Everyday Miracles

We often get distracted by the big things that happen here- a boy who is sick, a girl who is barely getting by, the lack of food or clean water, even the joyous giving and celebrating of Christmas. We are anxious to report those needs and milestones to everyone because they seem measurable. The truth of the matter is that we are seeing miracles and reaching milestones everyday. The children in our homes are growing, going to school and playing with their friends. They are eating balanced meals and staying healthy. They are learning and coming up with new ideas.

When we delivered Christmas bundles last month, every gift was wrapped in a square piece of lapa (Liberian material). This week when I stopped by to visit the children at Frances Gaskins I was greeted by several of the girls wearing new skirts crafted out of the lapa from their Christmas bundles. Kumba, one of the older girls at the home, had come up with the idea and sewed them on a foot pedal sewing machine that they have. (You can see Lucky, Kebbeh, Marthalyn and Hannah showing off their new style in the picture above.)

These orphanages, the children and directors, have become our friends and family. The other day Emmanuel, the director at Frances Gaskins, and I sat and enjoyed the breeze under their mango tree. We talked about life in Liberia, our future plans and dreams. As we chatted, his wife Evelyn was mending a pile of clothes, Pricilla fell asleep in my lap, baby Eddie wandered around our feet and the other children played soccer in the front yard. When it was time to leave and Pricilla was still asleep, I carried her to her bed and was struck by how natural it all felt. I felt like I was at home visiting the home of a good friend- then I realized that I was.