Rattins living Coram Deo

We visited our colleague and friend, Rose, and her brand new baby girl, Lakisa, this week.  This adorable healthy newborn was an answer to prayer as mama and baby are both healthy and thriving.  This is not a given in this area.  Child and maternal mortality rates are high - very high. But what struck me was a comment that she made as we sat in her tiny sitting room with her husband (unusual!), her two sons, a maid (usually a young lady from one of the families who needs domestic experience as she waits to get married), and the two grandmothers.  Yes, both grandmothers came to help.  This is a little unusual, especially since Rose and her husband are from different tribes.  But the happy grandmothers were both sitting there, together, loving on their grandbaby. "The baby is doing so well because the mothers are here to help.  When you are young like us, you can't have a healthy baby.  You need help from the mothers."  Rose is probably a...

My heart is heavy.  I'm facing the reality that I'm giving a very serious diagnosis to an orphan. If this was a child in North America, his parents would be grieving, angry, and reaching out to find resources and support... If this was a child in North America, his future would be full of plans for transitional care, skills training, adult living options, surgeries, medication after medication after medication, specialized diets... Here's a reality about orphans worldwide, but specifically in sub-Saharan Africa: this kiddo has relatives.  But, for reasons that I will keep private, they have rejected him. So, he does not have an advocate.  He does not have a mom to stay up at his side all night watching over him.  He does not have a dad who will run into town to get his medication before it runs out.  But he also does not automatically have the option for adoption because he still has relatives. The good news? He has us! Praise God that he is a Home...

Tonight, I'm sitting under my mosquito net, Googling "stinging caterpillars." I'm always learning something new - usually out of necessity.  This evening, I narrowly rescued Baby from a "bad" caterpillar that was making a bee-line for him.  This is the prickly caterpillar that people here fear greatly.  Fear almost as much as snakes... but not quite... nothing tops a snake. After I kicked the prickly caterpillar away and snatched the baby to the sound of Christine exclaiming about the dangers of that caterpillar, the caterpillar kindly obliged and curled up into a ball waiting patiently until I could find something to kill it with.  I then scolded each of my other children for not wearing their shoes outside (again) and made baby play next to me for the rest of the day... As if I am in control.... Yesterday, I lost him twice.  And silently freaked out. And got silently angry at the teenagers and adults in my household for letting him get out of their s...