Babies, babies everywhere!

 So many adorable babies and kids at our therapy camp!

The wind continues to be a struggle and the "cold" (65 degree) weather has made runny noses an epidemic in our little camp, but we continue bravely on!

Me with Nafisa, one of our daily outpatient kids

 Since half of our therapy camp kids need to work on sitting balance/posture, one of our carpenters has made them custom chairs with a milk can base. Here Deb explains to Mom how to put her toddler in the harness.

 This little guy has not progressed to sitting on a milk can, so his chair is smaller and simpler:

 High school kids from Sahel Academy came to volunteer at the hospital this week. They helped us to make creative, simple, homemade toys that the families can easily replicate with items in their villages. Examples seen here are nesting cans, rattles out of plastic bottles, rock sorters (the containers with holes in the lids), balls out of baggies and fabric, and my favorite...

...the "catch the ball in the Pringles can" game 😀

 These 2 guys were hugging, but I couldn't get the shot fast enough...

 ...however I still think they get the award for cutest patooties!

Sadly, we found out that the baby we had previously been praying for, with burns over 75% of his body, did not survive the weekend. I hope that his mom can be comforted in her grief. On a related note, Deb is talking to these moms at camp about healthy grieving and recognizing that having a child with a disability is not a punishment. We hope that 2 of the kids, whose families live here in Galmi village, will continue coming with their families for outpatient therapy even after camp is dispersed.

Countdown to departure

Hi, I'm Justine. I became a Christ follower in 2005. I became an occupational therapist (OT) in 2009. Even before I graduated, God was revealing to me the immense need for occupational therapy around the world, from Egypt to Morocco to Spain to Costa Rica to Ethiopia. I have a heart for traveling the world and I am excited for the opportunity this year to travel to Kenya and Niger for 8 weeks in order to explore the possibility of connecting with a hospital on a long-term basis.
"What will you be doing for 8 weeks??"
I am co-leading a team of 7 individuals from Wheaton Bible Church WBC as we serve in Nakuru, Kenya from Jan 20-31. Then I am staying in Kijabe to serve at the hospital there until Feb 4, after which I travel to Galmi, Niger to serve in that hospital.
It will be a grand adventure and I couldn't do it without my church, my mission agency SIM USA, and all of my wonderful friends and family supporting me! THANK YOU and I hope this will keep you up to date on the journey!
While you're here, will you pray for our team as we count down to our departure on Jan 20? We are Justine, Rhonda, Jeff, Lilia, Barb, Jill, and Erica. The people we will be working with in Kenya are Josephine, Scott and Barb. All glory be to God as we serve Him in Africa!