Pre-Trip:
While I planned my trip to Malawi last summer I had many conversations with
Thandie about what I would like to do while I was there, what I felt God wanted me to do....places to go, people to see, etc. I told her that I definitely wanted to visit Chrissie, a woman I had met the year before who had twin daughters. Chrissie was very sick when I met her in June 2006 and her daughters were ma
nourished. I thought about and prayed for this woman so many times over the past year. I remember feeling a special connection to her when I met her. I couldn't help but shake this feeling that our paths would cross again somehow. I thought that maybe it had to do with the twins but I wasn't sure. Then one day before the trip
Thandie told me that Chrissie had another child. She wasn't sure if it was a boy or girl. She said that Chrissie was very ill. I told
Thandie I wanted to go to her and see her. I knew she would still be alive when I traveled. My friend Crystal and I talked often about Chrissie and her twins and then the new baby. The Lord had put the idea of adoption from Africa on Crystal's heart and she had been praying for the right child at the right time. She was a mother of twins and her heart was broken to hear that the twins had been split up in two different villages. She was concerned what the plan would be for them and the new baby if Chrissie passed away.
Here are pictures of the twins receiving the gifts from the
Johnsons in 2006.
The Trip:
I had talked to Crystal several times while I was in Malawi and we talked each time about when I might go to the village and check on the twins and their new sibling. There was so much going on while I was in Malawi that coordinating this trip to a far village was a mighty task. Thandie had school three half days a week, Brother Gentry was coming and would have projects and plans that would need to take priority, the container needed to be unsealed and distributed, there were other American Visitors there that had schedules and programs that needed to be considered. I of course fell and broke my leg 5 days into the trip, which just added to the adventure. So finally we decided on Monday August 27th. This was exactly one week from when I broke my leg and the 13th day of my trip. On August 27th came and we were on our way when Thandie got the call that her brother had passed away. The plan changed and visiting Chrissie and her children would have to wait.
I remember Crystal calling that afternoon. She had been anticipating how the meeting went, how was Chrissie, how were the kids, etc. She was devastated to hear about
Thandie's loss. I remember telling her I really wasn't sure if we would get out to the village after all. She said she would pray that if we were supposed to go it would work out. Then I spoke with
Thandie and we decided that September 1st would be a perfect day to go. We had
village project #5 in Jacket and then would go on to Chrissie's village. I told Crystal the new plan but said its Malawi, who knows if it will really happen or not.
I remember thinking I can't just show up to this lady's hut unannounced and say "Hey remember me from last year, um if you die I know someone in America that will take your kids". If someone knocked on my door and said 'hey if you die can I have your car', I would think they were nuts and shut the door. And these were children. I really didn't think this lady would hand over her children. I thought she may ask for money to help her or supplies. But God had been talking to Crystal, and she just knew that this meeting was going to be supernatural and life changing . She never doubted for a moment that God had something special planned. I on the other hand wasn't so sure. I thought we would visit her, show her the pictures from last year, giver her some supplies, check in on the kids and then be on our way.
September 1st
So the day came and we went to
Village project #5. I was excited about this village project because it was the only one that Brother Gentry was able to attend. I have to admit though that I was preoccupied a bit with knowing where we were going after. It was a
loooong dirty and bumpy ride to Chrissie's village. I was still sitting on pillows and propped up partially because of my leg and more so because of the fall down the concrete stairs with my crutches.
When we arrived to the village,
Thandie jumped out of the van at lightening speed.
I will never forget Chrissie's huge smile and greeting as she walked up the incline to where we were parked. I was moving around better at this point but still struggled to get in and out of the van. While I was backing out of the van and getting my feet on solid ground
Thandie came around to tell me that the baby was a girl. This settled something for me in my heart. Things started moving in slow motion. I scanned around looking for the baby and then I saw her in the arms of her grandmother.
I took some pictures and then I snatched her right out of the grandmother's arms. I remember thinking oh no this can't be the baby she is much to small. I called out over my shoulder to Thandie "when is her birthday, how old is this baby, Thandie please ask them how old she is. They said she was born on May 5th. I started counting in my mind...4 months....she is four months old. I unwrapped her for a closer look. She can't weigh more than 4 pounds.
I started shaking and crying. You know that ugly face crying with the runny nose and the red blotches. I looked at Thandie who hadn't had a chance to check out the baby, she was being polite greeting the mother and exchanging pleasantries. I was about to fall on my knees and beg God to spare this baby. When Thandie saw my face she came running over and I told her that we had to do something. This baby was going to die. She was skin and bones. Her skin was hanging off of her limbs but her eyes and feet were swollen, her eyes were foggy and yellow, she wasn't tracking.
This village rarely sees vehicles and may not have ever seen a white person....so between the two we were attracting quite a crowd at this point. So we moved down a dirt path to where Chrissie's house was and Thandie started the questions. Everything was in Chichewa so there was a period of time I wasn't sure what was being said.
Then
Thandie told me that the family knew the baby was going to die and at the last doctor appointment the doctor suggested they take the baby to an orphanage, but they had no way to get there. They had no transportation or money for transport. They had been praying for a miracle. I then started talking directly to Chrissie looking right into her eyes.
Thandie translated. I told her about Crystal and she remembered the supplies that had been brought for the twins. Her face lit up like a light bulb at the idea of her daughter going to America. She immediately agreed. The whole time I held peanut in my arms. Chrissie told us that her husband was farming in his village nearby, we should go and fetch him so we can talk to him about this plan. So off we went in the van. Chrissie sat behind me and I clung onto the baby. Peanut cried off and on throughout this journey but Chrissie never reached for her.
We picked up the father and his brother and Thandie and Lloyd explained to him what we had proposed. Peanut's father is a quiet man and the uncle spoke on his behalf. They agreed. Then we went to where the Pastor was who also happened to be the Chief of their Village. We explained the situation and brought supplies for his church members. He agreed as well. The uncle then asked if they could have a couple of days to reach other family members and say goodbye. So we gave them some money to buy milk for the baby, as she had only been taking spoonfuls of porridge. We agreed to come back for her on Tuesday Sept 4th. Handing Peanut back over to the parents was so hard. I honestly didn't know if she would live until Tuesday. I didn't even post about her on the blog. I really wasn't sure if she would make it. I hoped that she would and felt that God had a special plan for her.....would He lead us to her just to take her home to Him.....I didn't know.
I was soaking wet....through EVERY layer of clothes....from holding Miss Peanut. I had given her some water from a water bottle, it was all we had. She drank it up....and then....I got wet, very very wet! I was so dirty. But we had to get the go ahead from Brother Gentry before we could move forward. So before we could get home we went to BCA hill to meet with Brother Gentry. Thandie and I sat at the table with him. I will never forget this meeting. I showed him a video clip of the baby. I remember feeling like two girls begging their dad to keep the stray puppy they found wandering home from school. Brother Gentry was so calm and steady. He knew what we were asking, he knew the cost, he could see much more than Thandie and I could see. Thandie and I were thinking with our hearts...brother Gentry had to see what we couldn't see. He told me that he would support my decision to take in this baby, BUT I must have a plan for her before I left....only 14 days away. Then I said something like "Thank you, thank you, okay Brother Gentry I promise I will have a plan, I will, I promise thank you". Then off we went to the Children's Home. Did I mention we were dirty...boy were we dirty.
As soon as I got into the bathroom and began the bath by bucket....Crystal called. I couldn't wait to tell her all about our day....but boy was I dirty. Thandie told her a little and then she called back a few minutes later. I told Crystal that the baby was a girl, 4 months old, very very tiny and sick. I knew the mother had TB, but peanut's health was a mystery to us. I told her there was a good chance she may not make it to Tuesday. She was very malnourished. I would arrange for the HIV test right away and then TB. She said she would talk to her husband and would be praying for God to reveal His plan for this little one to us.
So began the wait for peanut. At this point no one knows we are getting peanut except for Brother Gentry, Crystal,
Thandie, Lloyd and I.
Sunday, Thandie and I went to her village to check on her mom. We had such a nice visit. I held Thandie's niece Kezia and she was dressed in her "American Girl" dress.
Monday was the opening of the container. I had been anticipating the opening of this particular container since April when I saw Brother Burton put the final items in and close it up. I remember when I broke my leg, I cried because I thought I would miss the opening. I day-dreamed about the opening, what it would mean for the people, the sacrificial giving of so many to provide these items, the
loooong journey of this container, etc. Then came the day to open it and I had Peanut on my mind! The first thing off the container was a pack of size 1 disposable diapers! This was so special because Good Samaritan only has children 5 and up. We don't pack diapers on the container. Brother Gentry had the diapers in his hand and turned around and looked right at me. "These are for you", he said and tossed them to me. Remember no one knew about Peanut at this point. I took the diapers with a big smile on my face and decided it was time for a scavenger hunt. I was on a mission for anything that might fit peanut. By the end of the day I had a box full of clothes including a pink smocked dress! and a pack
n'play. I was just so happy with my discoveries. I can hardly tell you what else came off the container....I really had a one track mind. Mrs.
Jorgenson could testify to the fact that I was pretty much useless at distributing and organizing the container items. I finally had to let out the news that we may be bringing home a peanut the next day and she needed a bed and some clothes....and God was providing them...
WooHoo!!! While the container was being unpacked
Thandie called peanut's uncle to check on her and confirm our plan to pick her up the next day. When
Thandie asked the uncle how she was he sighed before he said she was fine.
Thandie's heart skipped a beat when he sighed and it was all over her face. I was thinking oh no, until
Thandie smiled and said that we would be there the next day.
September 4
th! Finally came and we headed off to Peanut's village. We stopped at the social welfare office in her village to get official paperwork stating that Peanut could come to Good Samaritan. We arrived to the village and a huge crowd was waiting for us. Chrissie had dressed Peanut up in a fancy dress and even had a cloth diaper on her. The whole village was there singing and clapping. They were very happy for Peanut.
Honestly I wanted to scoop Peanut up and run. But we had to meet . It was the right thing to do. So we met and got some medical and family
history for Peanut. I shared some more about the
Johnsons. We took lots of pictures. And then off to the van. I was anxious to see how Peanut would do with a bottle as she had never had one. She drank it like a pro! Peanut's family waved goodbye to us with big smiles.
Our next stop was to Patel's store to pick up supplies for Peanut. We needed a bathtub and some other hygiene supplies. Guess who we found at Patel's? Brother Gentry!
I was so excited to show Brother Gentry our little peanut! I told him that I wanted him to hold her. He said "I know what you are up to, you want a picture for the blog". How did he know! Yup! What a more perfect way to introduce little Peanut than a picture of her with Brother Gentry. I love this picture too, because you can see how small she was compared to Brother Gentry's hand.
Next we went back to
Thandie's to give peanut her first bath.
She was very dirty. We had to dump her bath water twice. I am pretty sure it was her very first bath. She also had black tar on her head filling her soft- spot. It was put there by a witch doctor. Thandie was able to get most of it off and then the rest came off little by little.
At this point we really had no idea if Peanut had HIV or TB. We weren't sure if she would even make it through the night. It had been weeks since she had a bowel movement, I wasn't sure how she would tollerate the formula. She was just so fragile. I had many conversations with Crystal these first couple of days. She was trying to get an idea of her development and health status. The pictures I sent her were poor quality and looking back now, really didn't look so good. Her eyes were so puffy and she wasn't consistently tracking. It was hard for me to get an accurate picture of her development since she was so weak and had been through such a huge change. Peanut had never experienced electricity so the lights were new to her as well. The sounds and the smells, so many changes. The people from Peanut's village speak with an accent so even the voices she was hearing were unfamiliar. The first night I has to wake her up to feed her. She had stopped crying for food in the village. But I have to say, she caught on quickly that when she would cry the bottles would come and keep on coming. She started to recognize the sound of the shaking formula and would start squirming in anticipation.
Then the medical tests started. Peanut was poked and poked and poked. Then she was x-rayed. Her eyes were examined. Praise the Lord that everything came back normal. She was later diagnosed with pneumonia, but responded well to the antibiotics.
On September 6th Peanut was given her new name:
Savannah-Hope Elizabeth Johnson.
It has now been exactly 4 months since Savannah-Hope came into our lives. She has gained 9 pounds and has caught up developmentally. She is our very own miracle! Please continue to pray for her adoption journey. We are hopeful she will join her forever family in Tennessee at the end of January. Specific prayer requests include: 1) approval from the minister of social worker in Malawi, 2) US imigration approval (I-171H), 3) adoption fees.
Honk! Honk! More Malaria!
