Update on Gifty

This is her, the little fighter, as we transfered her from one hospital to another (also run by the excellent staff of MSF) closer to us. Since beginning treatment, her eyes have whitened considerably and her abdomen has shrunk, but she's still just over 11 lbs. at 14 months. The diagnosis is that her liver isn't working, a condition from birth that, at this point, would require a transplant to fix.

I've been spending a lot of time with Gifty this week, arranging caretakers, talking to MDs and PAs, and best of all just pacing the halls with her in my arms. I've never known a baby with such spirit before, which makes her prognosis all the harder to take.

Please be praying with us for Gifty: for continued improvement of her immediate condition; for relocation upon discharge to a better home; and for wisdom in seeking a long-term answer for her condition. 

Flooding

It's still too wet to start any gardening! Our entire backyard was completely underwater today as you can see, no dry land to be seen! Rainy season is still alive and kicking...

In Liberia it rains an average of 150" - 200" a year with the most falling between June and October. Welcome to our monsoon season!

We have the 2nd highest annual rainfall in the world!!! The humidity hasn't dropped below 80% since I arrived last week. Time to get out the rubber boots!

Composting

Practice what you preach, that’s what they say…
So this week we made a compost bin in the backyard to start demonstrating how kitchen scraps, cut grass, dry leaves and coffee grounds (which we have tons of!) can turn in to nutrient-rich soil! A common practice for gardeners in the US, composting is rarely done in Liberia. It all begins with education, learning what can be composted and what cannot!

Gifty

I wish I had a picture, but yesterday a camera was the farthest thing from my mind. I got news of a little 14-month old girl at a nearby orphanage in desperate need of attention. I was told that she had yellowish eyes and bloated stomach, that she's been sick for a long time and that her mother just died. However, all of that couldn't prepare me for what I held in my arms an hour later.

She's a tiny one: she looks to me to be no more than 6 months old, but right away I could tell she's a fighter. Her belly was very soft and very swollen, full of air and fluid. Despite all that, though, she wasn't grumpy. She just looked at me with those yellow eyes, attentive but neither playful or sad.

Gifty is now admitted to a pediatric hospital and is getting the best care available. Though she's already showing signs of improvement, the doctors expect that she'll need to stay for 2-3 weeks of intensive re-feeding and monitoring. Please be praying with us that she will make a full recovery, and won't suffer any long-term effects of this. Please also pray for the caretakers that are staying with her 24 hours a day, sleeping on the hard cement floor beside her bed. I will try and post a photo if and when it's appropriate.

Update 9-19-08

Our humble thanks

I just have to take a moment, before this blog fills up with news of all our new projects and experiences, to say a big thank you to those who put so much time and effort into fundraising and/or hosting an event in your area this past year. The children we work with are forever blessed by your efforts. We're not a big organization, and so it's not through multi-million dollar grants but love offerings like yours that God provides for these beautiful children. 

These are just a few that we want to mention who spearheaded events in the last 6 months: 

South Whidbey Assembly of God Church, for your amazing benefit dinner. All you ladies know who you are--great work! 

John Van Huizen and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Department in Oregon -- your auction was a great success, and THIS WEEK we will be breaking ground on the dormitory and dining hall made possible by this one evening. All those who donated their time, talents, and merchandise -- so many selfless people -- THANK YOU!

Chad Duncan, who singlehandedly put together a benefit night on Lake Union -- we had the pleasure of Chad coming to live with us for a month last year, and it's an honor to see his continued efforts for the children he met and loved while here. "Thank you, Uncle Chaz!"

Colleen from Minnesota and her team, who raised enough for a new latrine -- we hope you'll keep up the great work!

We also wanted to thank each one who attended these events and who donated! We continue to be so grateful for all of you who are currently giving of your time and efforts to help: each of you play such a vital role.  Whether your name is mentioned or not, you know who you are -- Blessings upon each of you!

There are also some efforts now underway:

A group of South Whidbey Island ladies are making sundresses, shirts and shorts for the children. We can't wait to distribute these lovingly made garments.

Several churches are doing a flip-flop and school supply drive. (If you'd like to join in, get in touch! The more, the merrier!)

From all of us at Orphan Relief and Rescue, both in the office and in the field, we are humbled and blessed to have you as partners in this endeavor to save, provide for, and nurture these children. May the Lord richly bless you!

Now/Soon/Later

Arriving back in Monrovia less than a week ago, there has been a veritable avalanche of priorities all vying for attention. I'm sure we've all felt this--it can be a little overwhelming, if you don't have a system. My system is to divide everything into three categories: now, soon, and later. This lets me prioritize, and keeps me focused and on track. Plus, it's just so satisfying to scratch things off a list, isn't it?

Well today (just now actually) I scratched a big one off the "soon" list: Internet for our home/office. Yes, I can hardly believe it, but I'm writing this from our living room! If you can't tell, I'm a little excited. Cramer and I have been resorting to "business dinners" this past week, as the only reliable Internet outlets around Monrovia are upscale restaurants -- where the connection speed is circa-1991.

Most of all, I'm looking forward to keeping all of you more up-to-date and involved in the amazing things going on here in Liberia.

O Happy Day!

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Matt Le Page!

Training Week

This coming week (Sept. 2-5) the new and expanded field team will be gathering in Seattle, WA for training and teambuilding to prepare us for another year in Liberia. Please keep Ashley, Debbie, Jennifer and I in your prayers in the coming weeks of training and travelling, and of course Matthew holding down the fort in Liberia.