oh happy day

At church on Sunday, I was sharing our photos with a dear friend when she suddenly stopped and said, "we have to find the girl who was sitting in front of us. she is going to Uganda for 6 months and she could take a package to babyu for you!" We went back to look for her, didn't see her but ran into one of the pastors. She asked him if she knew this girl....anyways, he didn't but he did say he was traveling to Africa on Wednesday (TODAY!) and he would love to take a package with him for our sweet boy. After he said that, I realized that he had told me about the trip back in May when my father-in-law was traveling to Uganda but I had forgotten. Funny how many people from our community are going to Africa or have been to Africa in the past year. Most of them are headed to Uganda. Just off the top of my head, I can think of 8 different people/groups. That is a huge amount of people considering how far away it is and how relatively small the country is (roughly the size of Oregon).

So for the past two days we have been trying to gather items to pack up for babyu. Do you know how hard this is?? I didn't expect it to be and maybe it shouldn't be but I really struggled with what to include in the package. The baby home has certain items they need and not like I need a dr. pepper:) but really and truly need (like liquid vitamins, toothbrushes, diaper cream, etc). . It seemed so silly to send him toys and clothes when he is probably in a diaper most often because of the heat and vitamins are way more important than toys. Don't get me wrong, toys are fun and important...maybe just not as important as other things. 


The other thing that was getting me down was that, yes, some of the children have been matched with other families but a lot of them haven't been. So who is going to send them some love?? Both my husband and I feel very strongly that whatever we send should be used for everyone (I think peoplemost feel this way). Last week, we were debating what to send with another friend in a couple of weeks (SO many people going to Uganda!!) and we were talking about liquid vitamins and how much to send. I told him that if we send stuff, it will probably get used for all the children not knowing if he knew this. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "of course it would be used for all the children! The same way babyu benefits from other things sent." Of course! I am so thankful that we agree. Yes, we have been matched with sweet babyu but his friends are our responsibility as well. We are called to care for all orphans-not sure certain ones...and this is just one small thing we can do while we wait to bring our boy home! 


So who is going to send them love??? We are!!


My husband went back and forth on what to include in the small package. After much deliberation, we decided on the follow:

*a photo book-this was a must! (it is sooo cute! soft and flexible too just in case our little guy is teething)
*Memphis-a super soft doggie that we have been sleeping with for the past week and a half so that babyu will get used to our smell.
*shorts and a t-shirt - o-boy picked it out especially for babyu (and the other kids:)
*liquid vitamins
*toss and go sippy cups
*diaper cream
*toothbrush
*an encouraging note for the aunties who love the children EVERYday