Teeth and Feet

Last week I was able to bring my new friend (and dental hygienist) Brenda to visit 2 homes and check out the kiddos teeth. We were able to examine over 50 kids teeth. About 12 have urgent things that need to be taken care of- large cavities, teeth that need to be extracted or extreme cleaning. Many of the others need a routine cleaning. Our next project is going to be to get them all into the clinic. This Friday the first group will go and the rest will follow over the next few weeks. Most of these children don't have access to proper tooth brushing supplies and have never seen a dentist. For the most part they enjoyed their check ups, but a few needed coaxing.

A few days later Ashley and I delivered and fit all the kids at Childcare Foundation with new shoes and socks.

Joshua and Beyen showing off their new shoes.

Food is for life.

Over the last few weeks, I have been going through a book with the kids at a few of our orphanage homes. It is a book about food and how our bodies use and process it. It has bright pictures and funny words to describe how the body works and make it more interesting for the children. The first page talks about why we need food. I asked the children "What is food for?" Almost instantly one boy exclaimed "For life!" I was expecting an answer like, "for energy" or "to grow strong." But this boy hit the true point. In Liberia food is life. And I realized that despite all we try to do for them, these kids often do not know where their next meal is coming from. As much as they love it when their ORR aunties and uncles visit, they will drop everything when the food is served and nothing will distract them from it. Food is not a luxury as we often treat it, it is a necessity. Food is for life. I don't think these kids need me to teach them anything about food, they are teaching me.

Barvor's eyes.

Barvor is 7 years old. He and his younger sister, Korpu, were brought to one of our orphanage homes because their parents could not care for them anymore. Barvor's mother is blind and his father has mental health issues. Last year when ORR recognized that Barvor was having trouble with his eyes he was taken to a local eye clinic. He was diagnosed with glaucoma, high pressure in the eyes. There is no cure for glaucoma, but it can be treated with medication. If left untreated the high pressure in the eye will cause permanent damage and blindness. A few weeks ago I carried Barvor back to the eye clinic for a check up. His eyes have not changed. He will have to remain on eye drops for the rest of his life. Under any circumstances this would be a horrible diagnosis for a 7 year old. No child wants to be different. The fact that Barvor lives in an orphanage in Liberia complicates things even more. The medication is available here and by American standards not too expensive. However, it can be difficult for the the orphanage staff to obtain it and spend the money on medicine for one child instead of food for all the children in the home. Barvor is a sweet and shy boy. He tends to hide towards the back of the pack, but is quick to respond to a smile or a hug. I am working with the caregivers at his home, trying to impress upon them the importance of following through with Barvor's eye care. Please join me in praying for this precious, gentle boy.

Spirit Liberia

A couple of weeks ago Andrew and I met with and were able to show Vanessa from Spirit Liberia what ORR is doing in a few of the orphanage homes we work with. Follow the link to their blog for a few pictures and her take on ORR. (specifically the 3/10/09 and 3/14/09 postings.)

spiritliberia.blogspot.com.

FYI in the 3/10 post Denise is me. :-)

5 months of rice and sun.

March marks 5 months that I have been in Liberia. That is 5 months of eating rice and spice, soaking in the sun, sweating like a pig, living with no running water and only a few hours of electricity each day and loving on some really great kids. And believe it or not, I would not change a minute of it!

I was looking at some pictures from when I first arrived in October and was amazed at the changes I noticed. In both the pictures below I am holding the same boy, (Mulbah who has also changed in the last 5 months).

This is like one of those games in a child's magazine when you count the differences between the 2 pictures.

Mulbah and I in October

Mulbah and I last week.

When my friend Cramer saw these pics he said "Man, Deb you are dropping the LB's in the L-I-B!"

I will be buying my ticket home this week. At this point my plan is to head home in early May and then return to Liberia in September. Thanks to everyone for all the support, encouragement and prayers over the last 5 months.