What a sweet surprise…

I am going to do a non-stamping/cardmaking/scrapping post tonight.  I normally don't do this, but I really wanted to share this story.

Many of you know of Kristin (Ken's sister) and Keith (her husband who sings the songs in some of my videos) and their three kids (Taylor, Lauren and Samuel).  They are living in Africa running a dental clinic.

Well, we got this message from Kristin recently.  It is worth a read…

A tiny little Surprise. . .

His mother died in childbirth.  His father, with no means to buy formula, did his best with sugar water and coconut milk to keep him alive.  At about one month of age, his father, believing he would die, brought him to an orphanage in Buchanan.  The orphanage, also believing he would die, would not accept the child until a police report had been filed stating his condition.  Amazingly, the child did not die. And, for that reason, they named him Surprise.
 
Surprise is now about 9 months old.  He was discovered by a social worker investigating another case at the same orphanage.  He is malnourished and small for his age.  The orphanage cannot afford formula, so he eats what the other children (all of whom are much older) in the orphanage eat—rice. 
 
Last week we received a phone call asking if we would foster Surprise.  Surprise is not old enough to be received by Rafiki Village .  Rafiki is an international organization that has orphanages in many different African countries.  Their aim is "to take helpless children and turn them into godly contributors in their countries".  (www.rafiki-foundation.org) The Rafiki orphanage in Liberia is about 20 minutes from our house.  Rafiki has a wonderful educational and vocational training program and has an excellent reputation here in the country.  Unfortunately, they only take in children between the ages of 18 months and 5 years.  They were notified about Surprise, but he was too young to enter their facility.  So, they asked if we would be willing to foster Surprise until he is old enough to enter Rafiki.  This past weekend I went to Buchanan (about a 2 ½ hour drive from Monrovia ) and met Surprise.  He’s a cutie and really captured my heart.  We called Rafiki early in the week and told them we would foster Surprise.  Today I met with the Minister of Health, and after having three social workers visit our house tomorrow we should be ready to receive Surprise when he comes to Monrovia hopefully this weekend.
 
Here’s a photo that was taken during my visit to Buchanan.  I’m sure there will be many more soon to come!  

Isn't he sweet?  Please include him in your thoughts and prayers.  They were hoping to get him last week, but (as often happens there) there have been delays.  Surprise will get so much love in their home.

More cardmaking tomorrow. :)