if only for that one...

It’s weird for me to think you all are still at work and I’m blogging before I go to bed. Craziness!

Okay… just took a temporary break to watch Elizabeth put on her hip hop show for my flat mates. But I’m back…

Today was my “If I only came for that child it was worth it” day. I have been working with a little 7 year old boy who was burned on his legs. Today he was scheduled to go to theatre, so I prepped him. The prep basically turned into a medical play session because he doesn’t speak English and I (as I have made very clear) don’t speak Xhosa. I showed him the pictures in the prep book Caroline recently completed and then just let him play with the items in the prep box. He put on a surgery mask and hat and then played and played with the oxygen mask and tubing. He put it up to his face and my face and would smile and laugh. Prof walked by as we were doing it and grabbed his camera so he could capture the picture. It really was a picture perfect child life moment. Later that day, M ended up getting his staples out in the treatment room rather than theatre. He’d been given some morphine, so the sisters said he should sleep, but he didn’t. I went to the treatment room with him and tried to comfort hold, but was told he had to lie down. So I just held his hands, sang to him, and tried to help him relax. He did pretty well – but it was very painful for him. At one point he tried to kiss me, though. It was pretty cute. Then at the end after the staple were removed, I let him sit up and lean against me with my arms around him to keep his hands away. He just held my hand and stroked it with his head on my shoulder. That was my “If I only came for that one” moment. ☺

All around I had some great interventions with many kids today. It was a really wonderful day and I am so thankful for it. I really focused today on trying to share love with each person I met (not that I was successful, but I will continue to attempt it). After work I walked to the market by myself and got some more groceries. It was really fun and I felt pretty cool walking back. Oh the things that thrill me these days.

Tomorrow is the big seafood braai. I’m really excited because Caroline and her husband decided to come, so I will know a couple people. Isn’t that exciting. God blesses us so much – even in the little things.

I couldn’t end this note without making mention of the best e.mail ever which I received from my sister today. She was catching me up on all the fabulous things in her life right now… like Millie waving and Eli having to play with the “mean boys” at recess. The best part of her e.mail, though was when she told me how she was trying to explain adoption to Eli. My aunt and uncle are in the process of traveling to Africa to adopt a girl from Liberia and Eli was curious what that was about. Here’s the interaction as told by Erin… “We were talking about Ron and Di adopting Ruth and Eli wanted to know what we were talking about. Adoption had come up for some reason the day before and I had tried to describe what it was. We said that there were children in Africa who needed a home. Eli immediately said that he was going to adopt Cara from South Africa. :-)” How much do I love my nephew? I would love for him to adopt me any day! ☺

Well, that’s all that I have for today. Just wanted to thank you all for you continued love and support. I’ll think about you tomorrow when I’m sitting on the beach eating seafood for 4 hours! I’ve heard the weather has been super cold at home. Hopefully I can send some sunshine your way! ☺ Love you all.