We are Team Wicks: Baby on Board

This last week has been extremely busy and rewarding here at Homes of Hope. The biggest event in this past week is that we have taken in a little orphan baby to care for during our remaining time here. Her name is Rani and she is 6 weeks old. One of her leg bones was bent back on birth and, despite the treatment she has received thus far, she still has a bend to her leg right above her foot. Our family has absolutely fallen in love with her. Sam and Katie call her their little sister and beg us to take her home to Seattle. In fact, if it were not for the stringent adoption laws and processes they have in Fiji in relation to foreigners, we would likely bring her home with us. Instead, we will have to just love on her as much as we can while we have her. I will admit, it is a little hard to get used to nighttime feedings and crying again, but we are glad to do it. It will be very difficult to say goodbye to her in a little over a week and release her to an unknown future. But, we know that she is God's daughter and He will be watching over her. He has a hope and a future for her!!!

Last week, the director of HOH had asked Angie to attend a class that was being held on Saturday for the moms on sex education and childbirth. When Angie arrived, the person in charge asked her to teach the class. So, she did! Angie was amazed at how little these moms knew about their own anatomy and how the babies that they have had even developed and were delivered!!! Angie will finish a second class on Saturday.

Angie has continued to train and organize the nursing and nutrition programs here. I have been helping with construction and also working on some materials to use for some classes I will be teaching next week on basic financial management and stewardship for the moms. Otherwise, we spend a lot of time just hanging out with the moms and children, building relationships with them and giving them training on various things. For example, nutrition and cooking is foreign to them. Many of the moms have never even scrambled an egg for their kids. So, there are many things we are doing to equip and help them. Sam and Katie have formed quick friendships with some of the kids here and have a great time running around the property, playing with the dogs, and playing with little Rani.

Please continue to pray for us this last week of our adventure in Fiji. We are feeling very homesick, and we want to finish strong. Also, Angie is already heartbroken about leaving little Rani.