Updates

Continue to look at my blog as I will continue to do updates about Africa and Texas..

Whats my job?

While in Africa I was kept so busy and had to do so many things that I don't remember what my job title was to begin with. I had to be a pharmacist and get medicine for the kids, workers and those in the community; now I may not know how to pronounce things or the exact thing they should be used for but I know what color liquid medicine to give them for the flu, what size pill to give them for malaria, how to help a headache, etc. etc. I also acted as a nurse, bandaging up cuts, burns, scrapes and owies. I was a doctor who took care of sick kids, I slept with them when they needed extra watching and love during the night or I had them sleep with me so I could keep an eye on them. I was a bank teller and would give out money when needed and when we could help out. I was a boss/manager and handled all the employees, made sure they came to work and were doing their jobs. I was a referee and helped when there were arguments among the children or the workers and other volunteers. I was a taxi driver and drove people to the clinic, school, to their homes, etc. I was part of a hearse and ambulance crew who would take emergencies to the hospital or dead bodies to their homes after the passed away. I was a teacher and helped teach our kids when all the teachers decided they wanted to go on strike. I was a cook and helped cook meals at times. I was a maid and helped wash the laundry and keep everything picked up and clean. I was a caregiver and helped care for, love, play with and watch 39 amazing beautiful kids. Wanna know something? I absolutely loved every single minute of all of it and would do it all again in a heart beat if I could! So whatever the job may be I will take it! I will do it! I loved being there!!

Kaylee and Aydan

My best friend Casie had another little girl this past week, I was able to spend time up at the hospital with her and the girls and it was so much fun. Little Aydan Capri weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and was 21 inches long and she was four weeks early! We are so glad that she is here healthy and fine. "Our" little sister Cailtin had her little girl Kaylee Michelle two days after I left for Africa so I didn't get the chance of meeting her til now. She is also so adorable and I loved spending time kissing and cuddling with my little "nieces". It was so funny, Kaylee is five weeks old and is bald, weighs just over 8 pounds and is 20 inches long; Aydan was born weighs almost as much as Kaylee, has a head full of hear and is longer then her. I am so happy for both Casie and Caitlin and love their beautiful little girls!! Avery is such a good sister/ cousin and has waited a long time to be able to bring her baby home so we are so happy for them!

Girl Just Wanna Have Fun

So since I am moving to Texas in just a few hours my mom, sister Kira and "my sista from another mista" Jenny went down to St. George to see Aida at the Tuacahn out doors ampitheater. It was so much fun!! We stayed Saturday night in the hotel and came home Sunday, we have decided to make it a yearly trip; next year we are going to see Cats and Tarzan. I can't wait!! Then on Monday afternoon I went to lunch with Emily, Hilary, and Nora Jo. It was fun to see them and catch up (ever since we all graduated it has been hard to get the four of us together.) Then last night I went to dinner with my cousin Abby who just moved here from Indiana. We had so much fun talking and laughing (we drove around for like 20 minutes trying to find a Bajio but couldn't find it so we went to The Brick Oven, oh my gosh that place is so good!! They had the best pizza and dessert!). After that I went to hang out with Rylee and Tiffany the best roommmates ever!! I really miss living with them and hanging out with them all the time! They are the best! So this week has been full of "me and my girls" and it has been so much fun and I am so lucky to have such great people in my life!!

Baby Wearing

Baby wearing in Africa is different then baby wearing here. You put the child on your back and with a towel tie them to you, usually the only part of the baby that is showing is it's head and sometimes the feet. It cracked me up because everyone does this. I saw a few men wearing their babies, the women, some kids holding their siblings, even the kids are the orphanage would "wear" their baby doll, so cute! I too would wear kids around, it is nice because it makes both hands available to do things the only sad part is that you can't see the baby.

FMSC

There is a company here in the united states called Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) who donates boxes and boxes of food to Paula down in Zimbabwe. We do feed our kids this food at times but mostly we give it to those who come to us who need help and have no food. We started a program out at the school that our kids go to where all the preschoolers, babies and mothers from around the area, the first graders and the second graders who are in need of food bring a plate and come everyday where we make a big pot of the stuff and feed it to them. The food is a little packet of rice that has a soy soup type mix to it. It contains, protiens and all the nutrients that the people need especially the children. On the first day of doing the program we fed over 250 people and the number grows daily. We have a nurse who helps us and evaluates and checks every child. Thank you to such a wonderful program like Feed My Starving Children who is saving hundreds of lives!

I would like you to meet someone!

I would like to introduce you to 39 of the most amazing, wonderful, beautiful, best kids I have ever met! Ashlynn, Bendict, Brenda, Connie, Diana, Itai, Jesca, John, Juliette, Juliette, Joyleen, Kuku, Lisa, Livingstone, Manyara, Monalisa, Melissa, Melody, Melody, Maria, Mahnu, Nyasha, Prisca, Ryan, Raina, Solomon, Sharon, Tanya, Trust, Tawanda, Tafadzwa, Terrence, Terence, Trinity,Theresa, Tinashe, Tichaona, Vhaiso, and Wongai. I an so madly, deeply, head over heels in love with these kids!! Each and everyone each with thier own unique, different, special personality!

Itai

Itai was given to us by the police to watch for a few days while they figured out what they were going to do with him since both his parents had died and he was being beat by his brother. He was so sweet and kind. He jumped right in and became one of the boys! He is such a nice boy and his grandmother wanted him so he is now living with her! I hope he is doing well! I love you Itai!

Ashlynn

Ashlynn got the nickname "my shadow". It didn't matter where I was or what I was doing I would turn around and not far behind was Ashlynn just following me. She has the cutest smile and the funniest laugh. She liked to push her boundries to see how far she could go but what 2 year old doesn't. She is so cute and was so happy all the time! I love you Ashy!

Bendict (Benny)

Bendict is such a fun kid! He has a love for his religion and for God that he will be a big church leader one day. He knows how to make anyone laugh and does all the time! One time he put this old bag thing on as an outfit and danced around while he friends played the "drums" on some buckets. He is such a handsome, fun, loveable boy! I love you Bendict!

Brenda

This is my beautiful Brenda. Her and I have a bond that is unlike any other. She is so sweet and loving! There were few days when she wasn't right by me or with me the whole time. She has the best laugh and the most beautiful smile! She is so good with the kids and they simply adore her! I loved my time that I spent with her! I love you B.B.!

Constance (Connie)

Connie is very good with the kids especially the babies she loved to feed them, hold them, change them and play with them. I rarely saw her without a baby in her arms! She is so sweet and so happy! Everyone thought my name was Connie at first and she loved that we had the same name! I love you Connie!

Diana

This beautiful little girl is Diana! She is such a happy, funny, loving little girl! She loved to cuddle with me and I wouldn't have had it any other way! She loved to put my hair on her head and pretend that she had blonde hair. She is so cute and happy all the time. I rarely saw her with out a huge smile across her face! I love you Diana!

Jesca

Jesca is such a sweet, beautiful, helpful girl! She is the oldest child at the home and is very good to help with the younger ones, cook, clean and do what needs to be done. I loved getting to know her and hanging out with her. She and I got pretty close and I can't wait to hear about and see what she will do next in life! I had so much fun being with her! I love you Jesca!

John

John is such a silly, energetic boy! Everytime he saw the camera he would run right into the picture so it was difficult at times to get a picture with out him in it. He was so silly and loved to make people laugh. He is a hard worker and was willing to try anything. I love you John!

Juliette

Juliette is such a sweet helpful girl! She loved being right by me and I loved having her there. She is so helpful and kind. She would help all the little kids get their bath water from the well with out having to be asked. She loves sewing and would show me her newest project. I really loved getting to know her! I love you Juliette!

Juliette

Juliette is such a happy girl and loves to make everyone laugh! She loves to be silly and funny if there is anyone around to watch her. She played really well with the younger girls and helped them do things. She was so funny and such a joy to be around! I love you Juliette!

Kudakwashe (Kuku)

Kuku is such a happy, go with the flow, laid back kind of kid! He is so cute and so much fun to be around! He loved having secrets with me and would often whisper some silly little thing in my ear and not let me tell anyone. He was never without a smile on his face! He is such a fun kid to be around! You couldn't help but be happy when he was in the room! I love you Kuku!

Manyara

Manyara is such a happy easy going little girl. She loves to laugh and laughs at everything. She was always smiling! She loved to be a part of the crowd and would follow the kids around and do what they did! She is so funny and had the best facial expressions!! I love you Manyara!

Melissa

Melissa is such a sweet girl and was so helpful! She loved to be around me and I loved having her as company. She is such a sweet girl and was so willing to do anything for anyone. I loved getting to know her! She was always so happy and fun to be around! I love you Melissa!

Monalisa

Monalisa is such a happy girl who always has a smile on her face! She loves to act and make people laugh! She is a very out going, easy going fun girl! She had fun playing around and being rough with the boys and she loved be sweet and funny with the girls! She is such a fun energetic little lady!! I love you Monalisa!

Melody

Melody along with the others was at school the whole time that I was gone so I didn't get the chance to really know her. She is a very happy sweet girl! We stopped by the school on my way to the airport and when she saw the car she ran as fast as she could and literally jumped on me with the biggest hug! She is so sweet and I hope to get to know her more next time I see her! I love you Melody!

Melody

Melody is such a sweet girl and man is she a leader. Every night at praise she would take charge and lead the whole thing. She would sing at the top of her lungs and was just so happy to be in charge. She is such a sweet girl and loved to play rough with the boys! She was really into playing soccer. I love you Melody!

Prisca

Prisca is so loving and caring. She would wear a baby and help clean or cook. She is very loving and nurturing to the young ones especially the babies! She was so sweet and would always give me hugs and hold my hand. I love you Prisca!