There is so much I could say about what I have seen and been involved with here. It is hard to express the number of emotions I have felt all at once, and how much I really do love these kids.

We were so blessed this week to receive packages of school supplies sent by my life group just in perfect timing for our Christmas celebrations this week. This enabled us to prepare gifts for the Sunday school children and a children’s home that my roommate grew up in. Since we are in the midst of moving, we are not able to do a Christmas outreach program, but we are doing small events with the children who come daily during the week, this children’s home and the Sunday school children. We had 33 children for the Sunday school today and during the story of Jesus’ Birth, our pregnant goat gave birth to a health baby! The baby’s name is Mary.

I have started to do assessments on the children with disabilities and hope to develop a vitamin schedule for them that I can leave with the staff here. I will also be putting together some teaching tools that explain the natural food sources that provide these vitamins and how to prepare foods so that their vitamins are preserved, and things to watch for in vitamin deficiencies and excesses. As I have been studying vitamin deficiencies and preparing resources for them, I have learned that many of the disabilities these children have are probably due to vitamin deficiencies of their mothers, effecting their development during and following birth. I would love to be able to do some education for the community that would raise awareness about food preparation, but I have to take one step at a time.

Though I have learned a few Hindi phrases I can use, it has been hard to find the time and energy to practice Hindi so that I can understand more. Most of the kids in the home speak Hindi and a fair bit of English, so communication is not so difficult there; it is more a barrier to my confidence in working with the staff and the children with disabilities, but all of them have been very helpful and patient with me in spite of my shortcomings.

Right now we are just trying to take one day at a time in preparation for the Christmas celebrations (3 down, 1 to go!), and trying to get things ready for the big move the end of this month. My one week at the hospital last month was eventful, giving me several opportunities for trach care, to encourage staff to remember sterile technique and help them out when things get quite busy in an ICU, with only 2 staff nurses on duty.

Every day I am reminded of who God is and that even though I feel completely inadequate at times, and like I am making such a small difference and want to do so much more, I know He is at work in even the little things. He is increasing my faith daily and revealing so much to me. There is so much more to be said, but for now I will leave you with this. I can't wait to tell you about these holiday celebrations and the miracles unfolding. Hopefully, I will be able to post some pictures to share with you as well. Thank you for joining me in this journey!