Stopping for the ONE

I am totally THAT Mom! I have an obsession with kissing, hugging, and cuddling my babies. I love that my seven year old son still asks for cuddle time! I love being a Mommy. While I may not always excel at it, being a Mommy is one of THE greatest joys in my life. I will admit that I baby my children more than I should, and dote on them probably more than I should. So it has been quite the culture shock for me, moving to a country {or even continent!} where that is not the norm whatsoever. A place where every where you look, there is an orphan. I have cried so many nights as I put my babies to bed, and just watch them sleep peacefully, thinking of all the children in our town that will be going to bed without a Mommy giving them kisses goodnight, or a Daddy praying night time prayers with them. Remember that I am THAT Mom while reading my story from today.

One of our main ministries is working with New Life Foundation here. New Life Foundation is an amazing ministry/school about ten minutes from our home. We feel so blessed to be able to partner with them and all they are doing in Tanzania. About 70% of the children in this facility are considered orphans. They are truly some of the sweetest children I have ever met in my life. We love going out and doing ministry out there, but also just love going out on Saturdays and playing with the kids, loving on them. The first day we were there a couple of the girls were brave enough to come up and talk to me and the kids while Brian was inside working with the seventh grade students. They were so shy, but it was great getting to know them, and they loved playing with the kids. As we were getting ready to leave that first day I naturally hugged the girls goodbye {touch is one of my love languages}. I could tell they weren't expecting it, but they sort of hugged me back in shock. {Hugging, as far as I can tell, isn't super common here}. Well we have been back many times since that first time {we go out to New Life to do ministry about 4-5 times a week} and it has been so fun to see the progression of my relationship with these girls. Just last Sunday at church one of the girls ran up to me and gave me a big hug, which surprised even me, but blessed me SO much! I see my relationship with them deepening and trust beginning to form.

Today we headed out to New Life, and as soon as we got their I saw one of my favorite girls {gasp! yes I have a couple girls that are very special to me :)}sitting down near us. I could tell something was wrong right away, because she usually comes running to our car as soon as she sees us. I walked over to her and could tell she had been crying. I asked her if something was wrong, and she said no. I knew that wasn't true, but also know the culture and that she more than likely wouldn't tell me, so just sat there with her in silence. Brian announced that it was time to start drama practice and she was in the first group. I came into the room about five minutes after they had started, and she was crying again, trying so hard to hide it. I asked her if she wanted to go talk outside, and she said yes. So we went outside and I asked her what was wrong. She had an awful headache she said. I asked her if I could pray for her, and we spent some time with me praying for her. She said she had already taken some medicine but it hadn't helped at all. She was in so much pain, she couldn't quit crying, so I just held her. Tears flooded my eyes, and I felt Holy Spirit so strongly. This is why I am here, to hold this girl in pain who has no Mommy to hold her right now. to show her the love that her Heavenly Father has for her. I cannot tell you how honored I felt in that moment, that I was the one getting to hold Haika. We sat outside for a little bit longer, and I asked her if she wanted to stay out or go back to the drama. She had really been looking forward to doing the drama, so we headed back. I can't help but get emotional as I type this thinking of her going to bed tonight, not feeling good, alone. I think of Kayden and how if he had a headache I would be snuggling with him, doing whatever I could to make him feel better. I love how Heidi Baker puts it, that we are to stop for the one. That it all I can do here, and this afternoon Haika was the one. These kids we are working with are literally changing my life. I feel so blessed.

I know it sounds kind of silly, but I see now that me being a doting mommy is part of the calling on my life, and I love it.