Summer hosting from Ukraine

Some people (mostly family and friends) might think our family is a little crazy.  And yeah, we most likely are.  But we can't really help it.  God has opened our eyes so clearly to the lost and lonely children out there.  We know the damage orphanages have on children.  And on the flip side we know how much love we have to share.  We look around and see the room in our house and family.   We don't have a lot, but we have enough...plus some to share.

That's why we are happy to share, we are hosting a boy from Ukraine this summer.  And this little boy just happens to be an orphan currently living in an orphanage.

Honestly this is something we have always wanted to do.  Truly.  Adoption is great, but it is not always possible to go through an international adoption.  So do we just sit back and wash our hands of all the children waiting over seas?  Um, no.  Sorry guys, we just can't do it.  So when we heard that a hosting program was allowing Canadian families to join their program this year, we were thrilled.  Sign us up! 

Meet Ruslan (Roo-slahn).  

Did your heart just a melt?  Yeah, ours too.

Questions?  Always.  Let me explain things a bit more. 

What does summer hosting mean?

Summer hosting is a program where orphans are given the chance to be hosted outside of their country  A little like an exchange student.  Children travel from their orphanages to spend summer holidays (and winter holidays sometimes) with families in America (and Canada!).  The children get to experience a healthy loving family, for many children this is the first time they have experienced that.  They get to learn more English, expand their world view.  And it is basically an all around awesome experience for them.

When will Ruslan be with you?

July and August.

Ruslan is an orphan?

Yes, he is.  For whatever reasons.  We don't have details and they are not ours to share if we did.  He is legally free to be adopted internationally.  

How old is Ruslan?

Ruslan is 10 years old.  We are all thrilled to have another boy in the house!

What will you do with him?

Life!  He'll come to the pool with us.  Ride bikes and play in the yard with the kids.  Watch movies in the evening and roast marshmallows.  He'll do everything we do.  Most importantly we can't wait to show him how loved he is by God.  That he is so special.  Church and VBS will be a most! :)

Didn't your dad just have a stroke?

Yes dad had a stroke a while back.  He was actually still in rehab when we found out about Ruslan.  My dad is doing amazing though.  He arrived home a few days after I left for Uganda.  Rehab was full and ran out of beds so they sent dad home.  Turns out our tiny town actually has one of the best physical therapy units in our area, and dad is doing amazing at home!  We have a low key summer a head of us because of the stroke.  So why not add another child to the mix?

How are you going to handle another child?

Ruslan is a blessing, not another child to handle.  We are so excited to have him.  Yes we may have hard days and it won't be all roses, but he is worth it.  And besides, what's one more?  We already have extra kids hanging around our house and we love it! 

Won't it be hard to send him back?

Yes, I'm sure it will be hard.  We'll miss him when he leaves and I bet Ruslan will have a bit of an adjustment going back to his orphanage after being in a family.  But hosting is never a forever thing.  All the kids who are hosted know this is just a summer program and that they will be going back when it is over.  And our hope and prayer is that us hosting Ruslan will just be a stepping stone for him to find his forever family.

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If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask.  I'd be more then willing to fill you in as best as I can!!

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The privacy factor

I'm exhausted.  I'm sitting on the couch with aching feet and am more than ready to shower and hop into bed.  The day was busy.  The last couple days have been busy.  Stuff been getting done and exciting things are on the move.

But the truth of the matter is that there is a lot going on that I can not share [yet] online.  Some stuff is not mine to tell.  Other things are not yet ready to be shared.  Either way I am not able to talk about everything online.

So when I am silent, when I don't blog or don't share pictures and stories online, please know that it is not for lack of things to say.  I'm respecting privacy.  And that is a good thing.  Some things I will eventually be able to share.  And when I do share?  It will be worth the wait.  Believe me.

However in the mean time, things might be a little dry.  Does that make sense?

You all rock.
love and hugs. xxx

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Washing baby bottles is important too

Sometimes when you arrive at a baby orphanage you don't get to spend your time physically loving the babies.  You don't get to hold the crying baby sitting in the corner.  You don't get to give the naughty 3 year old some extra attention.  You don't get to wipe the boogers.  You don't get to make the serious little guy smile.  You don't get to make sure every baby has a toy and is spending time outside of their crib.  You don't get to single out the child rocking back and forth on the ground.

Instead you spend your time outside, behind the building, in the kitchen.  Washing baby bottles.  Bottles filled with souring formula.  Scrubbing them inside and out all while hearing babies scream for attention behind you.

And you know what?  That's perfectly okay.  Because babies need to eat.  Babies need clean bottles.  And while you scrub [and pray your hands don't die from the bleach] you are fulfilling a need.  A different kind of need, yes.  But still so needed.

Thankful to help.  Thankful to be able to fill a different kind of need.  Thankful that you can still make a difference, even when the babies are not physically in your arms.

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Tuck your mosquito net in | pro tip from Uganda

Sleeping under a mosquito net is not always enough to keep the creepy crawlies out of your bed.  Sometimes, but not always.  Call me paranoid but I can't just 'sleep.under.a.mosquito.net'.  No ma'am.  I've never actually had a problem with things crawling into bed with me.  If a lizard joined me I wouldn't really care.  And I don't think a cockroach would crawl up here, I kind of see them as shy little creatures that would rather not crawl in bed with a monster, despite being repulsive.  But for some reason I just know I'm going to wake up with a rat sitting on me one night.  I just know it.  And that bothers me a bit.

So as soon as I hop into bed at night, the mosquito net gets tucked in under the mattress.  And tucked in well.  I love drifting off to sleep knowing I'm not going to find something extra sleeping with me.  It's like a comfy bubble.

The only down side is when you need to make a quick run to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  It's not a perfect world sadly. You just can't win it all.

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One of Uganda's smallest set of twins

Last week when we visited the baby home [orphanage] we checked in on a set of young orphaned twins.  We were shocked to see that the smaller twin was doing worse then on previous days.  I've never seen a baby that small.  Literally just skin stretched over bones, so tiny and not gaining any weight.  Pictures wouldn't even do the situation justice but you could see every rib.  We held and rocked and tried to feed the baby.  However the contents of the bottle were promptly vomited up all over us.  It was heart breaking and made you want to cry.  We checked in with the people in charge to make sure the babies were getting proper care and told them again that if the babies needed anything to please contact us.  Finally we had to leave.  We tucked the twins into bed, prayed over them and walked out.  

I was half expecting to never see the smaller twin again.  As much as I hated it, it wouldn't have surprised me for that sweet babe to pass away before we could get back there.  Babies die all the time in Uganda.

I haven't been able to get to the baby home again since then but have been dying to check on the twins.  I wasn't sure what I would find on my next visit but I needed to know how they were doing. It's crazy to think that as I sit at the table eating supper a baby is fighting for life just across the city.  However as much as I've wanted to see the twins, timing just hasn't worked out. Until today. I had a free afternoon and decided to go and check on them.

So I hopped on a boda (motorcycle taxi) for my first solo trip across the city. Success! 

I made a beeline through the first room of crying babies to the isolation room where the twins are living.  On the way I ran into one of the mamas.  I asked her "How are the twins?  Any better?"  and I heard the amazing news "Yes! Look!".  And it's true.  The smallest baby looks better.  Still a long way to go, but there is more pudge around the face now.  I was just happy to see both of them alive!

Tonight I am thankful for answered prayer.  I'm thankful for a God who cares more for two tiny twins than anyone else could.  That even though these babies have been abandoned here on earth, they will never be abandoned by God.  I'm believing in a full recovery!

S and S.  The tinier twin is on the right.  Please keep them in your prayers. 

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