Peanut Butter and Poptarts

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Gertrude...

My heart is extremely heavy as I write...sweet Gertrude passed away yesterday. She was taken to the hospital on Monday night with severe diarrhea and went to be with the Lord early Tuesday morning. Josh received a call from Family Legacy's health department yesterday morning with the news. She was buried yesterday as well. They do funerals very quickly here since they don't have a way to preserve the body. Her little body was so ravaged by AIDS that the diarrhea (and dehydration) was just too much for it to handle. I'm still trying to process everything. My heart is so broken, but I'm trusting in God's plan and timing for her life. I know that her suffering here on earth is over and now she is rejoicing with Jesus in heaven! Praise God for that! I just wish that there was more that I could do. Please pray for Gertrude's family, especially her parents, as they deal with the loss of a child. Pray that the Lord strengthens their bodies and keeps them healthy so they can care for their other 2 children. Gertrude's mom was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago with pneumonia. I'm hoping that I'll get to visit the family this week. My time here in Zambia is quickly running out! Family Legacy took care of the funeral expenses and provided food for the family.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Visiting Karen...

Two weekends ago I went to visit Karen, one of the girls that Josh and I sponsor through Family Legacy's child sponsorship program "Father's Heart." Karen was in my group at Camp LIFE 2008 and we started sponsoring her immediately after we returned to the states. Karen is doing fantastic....she looks wonderful ("fat" as they call it here in Zambia....which is a compliment) and doing great in school (grade 8). Our monthly sponsorship allows Karen to attend a private school here in Lusaka, so she is getting a very good education!

It was such a blessing to see her after 2 years! She didn't know that I was coming to visit her, so she was very surprised when she saw me. Josh was able to visit her last summer when he was here. We were able to spend about an hour and a half together at one of Family Legacy's Community Resource Centers before we went to visit her family for a food drop. I'm hoping that Josh and I will get to go see her one last time before I leave next week.

Outside of the grocery store after we purchased all of the food....Julie went to visit her sponsored child as well. Mom and Susie joined us for the visits and food drops.

Karen and I at the CRC...we enjoyed softies (cokes) and cookies and worked on some bible activity sheets. It was so much fun catching up with her!

Karen and I at her house with her mother, older sister and nephew. They were extremely grateful for the food! We had a fun visit (with a translator...Karen can speak English fairly well, but the rest of her family can not) and enjoyed a time of prayer together before we left.

Karen's house...

Karen and I with our moms...

24 Weeks...

There's no doubting it that I'm definitely pregnant now! My clothes are fitting MUCH tighter thanks to my quickly expanding belly...baby is a mover for sure...constantly doing somersaults inside me to remind me that he/she is there (which is making it a bit difficult to sleep)....and I'm thoroughly enjoying the last weeks (or probably days) of my belly button! I have loved being pregnant so far and look forward to the weeks ahead...it really is amazing to me how much my body is changing with each passing week! I will be so sad to leave Zambia next Wednesday, but I am looking forward to getting home and preparing for baby's arrival. I can't wait to start working on the nursery and registering for everything that baby will need!

I told Josh to turn on the "minimize the fat face" setting on our camera, but he ignored me! :)

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A day of rest...

I've been going non-stop since we arrived in Lusaka 5 weeks ago! This morning I had a doctor's appointment, so I decide to take the afternoon off and get caught up on blogging, reading, laundry and some much needed rest! Below are 3 new blog posts from this morning and last week...enjoy!

23 Week Doctor's Visit...

This morning I went to Corpmed Medical Centre in Lusaka....I saw Dr. Christine MacDonald, an OB who is from Scotland. She practices part time and also runs an orphanage full time with her husband. They have taken in 26 street children from Lusaka. She is a neat lady and Josh and I really enjoyed meeting her today. Baby Rives is doing well. I had my urine, blood and blood pressure tested and everything looks perfect. Baby's heartbeat is nice and strong too. Dr. MacDonald had a hard time finding it at first because baby was moving around so much! Josh took a few pictures with his iPhone of the clinic...

The entrance...

Waiting area...