you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

It’s hot in this room, the fickle fan seems to dislike me, I am taking a break, from being sat upon by whomever could fit on my lap.  There are new kids here today, they are not new to the orphanage just new to me, Betty was a notable arrival, and only because hers is the one name I remember right now. 

Yesterday, a woman from the large group visiting the orphanage asked Brooke and me what is on our schedule, what we are doing during our stay and our answer was…nothing. We are simply being here, not cooking or cleaning, or doing laundry or doing anything.  I wish that we had jobs; the day might seem more meaningful.  For now we attend breakfast, hold kids, go to town (maybe)/play with the kids, attend lunch, go to town (maybe)/ play with the kids, attend dinner, visit the kids before bed, love on them, give them hugs, kisses, tickle them, give high fives and tell them they are special.  It feels like we spend a lot of time, sitting around talking with kids on our laps.  We both feel useless, doing little to nothing at all, but I know that the work that we do is not in vain. 

This is the scripture that I read at church the night I found out that the Segners would be waylaid for a week.  

But thanks be to God!

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers,

stand firm.

Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,

because

you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 cor 15:57

we have given ourselves, fully to the work of the Lord, we have come, we have made ourselves available, but all they have asked us to do is, love the children here.  If this is the work of the Lord well I am happy! I have been blessed by blessing these kids. It seems so small but as mother Teresa said, “not all can do great things, but everyone can do small things with great love”.

I went to glory dorm to fix the mosquito nets, but the beams that they are tied to were too high for us, and there was no Ladder.  So, we sat on the stoop while they took baths and took pictures, of their naked butts, of their Auntie Daisy, scrubbing their little necks.  I told the little ones to “seka” (smile) while they waited patiently on the stoop beside me, for their turn.  At dinner we ate with the large team that is visiting with “Visiting Orphans” and an old friend of the Children’s home, Carol, whose 9 year old daughter has raised all of the support needed to build a new playground for the 120 children who live at Canaan.  The two of them are here for a month to oversee and help with the building of the new playground, if you want to see more about the project you can click HERE.  We sat and ate with them, and talked about the Segners.  Who are scheduled to arrive at 10pm on Thursday the 5th which for me is today.  Very excited to meet them. 

            After dinner, we drenched ourselves in bug spray and went down to see the little ones.  Who were practicing their performance for the visiting orphans team, they are all no taller than three feet, they have strong features and baldheads, they are Gorgeous, you can see them soon! Promise.  They were stepping back and forth to the beat, one would call out and the others would respond, in song, they pressed their little palms together and shook their hips, Furrowed their little brows, clenched fists, they closed their eyes and sang louder, waving their little hand across the crowd before them like they were presenting themselves to everyone.  They sang a song telling the “vistas, you are welcome” and that they are praying for them and will never forget them.  So sweet, we told them to pee, took off all of their clothes (they sleep nude) and put them in bed, I went to help with mosquito nets laying them over the beds, the ones that did not need repair.  I called little Topista over a four year old who is teeny with a lot of personality.  Prayed for her to have a good night, sweet dreams, and peace.  She whispered “amen” and I kissed her cheek and told her good night, on my way out the door, I hugged their Auntie daisy, who is like their little momma, taking care of more than fifteen 4-6 year olds every day and wished her a good night.  Went to visit Vivian, and prayed with her, gave her kisses and said good night.  

A day full of nothing…well spent... more to come…

Love

Rachael