Day 25 in Malawi, September 8th

Today started early with an interview with a woman who is going to be Savannah-Hope's nanny. She seems really nice and qualified, but she must think I am nuts since I cried hysterically throughout the entire process. I don't really want anyone to watch her but me....but since I am leaving in 7 days and her paperwork isn't ready for her to be transported home to her adoptive family. This is going to be a huge test of my faith and I am going to have to lean more on the Lord throughout this process than ever before. This little girl is so fragile and I am leaving her in the 3rd poorest country in the world right at the beginning of Malaria season.

The nanny starts on Monday so she can shadow me and I can tell her how I want Savannah-Hope cared for. I hope I don't drive her so crazy that she quits by the end of the week. They do things so differently here as far as caring for babies, so I am trying to find a balance between respecting their culture and saying I am paying you this is my peanut and we are doing it my way. My biggest frustration is with the people here insisting that the baby must have a ski hat and two crochet winter blankets around her when it is 85-90 degrees outside and she is so hot natured. Today she had a fever and there was no way I was putting a crochet hat on her head. They look at me like I have no idea how to take care of a baby....I have a bachelor degree in child development and lots of experience with premature and special needs babies. But this is more of a test of my patience and grace. I tried just nodding my head and smiling like they do to me when they have no idea what i am saying, but it didn't work. Then I tried saying "I am sure your baby loves wearing hats and blankets, but mine doesn't....thanks for the suggestion". That didn't work either so now since I have been to the doctors daily since we got Savannah-Hope and asked them what there opinion was on this winter dressing of a summer baby who is hot natured and they said I was doing just fine. I now say, the doctor told me this is how she should be dressed and wrapped. So far so good.

After the interview Savannah-Hope spiked a fever while on tylenol and started vomiting....two big signs of Malaria. So we rushed her to 8 different clinics in Limbe and Blantyre until we could find one open on a Saturday. She tested negative for Malaria, Praise the Lord! They did say that her the medication that she was given at the government hospital for free wasn't strong enough for her pneumonia so I purchased a stronger antibiotic. She likes the taste of this one a bit better but doesn't like it being cold. She is not a good medicine taker and she is so sneaky. As soon as you are sure she swallowed it she spits is straight out.

We sorted through some more stuff that came off the container while Savannah-Hope slept.

Tonight I was able to distribute the dresses from the dress project and the polo shirts for the boys. The children also got new underwear and the girls got headbands. They were very grateful. They will be wearing them to church tomorrow and I plan to get pictures of them tomorrow afternoon after I return from the Lighthouse Church in Zomba. Since I named the church I also get the pleasure of raising the money to build the church building. I figured I better go and get some pictures of the people and the land where the church would go. Savannah-Hope will stay with Thandie at Good Samaritan. This will be the first time I have left her since we got her. I am sure I will be a wreck. Although Thandie loves her just as much as I do so I am sure she will be fine.

I was able to spend sometime with Brother Gentry today. He is such a busy guy with so much to do. There are so many projects going at the same time. Brother Gentry really is doing the job of probably 25 men. His time is still messed up so he has been waking up at 3am and then is pretty wore out by lunch time. He just works non-stop until he is about to drop. I am worried about him and wish that Mrs. Gentry was here, but I know that Brother Gentry's heart is Malawi and there is no stopping him.

Mrs. Jorgenson is feeling much better today and was out and about. Brother Jorgenson is at a Jesus Film tonight but I can't remember where. He is also going to stand in for me at a Jesus Film in Zomba on Tuesday night. I was able to finance it but I'm not going to actually go to this one.

I can hardly breathe thinking about leaving Malawi in 7 days. It was so hard for me to leave last year and this year I really set myself up for it to be unbearable by staying with Thandie and taking in Savannah-Hope. I am trying to be strong and not spend my last week here in tears, but it is so hard. I love it here. Seeing the churches be planted, so many souls getting saved and being able to help the orphans...really make a difference. I am not ready to go back to American life, except for maybe the food. Keep the prayers coming! It may take a crane to get me on the plane.