Training for our First Classroom!

Today was a winner of a day, all around.  I went to Kasisi Orphanage today with Samuel to train two workers on exactly what to do with the children who have intellectual disabilities.  I went with educational activities, and after securing a classroom, went to get two of the children, and proceeded to show the workers what the children need in all areas of development (albeit on a VERY basic level), communication, cognitive tasks, and gross and fine motor skills.  It was a productive few hours.  Then they fed Samuel and I lunch, and we forged our way home in the pouring rain on a dirt-cum-mud road.  On the way home, Eric called to let me know that our research into places that might provide formula for babies was successful, and I could stop on the way home to pick it up.

To backtrack a bit, Brighton, the baby we’ve been providing formula for the past 8 months for (who was diagnosed with CP at birth), now is a typically-developing child with no special needs.  We took him to a developmental pediatrician, Dr. Marsden, who is thorough, and remarkably caring, and she completely checked him out.  She determined that he only had failure to thrive, and that our providing formula for him actually saved his life, and that now he is growing at a normal developmental rate, and that he has no apparent special needs!  So, now the rub.  Our supporters support us to care for those who have intellectual disabilities, and Brighton apparently has none.  But, we can’t cut his nutrition off, since his family doesn’t have enough money to buy formula every month, and he has four months until he can drink cow’s milk. So we prayed about our options, and prayed and prayed, and thought.  Elizabeth remembered that the orphanage where Donald lived before she brought him home provides formula for children who need it.  So we emailed them yesterday to ask what the requirements are, and whether they could provide formula for Brighton for four months until he turns 1 year old.  While I was at Kasisi this morning, they contacted Eric to say that they WOULD provide formula for Brighton, which is wonderful!  So, Sam and I stopped to get the formula, and called Jennipher, Brighton’s Mom to meet us outside the compound where she lives, and we dropped off the formula and told her what she needs to do to receive it for the next four months for Brighton.  We are so thankful for ministries that work together to provide for the needs of children who are in desperate situations.  If you would like to look at the folks providing this wonderful service for families who can’t breastfeed, but don’t have the money to buy formula either, look at www.childreneverywhere.org, and please pray for them, as well.