Operation Day

            All of last night I was packing to leave Tororo. I packed my suitcase to get ready to head back America. I felt like this trip flew by the fastest. Everyday went by so fast. I am really going to miss all those babies. The morning came really quickly. Ruth came to pick up Jackie and I at 5am, so we had to be ready by 4:45am. Faith needed to be at the hospital at a certain time, so we could not be late. After she picked us up, we went to pick up Faith’s father because he would have to sign off on the surgery. Once he was in our van, we went to Smile Africa to pick up baby Faith. It was a quiet ride in the beginning. After our first rest stop, I handed Faith to her father to spend time with him. The father was so happy to be with Faith and Faith was happy as well. I am so glad that they got to spend time together.

            Once we got to the hospital, things started to move quickly. We were lucky enough to get an earlier surgery than what we had planned for. The nurse took me to put on scrubs so that I could escort the baby into the operating room and stay with her until she was asleep. I handed baby Faith to the doctor and he began the procedure to make her sleep. Once they hooked her up to the monitor, I began to get nervous; not because anything bad was happening, but because I love her so much and I just wanted her to be safe. I could feel my heart racing, so I had to quietly pray to God to calm my heart and tell Him that I trust Him with baby Faith.

            The surgery was a little less than an hour. They began to wake her up and I could not wait to see her. I was pacing back and forth outside the door waiting for them to tell me that I could go in and see Faith. Finally after much anticipation, they allowed me to come in the room. Faith was still dozing in and out of sleep but I started talking to her telling her much I love her and how happy I am to see her. Faith had an eye patch over her eye to protect it while it heals. Luckily though, she only has to wear the eye patch for the day, then at night we are able to take it off.

            Once Faith was back in my arms again, I felt so much better. I just wanted to hold her and protect her and keep her safe. I was then able to quickly change out of the scrubs and back into my regular clothes. We all had a really long day, and after the surgery, both Faith and I could not stay awake. I just held on tightly to her and we both fell asleep.

            Finally after many hours of waiting for the doctor to clear us, we were released from the hospital. We all could not wait to get to the hotel. We were all so tired and poor Faith was just exhausted from traveling from Tororo and then surgery, but she got through it like a champ! After we got to the hotel I was able to remove the eye patch and bathe her and feed her. Once she got some food in her belly she was a happy baby. Faith was laughing and smiling like she didn’t just have surgery a few hours before.

            I am so proud of Faith for being so strong. I love her so much and I am excited at what the future holds for sweet baby Faith. The surgery cost $900 and we were able to raise $640! WOW! Thank you to everyone who donated so generously to help make Faith’s life better. I am so grateful for your heart and generosity. If you would still like to donate and help us cover the cost of Faith’s surgery, please go to www.cityoflightsinternational.org. These children are the next generation! You just never know, Faith could be president of Uganda one day and you would be able to say “I helped pay for surgery that helped change President Faith’s life!” J

            After a very long day, we are all going to get the much-needed rest we so badly crave. Thank you all so much for praying for Faith and encouraging me along the journey. Tomorrow I head to the airport to head back to Los Angeles. This has been a very busy trip and also one of the hardest, but I am so grateful that I get to come and be apart of the lives of these amazing children. It is going to be sad to say good-bye to Faith after all we have been through together this trip, but I know that she will be happy and well taken care of when I go back home. I miss all the babies already and I am already planning my next trip back to the Red Dirt!

"My heart will never forget the things these Blue Eyes have seen…and my feet will forever be stained by the Red Dirt."

Good-bye My Loves

            It was a very busy day today. First thing in the morning we drove to visit a preschool that we are going to start sending our toddlers to. It was a great school and I am so excited for our children to be going to new places and learning new things. After that visit, we then drove to Pastor Ruth’s village where she has her village home. Pastor Ruth’s husband passed away a few months ago and that is where he is buried. Mama Ruth had some work to do in the village, so Jackie and I walked to where the grave was. It was a very beautiful memorial to her husband who was a man that I loved dearly. It was also a very sad feeling realizing that he is actually gone. Although there were many mixed emotions, I am so happy to know that he is with Jesus and he is happy and free of pain.

            After seeing the grave, we went back to where Pastor Ruth was working. There were people buying land and she was one of the witnesses. As she was walking around with the group of people, Jackie and I made friends with a little girl and we hung out with her for a while. This little girl left and then came back with a baby goat in her arms. I could not believe the cuteness! I just had to go and say hi to the little goat. The little girl handed me the goat and I got to hold him! It was the cutest thing ever! Jackie and I walked over to Pastor Ruth while the goat was in my hands. All of the people laughed as they saw me carrying around a baby goat. I named the goat Billy and we agreed that they would not kill Billy for any purpose. Instead of him being someone’s dinner, he would live! I was happy about that!

            After that adventure we were finally able to go back to Smile Africa. Today was going to be my last day there, so I wanted to spend as much time there as possible. I loved being with the babies. I just wanted to hold them all and never let go. I consider each of these babies as my own. I love them so much. The thought that I am leaving them again is so hard on my heart. I didn’t want to think about how long it would be until I would see them again; otherwise I would start to cry. When it was time to go, I said good-bye to all of them and began to walk toward the car and I heard the babies yelling, “Mommy, bye! Mommy, bye!” And they were waving. As we drove away my heart was heavy and hurting, but I know that they will be loved and well taken care of while I am gone. 

            After my good-byes with the babies, Jackie and I took Bogere, Betty and Peter to the hotel to have dinner together. It was my last night in Tororo, so I wanted to spend it with them. I know I am going to miss them so much. I love every second that I get to spend with them. We ate dinner together and watched Frozen. As you can see, I was just as in to the movie as the kids were! And yes, we at on the floor...3 kids, rice, and chicken...yes, we ate on the floor. haha!

            Sadly, it was time to say good-bye. The driver was waiting for us, so the good-byes were a little rushed, but we said good-bye and we hugged tightly. I am going to miss those kids so much! I am so proud of the boy that Bogere has become. This boy has come a long way and I am excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead of him.

            Tomorrow morning we are off to Kampala for Baby Faith’s eye surgery. We have so far raised $400 out of $900! Almost half way there! I know that we can raise more! I am believing that God is going to provide for this baby and that this surgery will be covered! Thank you to everyone who donated! You are changing this baby’s life! If you would also like to donate, please go to www.cityoflightsinternational.org. Every dollar given will go to helping make Faith’s life healthier. Don’t wait for someone else, YOU can be the change. Together, we can change the world, one baby at a time!

            

Say Cheese!

            It was Sunday again at Smile Africa! It was a beautiful Sunday. Things went a little differently today for me. Since my friend and team member from City of Lights International, Jackie, is in town I was finally able to take some amazing photos of the kids! Jackie and I reached Smile Africa and went right to the baby home. We began cleaning and changing all the babies into their new clothes. I was so excited for this photo shoot with the babies! Smile Africa baby home has some of the cutest babies I have ever seen, so I knew that this photo shoot was going to be amazing.

            The babies love to play in the dirt and in the grass and run around outside, like all children do, and that is when they are laughing the most. So of course, when we cleaned them and put them in nice clean clothes, they would NOT smile…at all. HAHA! Finally after some crazy movements by Jackie and her little friend Brenda from Smile Africa, along with blowing bubbles, the babies began smiling and laughing! It was a success! Here is a sneek preview of one of the photos of the baby photo-shoot!

            That was really the perfect time to do it. While the other kids were busy during the church service, we were able to sneak away with the help of the nannies and a few of the older children and take amazing photos of the children! I am no photographer, but I have found a new hobby that I actually really love! The photos turned out great! I am excited to share them all with you soon, but for now, enjoy a another sneek peak!

                       We are still in the process of raising money for Baby Faith’s surgery! $275 out of $900 has been raised! If every single person who reads this blog gave $15, we would have the money! Be apart of the amazing and life changing things that are happening in Tororo Uganda. You, yes, you, can make a difference in the life of an innocent baby named Faith, and change her life forever. Join us!

SURGERY for Faith!

To all my friends and family…this blog is a little different today. As I have told you in another blog, we recently took Baby Faith to the doctor to have her eye checked because I was really concerned that one of her eyes might not work properly. The doctor had Faith look to the left and he noticed that her left eye would not look to the left. Faith’s right eye looked left, but her left eye remained looking straight. When he looked deeper into her eye he noticed severe damage the outer muscle of the left eye. The doctor said that while a baby is being born, one of the most sensitive muscles is the outer muscle of both eyes. So if someone manipulated the baby in any way during birth, it could have caused the damage. We received baby Faith at 3 weeks old, so we could not be sure of the birthing situation, however we do know that her mother died while giving birth, so we know there was some complication.

The doctor told us that if we do not get surgery, then it could cause faith serious damage to her sight as she grows up. We want to help Faith! We all love Faith so much and want to see her not just survive, but THRIVE. The surgery is going to cost $900. We need your help! If 20 people give $45 the surgery is covered! If 30 people give $30, the surgery is covered! Please give what you are able! Anything helps. I believe that we can do this together! Every life matters.

Please go to www.cityoflightsinternational.org click the  “DONATE” button and in the memo please write “Baby Faith”. All the money that is given will go to the surgery and all that is required for Faith to be healthy. Thank you in advance for your generosity and changing the world with us! Lets do this!

Dancing Babies

            Today was a very busy day.  First thing in the morning, Jackie and I stopped in town to buy more containers where we keep the babies clothes. Every baby has a bucket with his or her name on it. That way they each have their own clothes and personal items that belong to just them. Once we arrived to Smile Africa, we went to the baby home and organized all the children’s clothes, got rid of really old ones and replaced them with new ones. That actually took a long time, but it was so worth it to see the children in new clothes.

            After we organized the babies’ clothes, we ran a few errands for the babies in town. When we got back from town we grabbed a bunch of toys that Jackie brought and began playing with the children. They were having so much fun playing with their news toys. I have learned that these children LOVE toy cars. As the cars would roll they would chase them down and start laughing.

            Along with toys, Jackie also brought nursery songs for the babies to learn, sing and dance too. While the children were playing with the cars I grabbed the CD player and the CD and began playing the nursery music. They kids LOVED it! They all started dancing and singing! They could not believe what they were hearing. I was laughing too hard at first to take any pictures or film, and then finally I was able to take a video of the children enjoying their music. I had so much fun watching them dance and sing. They laughter filled the room.

          After the hilarious show of the Dancing Babies, it was time to go home. As I was walking away from the Baby Home, I looked back and smiled. I smiled at all the work that God is doing in each baby’s life. I am speechless at all the generosity people have shown in order to better the lives of these babies. Also, the wall surrounding the baby home is looking amazing! Everyone is so excited about the wall! I cannot wait to see it complete!

"Thank you God for generous people. Thank you for people who love children. I pray that you will bless every person that has donated time and money for the babies in the baby home. I pray that you will continue to bless these babies and that you will protect them and keep them healthy and strong as they grow up. Thank you. I love you. Amen."