For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven... a time to weep, and a time to laugh.

I love to be silly, smile, tell jokes and laugh until it hurts... but sometimes, as seen in the Bible verse from Ecclesiastes 3, some times are times to weep. The following are things that made me sad this past summer and things that have brought or continue to bring tears to my eyes and make my heart break into pieces... 

To quote a book Pastor Sara loaned me to read during my trip: Someone's Heart is Burning - this photo was taken at Muyambo Park

Below is a picture of Baby "Obama."(My hand is in the photo just to show you how small he was... he arrived at Jamaa Letu when he was one week old. In this photo he was napping in the crib in my room.)

The day he arrived I went into the Mama's room to see him- she had just changed him and gave him to me to hold and left the room. Here I sat by myself in a room lit only by candle light holding this precious new arrival from God. He was at a nice orphanage and would have a future and so we sat together and I just loved him and prayed over him. Then across the table right in front of me, just visible by the little bit of light the candle was putting off, a big 'ol cockroach ran by (on the same table where the bottles were sitting.) I don't think I cried at that moment but the first few thoughts to run threw my head were: How can I get this sweet baby away from here and to Alexandria with me?... the next thought was: How can I ensure that all these beautiful and deserving children of God have a future free from cockroaches and mice and live in loving homes where every need is met and hugs are abundant? I haven't brought this up in any of my presentations but I know the time is coming when God will have me do so-- I feel that someone who supported me in any way during my trip has a place in her or his heart for a new member of the family, I don't know who you are or what exactly has been placed on your heart, but there is a child in this world who is meant to be yours and is waiting for your love- you probably love this child already and don't know it! I have had a heart for adoptions for a long time but my thoughts about adoption changed this summer... I used to feel that adoption was something a person or couple did when they wanted to bring a child into their family to love and to love them back... While I believe that is still a great and beautiful reason for adoption I have additional thoughts now-- I won't get into details about what I believe- but please know that welcoming a child into your home is a beautiful way to tell the world and the child: I will do my part, I will secure the future of this one child, I will support and love this child no matter what her or she is going through and I know situations could become very challenging but I will take one child and secure his/her future :)

Some of the younger crew :)

My sweet, sweet Israel

What a silly group! :)

Well- this post started out being about a few different things that made me cry and/or pulled at my heart strings this summer but I feel compelled to stop here and click "publish post."

May God's Love and Peace surround you today and forever,

Rachel

If you are the person who was meant to read this or know someone who needs to read it because you feel that God has a child waiting somewhere in this world for her/him please share this with that person and please share with me when you feel ready so that I can pray for you or that person/couple.