighs close to what Ella weighs.  She is here with her sister, who is about 17 years old.  The sister is here to just help the little girl become comfortable before she leaves.  She is very unemotional about her little sister and is looking forward to being able to leave.  Once again, for the third time, there is a woman here who is leaving a child and is anxious to go.  How?  Maybe I am just driving myself in circles here trying to understand what is not understandable.  Maybe I should just except what is happening and not worry about the why.  However my foolish brain is stuck on this issue like record needle stuck on an old, scratched record.  I can't seem to get beyond it.  I am stuck in a culture ditch with no visible way out.

I just want these children to be loved by their mothers.  I want their mothers to be ferocious about protecting their young.  I want the fathers to stand up and be real men and make their wives and children their first priority.  I am downtrodden by the lack of familial love here.

xo

Storming Heaven with Prayer

Bishop Vincent of the Diocese of Yendi has a beautiful residence.  It is quiet and secluded, full of trees and plants that can stand the harsh Ghanian weather and, most importantly for us at this moment, it is relaxing!  Last night as I was answering some emails, I tapped on the link to my blog and read it.  I never do that.  I read my blogs from January sometime during the summer to prepare myself for returning to Ghana, but other than that, after publishing them, I usually don't reread them.  I was surprised to find all the emotion and work we did packed into the past two months.  I know I did that work and felt that emotion, but new things came along that demanded my concentration and everything shifted to the back of my brain.  I was captivated by the writing, staying up late reading despite my tiredness and desire for sleep.  All I can say is that the Holy Spirit must be alive and active in my fingertips because the person who wrote all of these blogs is much smarter and more faithful than I am!!

Part of our stay here at the Bishop's home is to receive an orientation on Ghana, it's history of family life and the change of society over time, the reasons behind child abandonment and the ways to help stop it.  Bishop Vincent is an extremely knowledgeable man, strong in his faith, proud of his heritage and open to help all in need, whatever that may be.  His concern for the children at The Nazareth Home for God's Children is endearing and his love of God is evident in all that he does.  He has made Mary Clare and I feel right at home here, for which we are both supremely grateful!!

Over the past two days, we have learned about the traditional family structure of Ghanians.  In the United States, for instance, a family would be a father, mother and their children.  In Ghana, the traditional family is father, mother , children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins all living together in a tribe.  This family tribe is all inclusive, meaning everyone within the family is cared for, no one is left alone.  In the traditional family, if a parent dies, there are others who can take over as guardian.  If a child is born with a physical handicap or a mental disability, he or she is cared for by the entire family.  Families were generally big and it was thought that the more children you have, the more help you have doing chores and farming.  This lead to a rise in polygamy, having more than one wife, so there would be more children. 

However, over time, parents began to realize that more children meant more mouths to feed, and sending children to school became more attractive because then the children, when grown, could make more income for the tribe.  However, school costs money and the more children you have, of course, the more you have to pay.  So families became smaller, taking care of your sister's children became a financial burden. Then the question of why things happen came into play.  Not what is the cause of bad things that happen, but who caused them?  Why are my crops failing?  Why did my brother die?  Why is there no rain this season?  The people sought out diviners or soothsayers who placed the blame on a particular person in the tribe.  This person is the cause of the bad things happening to you, so they must no longer be part of the tribe.  In most cases, the cause of these problems is placed on children, "spirit children" or witches, and the people abandon them or hire a judoman to destroy them.  So instead of being an all inclusive tribe, now birth defects are seen as a sign of evil, unexplained deaths are blamed on children who do not develop in a "normal" way, and instead of everyone caring for the children in need of the most love, these children are held responsible for the unfortunate things that happen to the tribe.  Families stay small, parents can afford school, life goes on.  Can you imagine, though, if the entire tribe believes a child is responsible for the bad things happening, how much pressure, pain and ridicule must be put on the parents in question?  This is their family unit, where else can they go?  I certainly am not condoning the practice, just flipping the coin.  What side do you choose?  Your family who has been your life support forever, or your child, in which case you would have to abandon everything familiar and, in the eyes of the tribe members, be hated, outcast and have no where to go.

In the meantime, Christian communities are growing in the areas where the practice of abandoning spirit children is practiced.  As word spreads about these life ending ceremonies, the Christian people turn to their priests to help.  The priests go into these communities and remove the children in danger, but where can  these children go?  At about the same time that the new Bishop of Yendi, Bishop Vincent, was dealing with the issue of how to care for these children, Sister Stan came along and, having heard about the practices of these tribes, shared her desire to help.  It is easy to see here the work of God... spreading the message of Jesus Christ among communities, calling courageous men to be priests and save the lives of children, creating a new Diocese in the Northern Region for the new Catholics and calling Sister Stan to a life of serving His children.  It is like connect the dots!!

So Bishop Vincent believes education is the way to stop the terrible practices of the tribes of the Northern Region.  If the people can be taught that human beings are not to be blamed for natural tragedies or acts of nature, that children born with physical handicaps and mental disabilities are to be loved and cared for as everyone else, that it is a sin and a crime to end anyone's life, perhaps things will change.  He says people need a reason to change, that they have to see the need for change.  When these children living at the Nazareth Home for God's Children grow up and prove that they are good, fine, strong people just as worthy of love as anyone, perhaps the people will see the need for change.  He would like the Catholic Church to be part of  a task force of police, social workers and cultural educators to go into these areas and speak with the people, but putting together something like that does not happen easily here.  It seems like a long process, an insurmountable task, to bring about peace and love for all among the tribes here.  But with God, all things are possible.  With God, all things are possible.

It all sort of reminds me of Christ on the cross, pleading with His Father to forgive those responsible for His death, for they knew not what they were doing.  Perhaps these people really do not know what they are doing.  But if the Church here in Ghana can spread the Word of God and the Truth taught by Jesus Christ, they will know, and they will know that it is wrong.  Did you ever hear the phrase "Prayer can move mountains?"  Well, if we storm heaven with prayers for the Church in Africa, we can all be a part of saving the lives of these children forever.  Below is an example of a prayer you can say, but any prayer is good as long as it is sincere and said with love.

**********************************************************************************

Heavenly Father, Giver of Life and Strength of the faithful, I come before You full of sorrow for the suffering of Your children in Ghana.  I humbly plead for Your aid and guidance for my brothers and sisters in Christ as they spread the Truth of Your mercy, love and forgiveness to their countrymen.  Help them to bring an end to the ignorance that takes the precious lives of innocent children, give them the strength to fight the evil flourishing there and be their Light.  In solidarity with Your servants in Africa, I offer you ________________________________________ and ask that You hear and answer my prayer made with sincere adoration and devotion to You.  Amen.

For your offering, choose something meaningful to you:  so many holy hours or rosaries, fasting, something that will be a sacrifice for you, for I can assure you the task set in front of these Christians is not easy, and they need all the help they can get.  It can be said one time or, if you'd like daily, weekly or monthly.  If you choose to pray this prayer, make it however the Spirit is moving you to.  

Together in Christ, we can accomplish anything!!! xo

Two Months Down

First of all, I just have to say aaaaaahhhhhhhhh.  It is our two month "anniversary" of being here in Ghana, and tonight and tomorrow, Mary Clare and I are at the Bishop of Yendi's residence receiving an orientation on Ghana's culture and history, and receiving a well deserved rest, if I do say so myself!  It is our first break since coming to Sang Village, and I just had my first shower since November 10th!!  (hence the aaahhhh)  What a treat!!

So, for two months, Mary Clare and I have been first time missionaries in a world so different from our own, sometimes it seems fake!  The past month has been one of ups and downs for sure.  It was difficult not being with my family, and I think I can speak for Mary Clare as well here, for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.  There are so many family parties and little traditions that have become mainstays in our celebrations that make it all so special and fun.  But for me, it was the anticipation of the loss of those parties and traditions that was harder.  I kept thinking of how hard Christmas would be, how hard my birthday would be without my family... but you know what... even though I missed being with them, I had a beautiful Christmas and a very happy birthday.  I think I almost psyched myself out of opening myself to a new experience, and I am so very glad I didn't!!  The holidays for me were different, to be sure, but no less joyful and fun. 

It has been a sad and eye-opening month in our acceptance of new children and my revelation into the process that goes into it all.  With the abandonment of Mary and her mother's haste to leave her child, and the soul crushing car ride I had with Ella and her mother to the hospital, instead of feeling overburdened by the thought of two more mouths to feed, two more to bathe, medicate, etc., my heart simply grew bigger to accept these two souls and love them more because of their situations.  Mary is doing better.  She spent some time at the Yendi Hospital under observation to see if they could put an end to her seizures.  They couldn't, and will send us to a specialist in Kumasi for her to see.  But she is growing well despite her seizures and is eating better.  We continue to work with her in physical therapy to strengthen her neck, arms and legs.  She is beginning to sleep through the night, which is more than I can say for Ella!!

Ella is growing!  Her little belly is growing fast.  She eats well during the day, and wakes 3 or 4 times during the night to eat as well.  She has begun cooing and gurgling a little, and likes to follow me around the room with her eyes as I am working.  She has begun crying when I am out of view and has a cute way of signaling when she is hungry.  She makes a fist and brings it to her mouth like a bottle.  Smarty!!  Her head is the biggest part of her, and when I put her on her stomach to stretch and exercise a little, her head goes down to the mattress and her butt goes up in the air.  She hates that!    Is it bad that I feel proud that the other day someone was holding her and she was crying and crying so I took her and she stopped right away?  We have a special bond, what can I say? 

I have been sick a lot the past month, much to my dismay.  Well, of course who likes being sick... but I feel so bad when I am sick here because it prevents me from doing what I came to do.  So on top of feeling bad, I feel bad.  And Sister Stan feels bad because I feel bad, it's not such a good situation.  Thankfully, I seem to recover quickly, but usually Mary Clare then gets sick.  We are on some kind of missionary wellness seesaw... she's down with something, then gets better, then I am the one down with something.  Must be what the bible talks about being molded and tested by fire.  I hope we're almost done!!

It is pretty easy to look at the past month with dismay over what has not been accomplished or over the hurdles we still have to face each day, but I think the better thing to do is look forward to the newness and brightness of a new month.  Who knows what the next month will bring, what problems we will solve and what challenges we will overcome.  And the best, best, best thing to come is an answer to a prayer... more missionaries are coming!!  Mama Paula is returning to Ghana, this time with her superhero husband, Papa Tom.  The children are so excited to see Mama Paula again!!  And by the time we get to month number 3 for us, more missionaries will be coming, nurses to help with our medical crisis and teach Mary Clare and I how to really help these children instead of being a missionary version of Doc McStuffins.

Mostly, I look back on this past month and I feel grateful to have come through it in one piece.  I think the greatest thing I learned is to recognize and appreciate the moments of peace and love.  Today, Blessing, who is about 2 years old was walking up and down the hallway singing at the top of her lungs one of our Gloria songs, "Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to the Father."  I never heard her sing before.  It was so, so cute, something I will remember each time we sing that song.  And when one of the girls hurt herself falling from a seizure, when I realized one of the kids pooped in their bedroom, when I scolded one of the boys for hitting someone and he turned around and hit someone else, I just closed my eyes and brought back the image of Blessing singing and felt a peace that helped me in each situation.  Tested in fire... you bet, but even now, after just 2 months, I am anxious to see the me I will be after a year.  xo

Beacon of Light

I have known many hard working people in my life.  In a country that believes that you have to work for what you have, it is not hard to find people like that.  I think of my father's parents, who raised 8 amazing children, started a student exchange program with Quito, Ecuador, began Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the home in Buffalo, opened their home to countless foreigners and those in need of a home for a night, and that is just a few of the awesome things they have accomplished by working hard.  I think of my mother's parents, who raised 4 equally amazing children, who lived a hard life growing up farming and courageously moved to the city of Buffalo to begin their family.  My grandparents not only worked together in my grandfathers business, Burkard Reality, but worked side by side in raising their family, and in later years, in the kitchen, at crafts and even in visiting us at Christmas as Santa Claus (my grandmother would wait in the car outside. <3)

My parents have given all 8 of their children prime examples of what it means to work hard, put others first and love God above all else.  I can see the work ethic of all the previous generations of my family reflected in the work my brothers and sisters do.  Each one of us was gifted by the legacy of the Noonan and Burkard families in both faith and secular work.  We are blessed indeed!!

But of all the people I know, of all the people I have known, I am not sure I have ever seen someone work as hard as Sister Stan Mumuni.  In all seriousness, this woman works around the clock with very little support from the local people here.  The other day I made sort of a joke about being a chicken farmer and chaffing the corn to be ground.  Well, right beside me, because of our staffing problems, was Sister Stan herself, chaffing corn while dealing with behavior problems of the older girls, on the phone with people trying to hire a driver and a few other staff, figuring out how to get a new child we got just that day to the hospital with no car and doing all this with back pain I didn't know she had until that night.  You might say to yourself, we all have days like that, but from what I have seen, each day is like that for Sister. 

She is constantly fighting for the rights and needs of her children.  She is taking care of Mary Clare and I when we are sick, which has been a lot, she deals each day with the staff, who seems to need constant supervision and reminders of their work, she deals with contractors, builders, electricians and repair men like a general in battle, trying to protect her investment and making sure she gets what she paid for.  She works tirelessly trying to get us water each day, medicine for the children and making sure there is food to eat.  She spends time with the children, who love her to pieces, and works often until one or two in the morning, then is up again at 5 for adoration and mass.  She makes sure Mary Clare and I get a rest each day at siesta while she works during that time and often forgets to eat lunch and sometimes dinner.  She has the vocal support of the church here, but I have not seen one priest or lay person here trying to lend a hand, offer support, relieve a burden from her strong shoulders. 

She travels to the Untied States, Germany, and other countries to raise funds for her children, without which this home and saving these lives would not be possible, and is even now worrying about the time she will be gone and how the home will manage while she is away.  However, without the generous support she gets from the parishes and groups around the world, I have no idea how she would survive with her children, whom she has saved from starvation and abandonment.  She puts 110% of her faith in God and believes with every inch of her being that He loves her and her children and He will not forsake them.

 I hate using this phrase, but she truly is a woman who works 24/7, be it weekday, weekend or holiday.  In a region that is so behind the times because of a poor work ethic, or rather no work ethic, where one's word is as strong as a feather, where the term "banker's hours" means working overtime, Sister Stan stands out like a beacon of light, like a diamond in the ruff.  And as much as we try to praise her, she gives it all to God, she gives all the glory to Him.

 She is mother and father to these children, teacher and nurse.   Her life is her children, and as any good parent would, she is trying to create the best and safest world for them, trying to give them opportunities she never had, putting herself and her needs last, to love them enough to ease the hurt of being unloved. 

She does have her moments of fun, and can really get her groove on when dancing (!!!).  I try to lighten her up a little with humor, which I am slightly talented at.  When we were chaffing the corn, I said, I hope the chickens appreciate all that we are doing for them, and she started laughing and scolded me, Sarah, don't make me laugh, I'm trying to be mad at the girls!!

I just wanted to give you a look into her world, a quick and certainly not encompassing look, but I hope you can see what a servant she is to her children and their needs, and to God, to whom she said yes, I will love Your children.

                                                   http://www.sisterstanschildren.org

                                                                        xo

Who's to blame?

Last night we celebrated Bishop Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai's birthday.  He is 70 years old!  He came to the orphanage to say mass and have dinner with us.  Mary Clare and I worked with the children preparing songs for him, a skit of the Miracle of the 10 Lepers based on the Gospel of St. Luke, and making a birthday card for him.  It was  a very fun night!  As Sister Stan and Mary Clare ran around taking care of the details, Sister had me sit with the Bishop and begin our meal.  It was so nice!  He is a great man, and has great faith.

One of the things he said to me, about me, is that many times it is better for a person's vocation that they take a meandering road to find it.  All of the life experiences they gather before being shown their vocation by God add to the gifts they are able to bring to their new life.  It is a beautiful philosophy, one I greatly appreciated hearing!

He began to explain to me the reasons behind the tribal custom of abandoning children.  We really only hit the tip of the iceburg, which we will continue during a few classes on Ghanan history and traditions he will teach Mary Clare and I at his residence.  I don't think he had any intention of beginning to talk about this, but I told him one of my hardest hurdles here is my judging people who abandon their children.  He told me these people want to be able to explain everything.  They have to be in control of every situation, and if you have no explanation, how can you control it?  For instance, when an eighty year old woman is living in the tribe, and a 10 year old child dies, how can that be explained?  In their eyes, the old woman should have been the one to die, it makes no sense that a 10 year old should die, and how can you control what you do not understand?  So, someone has to be blamed for the death of the 10 year old child.  If you find the one to blame, then you've solved the issue, you can deal with the punishment of the culprit and you remain in control.  Who is to blame when a child is born without a right arm, or cannot talk by the age of 5?  Who is to blame if a mother dies during childbirth or a totally healthy baby dies?  These people believe someone is, and that someone is evil and can no longer live among them and that the chief and elders of the tribe know who is to blame.  I didn't ask him this yet, but in my little experience with meeting these people, it would seem there is no disputing who is found to be guilty, and that the parents I have met just want the whole thing dealt with so they can continue on with their lives.

Why do they often blame children?  We didn't get that far, but perhaps because a child/baby cannot defend themselves, perhaps if everything was fine until the newest member of the tribe came along, that new member is to blame for their woes.  It seems to be an awful lot of responsibility to be able to come up with an explanation for every bad thing that happens in life.  There are just so many things that happen... it is exhausting just thinking about it.  And to think that one person or one group of elders has control of everything and has to find a reason for everything that goes wrong... it seems maddening to me.

I am not sure if the Bishops short explanation of the tribal customs has helped me to be less judgmental, but I am beginning to have an idea of why the abandonment of children is happening.  The Bishop said education is the way to break through the barriers of tribal customs and get people to change, but he said these traditions and beliefs have a long, long history and will be difficult to stop.  It makes me grateful, once again, for the Catholic Church, which teaches none of us are in control, that in fact, it is in giving up control that we find our way, we find answers and solutions to problems.  I know it is sort of a trite, overused line, but it makes me think of the phrase, "Let go and let God", meaning let go of your problem, worry, concern, hurt and let God take care of it.  I used to use the image of blowing up a balloon, with each breath I released whatever it was that was causing me trouble into the balloon, and then I let go of the balloon and let it rise to God, and He would handle everything.  It takes a great deal of faith to give up all of your control to a being you can neither see or touch.  But it does feel good to let it all go.  I will write more about this as I learn more.

On to other news... I have a new cap I wear here... not only am a now (without any training or experience mostly, mind you) a physical therapist, nurse, teacher, choir director, play writer, mother, driver, referee, banker and cook, now I am also a chicken farmer!!!  Somebody send me some overalls and a straw hat!  I was removing the chaff out of whole dried corn kernels today to be ground and mixed with wheat and oyster shells for our chicken feed!!  I will be mixing the feed together shortly... as soon as the kids come back from the grinding station.  I am not sure where it is, but we are currently without car since both have broken down, so the kids carried 1 and 1/2 bags of corn on their heads (60 big bowls of raw dried corn) to be ground for the feed.  Our chickens are sick, apparently, so we have a new mix of food to give them and for some reason, Sister thinks I will be able to supervise the feeding of the chickens to make them better. And as in the Little House days, we don't buy chicken feed, we make our own!!  I have just begun shrugging my shoulders and saying, "Sure, I can do that!!"  Chaffing corn... what next?  I better not ask!!!!!   xo

Just Some Things...

Things I haven't seen since being at The Nazareth Home for God's Children: 

 

1) A news report... quite seriously, I haven't seen a news report since November 10, 2014!  And since

     I had cable the last few months before coming here, I was kind of a news station junkie... well, I'm

     sure you can understand that with the Ebola crisis.  Everyday I watched to see if it had gotten into

     Ghana, if possibly my trip would have to be delayed or canceled.  But since coming here, I haven't

     even had the time to think about what is going on in the world, there is too much to worry about

      here.  Every so often at mass, Sister will pray for soldiers who have been killed, or Father prayed

     for the two New York policemen who were killed, but aside from the prayers offered at mass,

     it is like Ghana is it's own planet to me.

 

2) An airplane... tells you how many people want to come to Northern Ghana, that no airplanes fly

    over head here!!  Where I used to live, airplanes flew by every few minutes, but here the blue sky

    and sunshine are interrupted by nothing... except the biggest flying bugs I have ever seen... more

    on that later.

 

3) Pizza, lasagna, asparagus, potato chips, salad, cheese... all my favorite foods and more.  The

     African diet is really full of rice, pasta, spices, yams (not like our yams in the US, more like

     extra-starchy potatoes) and beans.  On special occasions we have chicken or guinnea

     fowl, and we sometimes have eggs, but no milk or butter or bacon or chocolate bars...

 

4) Weight gain... Can you believe without pizza, lasagna, potato chips, butter, bacon, chocolate

     bars and cheese I haven't gained any weight??  In fact, I've lost quite a few pounds, and hope

     to lose a few more!!   They should have a Biggest Loser: African Mission Edition!!  The
     contestants must work at a foreign mission and eat only the native foods there... I'm sure they
     would find that everyone wins, not just the person who loses the most weight.  Because I
     might have moments where I am really missing these fattening foods, but working with the
     children really opens my eyes to the overabundance of blessings in my life, and who can
     complain when faced with that?

5) A garbage truck... totally and completely serious.  There are no garbage pick ups here.  Just a big
     hole in the ground where all of the garbage is dumped and then burned.  Since the wind has
     picked up quite considerably, there are days garbage just flies into our courtyard, or ashes just
     float down from the sky.  I have seen many fires, though, and the scariest ones come right up
     to our wall.  The first day I saw one, I ran to Sister Stan and told her there was a fire outside the
     wall and it was very close to us, what should we do?  She just laughed at me... Nothing, she says,
     the wall will stop it... ???  Is it made of kryptonite?  Has it been enchanted with magical forces
     that repel fire?  Because last time I checked, fire burns through concrete...  The most amazing
     sight is when people burn many fires around us at dusk, and it looks like we are under attack from
     invaders.  What can I say?  I also haven't watched any television since being here and my
     imagination sometimes goes haywire!!!

 

Things I Have Seen since being at The Nazareth Home for God's Children

 

1) Goats and chickens and cows, oh my... Usually people's first words out of their mouths after

    hearing I'm going to Africa are "Will you see lions and elephants and giraffes?"  Uh, no, but

    one day there was a cow eating a sunflower right outside my bedroom window!!  The funniest

    thing about the goats is that they are actually trained somehow to obey traffic laws!!  If they are

    in the street when you are driving by, which happens a lot, just honk the horn and they

   courteously move out of the way!!  No kidding!!  I do hope to see some more traditional African

    animals while I am here... from a safe distance.... separated by a fence!!

 

2) Ok, so you know that there is no running water here, so the kids go to the bathroom outside.  Well

     many times the first thing I see in the morning when I leave my bedroom is the toddlers squatting

     down in front of the bush going to the bathroom.  I got the cutest picture one day... I mean, 

     seriously deranged, I know, but jeez... they are so cute!!!  The most precious little bottoms of

     chubby toddlers all lined up and learning how to be potty trained African style... super adorable!!

 

3) Lots of praying and singing, praising God and Jesus, and relying on Him 100%...  The children

    are surrounded by a cozy layer of prayer and praise, of gratitude and confidence in His mercy and

    aid, of love and togetherness.  It is beautiful to see a room full of small children silently present

    during adoration, or to see little ones trying to learn the rosary as we say it each day, or the joyous

     singing they ring out at mass with clapping and dance.  With all the hardships, frustrations and

     trials here, there is an even greater amount of worship, praise and thanksgiving counterbalancing

     them.  So beautiful!!

 

4) Red dust... totally everywhere!!  The clay of the road dries in the dry season, then the winds come

     and blow it all around.  It has gotten into my lungs and I am battling a bad cough now, as many

     of the kids are.  I can dust my room one day, and you would never know it the very next day.  The
     dust just covers me from head to toe so much that I am super grateful for my bucket bath each
     night!

5) Bugs... bugs... and more bugs... I think that before Steven Spielberg made some of his movies with
    giant bugs in them, he visited here.  There are the biggest bugs here, flying, stinging ones that have a      wingspan of about 4 inches, huge spiders, centipedes, millipedes, tons of different kinds of
     beetles, huge grasshoppers and crickets.  My skin is crawling just writing about it!  And not just
     bugs but lizards, chameleons, snakes and I am told there are scorpions here too.  Right now, in
     the dry season, we are sort of bug free, except for the spiders and flying bugs, but all too soon,
     the wet season will be upon us and we will be hit with bugs of every color, type, and size and I
     mean biblical proportions... ooohhhh... I am not ready!!!!
     

 It certainly is a whole different world here. I am sure had I read my blog before coming, I probably would have thought twice about it!  Thank God the time/space continuum is working correctly, because if I had a Delorian time machine and went into the future a few years ago, I am not sure I would go back to the future when the time came... oh yeah... seriously missing tv!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Birthday Surprises and More...

Boy, did I get the wool pulled over my eyes this birthday!!  I had no idea anyone knew it was my day... well, everyone knew and no one spilled, even all the kids!  That just proves to me that they can listen and follow directions... just not to me. :/

So, we begin each day with mass, and in the opening prayer of this particular mass, Fr. Isadore said a beautiful prayer for me, and that was how I found out the jig was up.  After mass was a great breakfast, followed by time with the kids including choir practice and games.  Balloons and signs wishing a Happy Birthday were everywhere, and then the real party began.  I was taken into a room, dressed in a beautiful purple and gold dress (my gift from Sister Stan) which had a matching scarf headdress, and then the dancing commenced!  Of course, everyone wanted to dance with the birthday girl. (I was bribing them with caramels!) Lunch and dinner were delicious and I even got a birthday cake!!  It was a really fun day, and I must admit, it made me feel quite special.  It was a birthday for the record books, one I will never forget!!

But the best present I received was from Baby Ella... not a smile yet, but in the morning, laying on my bed, she looked right at me and began cooing and singing, playing with my hands, touching my face and allowing me to gently massage her.  It was a beautiful time where she opened up to me and I could see the beginnings of a smile in her eyes.  What a precious gift! 

Sometimes when I sit down to write my blog, I have the time to write, edit and publish it all in one sitting.  Usually the words just flow from the Spirit into my meager mind and onto the keyboard.  But there are times that we are so busy and I get interrupted or fall asleep midsentence and it takes a few days to write.  This is one of those times where I have been writing this for 2 days on and off as I have had time.  Well, I just had a beautiful moment with Ella and some of the girls.  God's Gift, who is about 5 years old was crying in the courtyard, so took Ella to find what was the matter.  She was indecipherable, so I think it must not have been that important.  So we sat on the steps and looked at Ella in my arms who was getting very tired.  Along came Sarah (8), Agatha (6) and Rebecca (17).  I sang them some lullabies that I remembered, Hush Little Baby and the one about the cradle dropping (why that is a lullaby, I have no idea).  The girls sang Lord I Lift Your Name Up High, and then I told them about putting my niece Natalie to sleep singing I Will by the Beatles, and I sang that one.  "Love you forever and forever...love you with all my heart...love you whenever we're together...love you when we're apart."  It was so sweet.  At the end of the lullaby fest, Ella was indeed asleep and all the girls were so peaceful, it was just lovely!

I think the key to being somewhere where their seems to be no end to the harshness and heartache, where the craziest things happen in a split second and where nothing is familiar to me is to recognize and treasure the sweet little moments that occur throughout the day and take the time to appreciate them.  They probably happen more often than I realize.  Thank you, God for that moment, and for giving me the wisdom to acknowledge it for what it was and tuck it securely in my heart. xo