Merry Christmas!!

Here are some highlights of my Christmas season...

 

Merry Christmas from Liberia,

Love Debbie

'I love people'

A friend of mine posted this as her facebook status a few days ago. This is absolutely what we need more of in this world... Thank you Melanie for sharing this and allowing me to pass it on. Oh, the wisdom of such a young boy. Come on people, let's love people!

"A few weeks back, Dean started making these little signs. He used a sheet of paper and a popsicle stick and tape or a sticker carefully placed. They have a heart and a person or two drawn on them. When I first asked him what it was he said,

 “It’s a I Love People sign.” I didn’t ask for any more information, like where he came up with it, or why he was making them and handing them out. At first I figured it was just random, but he has made quite a few now. After today (the day of the shooting in CT), I’m thinking that maybe everyone needs an “I Love People” sign. Maybe we need one to remind us to be kind and patient with each other. Maybe we need one to remind us that everyone is loved and their lives are valuable. Maybe we even need one to remind ourselves that others love us too. Maybe if we all walked around with I Love People signs, the world would be a happier place… maybe."

I love people.

Christmas is coming!

Ready or not, Christmas is coming... it is only 2 weeks away!

My office in Liberia is starting to look like quite the Christmas workshop. The prep for assembling Christmas bundles is almost finished. Bundle making should be done this week. Christmas deliveries are scheduled to begin next Tuesday!

IT IS NOT TOO LATE! 

You can still buy a Christmas bundle and send Christmas joy to a child in Liberia this season. Go to the Orphan Relief and Rescue Christmas donation page to watch a short video of what Christmas in Liberia is all about and then send your bundle of Christmas to an orphan in Liberia. 

Do it today!

This is Faith

This is Faith. She is four years old. She has a hole in her heart.

I met Faith last week. A colleague who does similar work with different orphanages in Liberia introduced me to her after a short term team visiting from the states had identified unusual heart sounds when they were checking up on the children. They had met Faith before and the little girl that had been quite active before was now weak and lethargic. That coupled with the heart murmur caused them great concern.

Last week we took Faith to a doctor that I know here in Liberia. They examined her, did an x-ray and some labs and confirmed my suspicion-- as best as they could with none of the proper diagnostic tools available-- Faith probably has a ventricular septal defect (VSD) or some other kind of congenital heart defect (aka a hole in her heart). The only fix is surgery. 

Liberia doesn't even have a cardiologist or the ability to do the best diagnostic tests, let alone a heart surgeon who could do the surgery. So, Faith is now looking at traveling to Ghana for the diagnostic tests and possibly needing to go to the states for open heart surgery.

Faith needs your prayers. She is sick, but has already proved to be a fighter. I don't think it is a coincidence that this little girl is called Faith.

*If you feel like you would like to help financially with getting Faith the medical treatment that she needs please go to www.orphanreliefnetwork.org to donate. (Please note that Orphan Relief Network is a different organization than Orphan Relief and Rescue.)

The Graduate

Kunue Massally graduated from AMEU today!

Kunue is Ma Mary's oldest son. Mary's husband died in 1996, in the midst of a brutal civil war here in Liberia. Kunue was just eight years old, his brother, Samuel, four. Mary had to face the future and raise her two young sons alone. With her husband dead and life a daily fight for survival, Mary fought hard to give her boys the best opportunities available. 

Kunue has has made his Ma proud. First, he graduated from High School with the highest GPA the school had ever seen. He then went on to study Economics and Accounting at one of Liberia's only premier universities. Today he graduated with the second highest honors available for a university student. 

Congrats Kunue! You have made us all proud!

Ma Mary, Kunue and Samuel
Kunue honored his mother at the service saying he couldn't have done it without her. 

Mary is one proud mama. I don't think she stopped smiling (or dancing) the whole day.

Mary and her best friend Piko.
They have mourned together many times throughout their long friendship.
Today they celebrated.

Kunue and his cousins Bernice and Brenda, AKA 'the twins.'

Kunue, you're my brother because we share the same Ma!

Surgery for Christmas?

It is not often that the opportunity for a free surgery comes along. This week four children from Francis Gaskin Orphanage were given that opportunity. All four kids were able to get hernias repaired by the amazing Children’s Surgery International (CSI) medical team that is doing its yearly outreach in Liberia this week. This is the fourth year that we have been able to partner with CSI.  Thanks to the services that they provide, 13 children from orphanages that we serve have received much needed surgeries FOR FREE!

The CSI team has done much more than provide free surgeries (which would have been enough)! Each year they also visit various orphanages with us and have provided food, medicine, soccer balls, books, dolls, shoes, clothes and more. This week they overwhelmed us with a huge donation of clothes that will almost entirely cover our Christmas clothes distribution this holiday season. For all that CSI does and has given we offer a whole-hearted thank you.

*Speaking of Christmas—The Orphan Relief and Rescue Christmas bundle campaign has already begun. For a gift of only $25 you can make Christmas special for an orphan this year. For more information or to give a bundle (or two) check out our Christmas page today!*

I dare you...

...not to smile when you see this pic!

Makes me smile every time!