As we headed into our second day at the Orphange, following breakfast and devotions, we were immediately reminded as to why we are here. There is a gate that separates the Noel Orphanage from the rest of the population and each morning we are let into Noel through a see through gate. Upon the gate being opened a little boy looked toward the gate, saw that it was us again and in the blink of an eye he was smiling ear to ear with his little Dallas Coybows fall jacket on, running toward us with arms streched wide the whole way until he met us and and was brought into our arms. That was the start. We entered into the orphanage to have yet another day of blessing and fun.
As we went into the orghanage we learned that somehow the water was turned back on. Praise the Lord! Rags and clothes had been washed and were hanging out on the line and kids were drinking water out of the spickets coming from the ground. Simply put, a true answer to our and your and I am sure many other individual's prayers. Please keep this in prayer as we do not know the totality of the circumstances with the water bill. Nonetheless, God is good....all the time. We got to the orphanage just in time for the ladies to feed the babies. All the babies were being fed when we got there and the ladies got to help out. Elaine, Heather, Cindy, and Cali got to once again preciously hold the babies. Elaine had the opportunity to feed a little one who the doctor was concerned about as the baby was not eating what it should be eating. Elaine, with bowl and spoon in hand, fed this little baby. Yes, not from a bottle but with a spoon. Elaine thought the baby was done eating and then the baby decided to eat some more. It was great for Elaine to be able to "fully" feed this baby the doctor was concerned about. Elaine didn't just stop there, she then did the Rwandan baby carry. I'm not sure if you have ever seen it but it is where the baby is strapped to the lady's back and the blanket is wrapped around the front of the lady and tucked in so that the baby is secure as the lady walks. When I say strapped to the lady's back, that is the norm...women carry babies in this fashion. However for some reason, a reason for which we are still trying to figure out, Pastor Wade was seen walking around the orphanage doing the lady baby carry at one point.....He is...Our Fearless Leader. We aren't overly sure how it worked out for Pastor Wade, however Elaine's blanket wrapping began to slip so she took the baby out and simply held it sitting on a bench. It doesn't seem like much but these babies have no mobility being in a 1' by 2' crib 24/7. Elaine was able to sit in, "fresh air" (possibly unmet by this baby prior to today). Heather was also able to take a baby out in the fresh air putting the baby on her back. After an encouragement from Pastor Wade this morning, in which he reassured us that, "We may be leaving Rwanda soon, but the Lord's Spirit stays...So be in prayer as you walk, talk, and pray with these kids today." Fact is, we will be leaving a week and a half or so, but the Lord will still be here working. Heather took this opportunity, while the inner courtyard of the orphanage was empty to just walk and pray for the little one on her back. Prayers that we know were heard. She, and all of us, are greatful for this opportunity.
The number of arms stretched out for hugs and lifts were innumerable. We did what we could and loved as much as we could. Pastor Wade had the opportunity to brighten the day of one of the young adult male orphan in the orphanage who wanted to have the opportunity to read an English Bible. Tina provided one for Pastor Wade and the guy was clinging to it, extremely grateful for what we had brought. Many of the adolescents and even one of the adult teachers asked with frequency how they get to America. Repeatedly they stated that, "We have no foundation, we have no parents. We want to go to America to use our skills and study." We have no foundation.....we have no parents. That is the reality for the hundreds of kids at the orphanage. However, the smiles on their faces are beyond what you could even imagine for kids in these situations. These kids are truly selfless. As one little kid had a small piece of bread (something we would probably not look twice at and chuck into garbage), the boy pulled it out, immediately hands upon hands upon hands were stretched out at this boy. The boy began to break of piece, by piece, by piece, and distribute it to the hands awaiting. Even to the point where we do not know if the boy even had a piece himself. Truly selfless. In America we often talk of the Golden Rule, "To do unto others as you would like done unto you." These kids, both young and old exemplify this. The older look out for the younger and the young truly fulfill the Golden Rule. As I sat Indian style on the ground, a little boy came next to me and sat Indian style. As you love, they love. As I had the opportunity to hang out with a little girl this afternoon and as we walked I held her hand and rubbed her back. As our walk continued and as I stopped to talk to a teacher, she began to rub my back. Amazing!
The orphanage is pushing for reunification with families for the children at the orphanage. While this sounds great many times the children will be reunified with families where they are used as house help and lose everything they know in their bothers and sisters at the orphanage along with (often times) their opportunity for education. Today, Cindy heard a girl say something about another one of the girls. Cindy asked for a translation from another girl as to what this meant. The girl said, "She is going." What this meant is that tomorrow this girl is being reunited with her family, specifically with her Grandmother. This girl did not appear happy, rather very sad. As we left today, her hands were on the gate looking at us..Please pray for this girl and this reunification.
At the end of the day Dr. VanGorder, Heather, Tina, and Chance traveled to the Gisenyi Hospital to check on baby Patrick who has HIV and was taken to the hospital last night. They took motos (essentially paid for dirt bike style rides) to the hospital. Each of them put their beautiful welding style looking helmets on (yes, the one with the flip up hoods) and ventured off for the hospital. Upon arrival to the pediatric unit, which with toughness it is hard to say...it looked like the mix between a meat hanging room and a military dorm room, God showed his providence once again. Baby Patrick, despite his HIV, 101 degree fever, and Tuberculosis, had not been seen yed. However, he was the very next in line to be seen by the doctor when we got there. What amazing timing. The room was packed with pediactrics waiting to be seen. As Heather held baby Patrick, Dr. VanGorder had the opportunity to talk with the doctor and share what he had observed upon his examination of the baby with the Rwandan doctor. What a blessing it was. Hopefully the proper care can be given to get this baby back to a stable state so he can return to the orphanage and hopefuly survive. Also, Dr. VanGorder's aero chamber was finished successfully, tested successfully, and given to the orphanage staff to be used on the littles ones. A big thank you to Dr. VanGorder.
For all of you wondering, we are thoroughly enjoying our time here and enjoying God doing His work. We meet as a group for devotions in the morning and again for worship and sharing at night. Please know we are praying for you and thinking of our respective loved ones as well. We are being well fed by the four Rwandan girls that so graciously serve us here at the house. The girls, Jeanette, Alice, Doreen, and Denea, serve us breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their food is delicious, including the cooked bananas disguised as potatoes at tonight's dinner, and their singing is even better!
Please keep them in prayer as well. We look forward to being able to talk to everyone this Sunday. We are going to make an attempt to Skype with you all at the 10:45 am service this Sunday. For those of you who are interested that don't normally attend the Oswego Alliance Church we would love for you attend and here about what we have been doing here in Rwanda. See everyone then!
P.S. These ophans sure do know some details. As Fred laid proned out today on the pavement the kids thoroughly enjoyed tracing Fred in sidewalk chalk. These witty orphans not only traced him, but threw on the finishing touches of a moustache and glasses when they were done! :)
By: Chance Fieldson
As we went into the orghanage we learned that somehow the water was turned back on. Praise the Lord! Rags and clothes had been washed and were hanging out on the line and kids were drinking water out of the spickets coming from the ground. Simply put, a true answer to our and your and I am sure many other individual's prayers. Please keep this in prayer as we do not know the totality of the circumstances with the water bill. Nonetheless, God is good....all the time. We got to the orphanage just in time for the ladies to feed the babies. All the babies were being fed when we got there and the ladies got to help out. Elaine, Heather, Cindy, and Cali got to once again preciously hold the babies. Elaine had the opportunity to feed a little one who the doctor was concerned about as the baby was not eating what it should be eating. Elaine, with bowl and spoon in hand, fed this little baby. Yes, not from a bottle but with a spoon. Elaine thought the baby was done eating and then the baby decided to eat some more. It was great for Elaine to be able to "fully" feed this baby the doctor was concerned about. Elaine didn't just stop there, she then did the Rwandan baby carry. I'm not sure if you have ever seen it but it is where the baby is strapped to the lady's back and the blanket is wrapped around the front of the lady and tucked in so that the baby is secure as the lady walks. When I say strapped to the lady's back, that is the norm...women carry babies in this fashion. However for some reason, a reason for which we are still trying to figure out, Pastor Wade was seen walking around the orphanage doing the lady baby carry at one point.....He is...Our Fearless Leader. We aren't overly sure how it worked out for Pastor Wade, however Elaine's blanket wrapping began to slip so she took the baby out and simply held it sitting on a bench. It doesn't seem like much but these babies have no mobility being in a 1' by 2' crib 24/7. Elaine was able to sit in, "fresh air" (possibly unmet by this baby prior to today). Heather was also able to take a baby out in the fresh air putting the baby on her back. After an encouragement from Pastor Wade this morning, in which he reassured us that, "We may be leaving Rwanda soon, but the Lord's Spirit stays...So be in prayer as you walk, talk, and pray with these kids today." Fact is, we will be leaving a week and a half or so, but the Lord will still be here working. Heather took this opportunity, while the inner courtyard of the orphanage was empty to just walk and pray for the little one on her back. Prayers that we know were heard. She, and all of us, are greatful for this opportunity.
The number of arms stretched out for hugs and lifts were innumerable. We did what we could and loved as much as we could. Pastor Wade had the opportunity to brighten the day of one of the young adult male orphan in the orphanage who wanted to have the opportunity to read an English Bible. Tina provided one for Pastor Wade and the guy was clinging to it, extremely grateful for what we had brought. Many of the adolescents and even one of the adult teachers asked with frequency how they get to America. Repeatedly they stated that, "We have no foundation, we have no parents. We want to go to America to use our skills and study." We have no foundation.....we have no parents. That is the reality for the hundreds of kids at the orphanage. However, the smiles on their faces are beyond what you could even imagine for kids in these situations. These kids are truly selfless. As one little kid had a small piece of bread (something we would probably not look twice at and chuck into garbage), the boy pulled it out, immediately hands upon hands upon hands were stretched out at this boy. The boy began to break of piece, by piece, by piece, and distribute it to the hands awaiting. Even to the point where we do not know if the boy even had a piece himself. Truly selfless. In America we often talk of the Golden Rule, "To do unto others as you would like done unto you." These kids, both young and old exemplify this. The older look out for the younger and the young truly fulfill the Golden Rule. As I sat Indian style on the ground, a little boy came next to me and sat Indian style. As you love, they love. As I had the opportunity to hang out with a little girl this afternoon and as we walked I held her hand and rubbed her back. As our walk continued and as I stopped to talk to a teacher, she began to rub my back. Amazing!
The orphanage is pushing for reunification with families for the children at the orphanage. While this sounds great many times the children will be reunified with families where they are used as house help and lose everything they know in their bothers and sisters at the orphanage along with (often times) their opportunity for education. Today, Cindy heard a girl say something about another one of the girls. Cindy asked for a translation from another girl as to what this meant. The girl said, "She is going." What this meant is that tomorrow this girl is being reunited with her family, specifically with her Grandmother. This girl did not appear happy, rather very sad. As we left today, her hands were on the gate looking at us..Please pray for this girl and this reunification.
At the end of the day Dr. VanGorder, Heather, Tina, and Chance traveled to the Gisenyi Hospital to check on baby Patrick who has HIV and was taken to the hospital last night. They took motos (essentially paid for dirt bike style rides) to the hospital. Each of them put their beautiful welding style looking helmets on (yes, the one with the flip up hoods) and ventured off for the hospital. Upon arrival to the pediatric unit, which with toughness it is hard to say...it looked like the mix between a meat hanging room and a military dorm room, God showed his providence once again. Baby Patrick, despite his HIV, 101 degree fever, and Tuberculosis, had not been seen yed. However, he was the very next in line to be seen by the doctor when we got there. What amazing timing. The room was packed with pediactrics waiting to be seen. As Heather held baby Patrick, Dr. VanGorder had the opportunity to talk with the doctor and share what he had observed upon his examination of the baby with the Rwandan doctor. What a blessing it was. Hopefully the proper care can be given to get this baby back to a stable state so he can return to the orphanage and hopefuly survive. Also, Dr. VanGorder's aero chamber was finished successfully, tested successfully, and given to the orphanage staff to be used on the littles ones. A big thank you to Dr. VanGorder.
For all of you wondering, we are thoroughly enjoying our time here and enjoying God doing His work. We meet as a group for devotions in the morning and again for worship and sharing at night. Please know we are praying for you and thinking of our respective loved ones as well. We are being well fed by the four Rwandan girls that so graciously serve us here at the house. The girls, Jeanette, Alice, Doreen, and Denea, serve us breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their food is delicious, including the cooked bananas disguised as potatoes at tonight's dinner, and their singing is even better!
Please keep them in prayer as well. We look forward to being able to talk to everyone this Sunday. We are going to make an attempt to Skype with you all at the 10:45 am service this Sunday. For those of you who are interested that don't normally attend the Oswego Alliance Church we would love for you attend and here about what we have been doing here in Rwanda. See everyone then!
P.S. These ophans sure do know some details. As Fred laid proned out today on the pavement the kids thoroughly enjoyed tracing Fred in sidewalk chalk. These witty orphans not only traced him, but threw on the finishing touches of a moustache and glasses when they were done! :)
By: Chance Fieldson
Keep the updates coming Chance! The Lord is so good. At home we take things for granted as everyday occurrences and there you truly see how the Lord works through things such as water being turned on, riding on a small motorbike to go places and seeing the joy of a child draw Fred on the sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteChris