I’m praying that none of my family members had a heart attack upon reading the subject of this blog. My spontaneity combined with maternal instinct has not always been a favorable combination for them in the past. For example, I brought home a baby duck when I was in high school to raise as my own. She rarely knows of my adoption shenanigans beforehand.
Before I explain how I became a mama in Africa, I should begin by telling you that I’ve fallen in love. After all, that is a good thing to precede the whole parenthood thing. Don’t worry, no World Race red flags need to be thrown. And I’m sorry to all of you back home that are expecting me to report to you that I’ve found the man of my dreams. No, I’m deeply in love with twenty-six beautiful kids from Treasures of Africa Children’s Home in Moshi, Tanzania.
We first heard of the orphanage while in Uganda. Colby used to teach with Lydia, who is now the director of Treasures of Africa. It was two months away, but we were hoping to set up our ministry in Moshi, Tanzania. We found out that contacts and ministries had already been set up, which was a bit disappointing. Tanzania was an ATL month, in a sense. Team leaders were asked to pray about cities. Out of all the cities in Tanzania, Moshi was one of the locations. Wouldn’t you know it – our team was assigned to Moshi. God is showing me more and more each day that there are no coincidences.
Our “official” ministry in Moshi was to travel to many churches to preach, teach, and encourage. However, every Saturday was reserved for the orphange. There are twenty-six children living there, ranging from toddler to teenager. Some are literally orphans – both parents are dead. Some of them have lost one parent, and the other is not fit to take care of them. Somehow or another, they all ended up at Treasures of Africa. They each have a story. They each have their own little personality. And they each totally captured my heart.
We played games, sang songs, and just sat together contently. Leaving them was the hardest thing I’ve done on the race so far. As I was walking out the door, little Justice (called Joobie-pictured below) stood there and said, “Bye, Mama!”. Talk about melting your heart. All of the kids called me Mama. I heard it so many times. Sometimes a munchkin would be sitting in my lap in silence, and just look up and say, “Hey, mama.”
The thought of someone calling me “Mama”
was strange at first. Kids just don’t do that back home. The titles of Mama and Daddy are reserved for the child’s parents, and they’re corrected if they make the mistake of calling someone else by that title. But these children call everyone who works at the orphanage by these names. They recognize the roles of mother and father not by biological origins, but by love. And those kids are definitely loved. Their faces glow. They
know how love in return, thanks to the dedication and grace poured out by Lydia, Jodie, Brandon, and the rest of the caregivers at Treasures of Africa. Those kids have been the highlight of the race for me. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll see them again. I can’t live the rest of my life without another hug.
Please grant me one request. Visit this
website and read these kids’ stories. They will capture your hearts as well. You can also see specific financial needs and receive updates on specific children through sponsorship.
Stories, pictures, and videos could never do them justice, but I would like you to meet my little angels. Make sure you watch the video to the very end for the best part. To see all of my pictures from Treasures of Africa, click
HERE.
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”
– Jesus
