If you haven’t read my previous blog, I encourage you to do
so first!
Some difficult moments this year have been knowing I am
missing out on “milestones” in the lives of my family and friends. Obviously I
knew coming on the race these moments would come, but that doesn’t make it any
easier as I see them pass on without me there. Some of these have been as small as my nephew’s graduation
from Kindergarten or as big as weddings of my closest friends. I never thought
I would be involved in such moments on the race as well though. In the
Philippines, we attended a wedding. Now in Kenya, I find myself celebrating the
birth of a baby as if it were my own.
Being it is our last week in Kenya, I have spent as much as
time possible with Adrienne, keeping her company, encouraging her and
attempting to ease her mind and duties this week. I have also prayed countless
times that I would meet her baby before leaving this country, even that I would
receive him/her as a birthday gift on the 27th. The week began on Sunday when Adrienne
and Nelly invited our team over for lunch, which little did they know we would
turn into a baby shower. I wanted her to experience how we do things in
America, but most of all show her she wasn’t alone in this. Although many
people close to her have left her during this difficult time, there are people
excited about the birth of this precious child. We came bearing small gifts for
the little guy or girl. I was so excited as Alex, Amanda, and I were at the
market picking gifts up, truly feeling as if I were on my way to one of my best
friend’s houses at home. The women from my team joined Adrienne, Nelly’s
children and husband, another cousin, and neighbors for lunch. It was such a
fun time. Not to mention they made our favorite dish, chapatti, and killed a
chicken for us. I felt so honored. We gave Adrienne the small gifts we had
bought and she was thrilled! Her reactions to the few items we brought were
priceless as well as truly humbling. The items we brought were not much at all,
especially in comparison to that of which I have brought to past baby showers
in America. Pictures paint a much better description than my words can.
[Adrienne placing the blanket around her belly, “showing the baby” it’s new things.]
[The women of my team and I with Nelly, Vanessa, and Adrienne after the baby shower.]
So there we were Thursday morning. Alex, Amanda, and I went
to Adrienne’s because she had a scheduled check-up at the doctor’s office. With
Amanda being a nurse and all, she accompanied Adrienne while Alex and I played
babysitter for Nelly’s children. Adrienne and Amanda returned from the doctor
with nothing but good news. I spent the entire day with Adrienne, really just
trying to keep her from doing anything, which is a job in itself fighting her
strong-willed personality. She also made me read a pregnancy chapter from a
book titled, “Where Women Have No Doctor”. Around 1:00 p.m. she began
experiencing pain, but nothing too serious she said. At around 4:30 p.m. I left knowing her cousin would be back
any minute. Not even two hours later, her cousin Nelly comes to get Amanda to
check on her. Of course most of the women from my team accompanied. Amanda did
her nurse thing, checking how dilated Adrienne was, confirming that we would in fact meet this baby before morning. Adrienne’s pains were getting stronger and she was restless. We paced the yard, we sat in inside, we
laid on the ground, and we had tea. Any time is a fitting occasion for tea in
Kenya.
[Adrienne and I hanging out earlier in the day . . can’t you tell she is in labor?]
The baby was coming, and since Adrienne says it was my fault
due to all the prayers I had been praying to bring the baby in, I received the
brunt of the pain by way of the cliche “hand squeeze”. The girls and I willingly took turns with this. Let’s not forget, Amanda
has been praying since month two of the race she would get to deliver a baby. Both of our prayers were being answered! Since we knew the baby would come sometime
within the night, Amanda and Ginger ran back to get some things from our
home, leaving Alex, myself, and a few neighbors behind. Only a few minutes
later, the baby was coming with Alex and I as unprepared as two people could be
to bring a baby into the world. Alex did a great job staying by Adrienne’s side
and being aware of her needs. By this time it was dark out, so Alex told me to
grab a lantern from inside. Upon being in the light, we unexpectedly got the
first glimpse of the baby (the head), so I grabbed the first thing I saw to
place under Adrienne, which was a burlap sack from the yard. I was barely able
to flatten the bag out in time, because not even two minutes later there she
was. Alex about ripped my head off in attempt to get my scarf, and at the sound
of the first cry, ran back home in the dark to get the others. We can’t even
say we delivered the baby, because the baby literally delivered itself. The
first fact I recalled from the book I read earlier in the day was that we
needed string. So that’s what I said. “We need string and scissors!” A mother
from next door came to the rescue and that is when things begin getting crazy.
Everyone was in a million different directions as the mothers and I wrapped the
baby, tied and cut the umbilical cord, and got Adrienne in the house. However,
I was so distracted by the screams of Nelly’s three children and Nelly herself,
that I don’t recall what I actually did within these few minutes. Ready or not,
we welcomed baby Amira into the world, and the poor thing was probably
frightened to have my white face be the first thing she saw upon opening her
eyes as I was holding her.
[Photo by Ginger Larson]
Amira came a few hours before my birthday, at around 7:30
p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011, and let me tell you it was the surprise of a
lifetime. I never thought I would experience such things on the World Race,
that I could be filled with such love for a child belonging to another person,
or that I would ever play a part in delivering someone’s baby, let alone in a
front yard in Kenya.
[Photo by Ginger Larson]
It was a beautiful night as my team and I had the amazing
privilege of spending the first few hours of life with this beautiful child and
to be able to support Adrienne. We were able to celebrate with neighbors and
family inside the home, taking turns holding Amira, as Amanda nursed both mama and
baby by the light of two small lanterns. I was so excited that I didn’t sleep
at all that night. It is all still so surreal, but all I know is God is so
good. He is good to have provided such an easy birth knowing what the
circumstances would be. He is good to have answered our prayers and allow us to
take part in this miracle, and He is good because I know He has a perfect plan
for both Adrienne and Amira’s lives as long as they choose to follow Him.
[Photo by Ginger Larson]
Well, my joy was stolen the following day as Amanda, Alex
and I went around 6:00 a.m. to check on mama and baby, hearing they would be
leaving to stay with an aunt nearby. What awful news this was to receive on my
birthday. I never dreamt I would have to send her off, it is supposed to be the
other way around. So here we were on Saturday, just two days after the birth,
saying goodbye to Adrienne and Amira. Throughout the morning we reminisced on
countless conversations and funny moments we had throughout the month, as well
as replayed that wondrous night a hundred times in our minds. We basked in one
another’s presence, taking it all in. We passed around Amira, as I divided my
time staring in awe of her and loving on Adrienne. We sent them off in a van,
and my heart broke in pieces knowing it could be the last time I ever see them,
or even talk to them for that matter. After taking part in the first few days
of a child’s life, I may never know the person she will grow to become. I may
never know the future God has promised Adrienne. I truly hope this isn’t the case.
Needless to say, I will be leaving more than just a great friend in Kenya, but
a huge piece of my heart as well.
I could have posted many more details in this blog of how
things on this night happened, but that isn’t the point I want to make. If you want
that, numerous teammates of mine have blogs including those. Instead, I want you to see God’s faithfulness in
all of this, how He answered countless prayers this month, and broke my heart for something, someone, again . . which hadn’t happened in a long time. We have known for six months we would deliver a baby on this race, and He worked it out so perfectly. He gave us time to enjoy this special moment with our sister we have grown to love so much. God had a plan for my team to be in Kiminini this month, even though we wondered at times. He
divinely placed Adrienne in our lives, and I could never voice my gratitude enough. He provided me with an immense amount of love when I
needed it most. He led me through a valley and placed me on the top of a
mountain. I have seen God answer so many specific prayers this month, and even
this week alone. Join with me in continuous prayer for both Adrienne and Amira.
They will be staying with their aunt for at least one month, until they are
both stronger. Adrienne’s tentative plans will then be to come back to Kiminini
to stay with Nelly, as well as look for work. I am so excited to see what the
future holds, and am confident this isn’t the end of my relationship with Adrienne and Amira.
We will be in Nairobi at debrief for one week and will then
head to Uganda on June 5th for month 9 of the race!
