I realize this is much earlier than usual, but so much has happened these last three days!

My last entry was written on Sunday morning. Later that same day, Ruth and I went to visit a family who was asking us to take a newborn because they didn't want her...she was the product of rape. Ruth asked me to help her say "no" because we have no room at the orphanage and not enough money to hire more nannies. We have had to turn away three other infants just this week, so why would this one be so unique? We brought gifts for the new baby as an encouragement for them to keep her.

We learned the whole story: The nineteen year old mother was mentally handicapped as well as physically. When we arrived, she was in a hut far away from the others' because she was ostracized for having a child without being married. Sitting on the floor, drooling, Bibata was covered in flies and the infant lie next to her. She has no use her arms and legs. Because she cannot speak she cannot say who her attacker was, if she was even mentally aware. Or if it had been only one man. Bibata's mother said that she cares for the invalid Bibata by herself, feeding and bathing her, but had never noticed she was pregnant. (!) We took a peek at the newborn and it was obviously a premature delivery. The mother could not breastfeed and there was no pure water to mix with the powdered formula, so how could we leave her there? After consulting with the chief of the family, he agreed that he would sign papers allowing the baby to be adopted. He said they are animists and if this baby stayed in their courtyard, the bad spirits would come. He asked weren't they wonderful because they have not killed nor thrown out the girl and the baby?! (And, unfortunately, that is all too true.)

The infant had not been named, and the word "Grace" popped out of my mouth immediately: It was the grace of God we came because that baby would never have survived, and it will be His grace that brings her through these critical first weeks of life. We brought Grace to the hospital, found she weighs less than 3 pounds. At only 3 days old, the doctor thought she was probably one month early, but that Grace does not need an incubator, just take care of her at the orphanage. Hmmmm... The problem is we have an orphanage of sick babies! So, Grace now shares the room with Ruth and me. I get up with her through the night because I mainly awake anyway with the heat. Ruth sleeps through babies screaming, the heat, the electricity turning off, etc., etc. Poor little Gracie kept falling asleep after only a few swallows of formula. Then I got the idea of using an eye dropper, which works fantastic! She's up to THREE tablespoons at one time already, an increase of twice the amount she took just yesterday. She does have fevers often and is now jaudice, so we have a battle. But she is getting stronger by the hour. She is Graced.

Today is Tuesday, and Ruth just left with two other infants with two nannies for Ouahigouya again. Fevers, diarrhea, vomitting and refusing to eat. They won't last long, especially in this heat. Amed is three months old and has a fungal infection on his tongue, so it hurts to eat. I had considered placing a nasal-gastric tube in the both of the babies, but I wasn't too sure any food would stay down. So I thought I'd try force-feeding. As I pushed down the plunger of the large syringe which held formula, (no needle of course), Ruth held his arms and dabbed up excess formula that he would spit out. After he swallowed 2 ounces, he projectile vomitted most all of it. Moments later, he had an explosive bout of diarrhea, so much so, it made me jump and Ruth shot across the room like she was hit by a torpedo! Oh, we laughed so hard we had tears. Poor little Amed stopped crying to watch us. He had been crying for hours--but, two crazy white ladies think pooping is that funny?!

Also, today we heard some absolutely wonderful news: Our first adoption proceedings are going before the judge this Thursday. This means it will be finished and little Jacques' parents can come pick up their son! They will need to wait one more month to arrive due a law in France, but they have waited many, many months already. We are all so excited!!

I'm praying our babies get well soon and my life will sound boring in comparison to these last days. I hope you will join me in that prayer!

love from this side of the world,
Connie