Dear Friends,
I returned to the States on July 2nd safe and sound (Praise God!!) from Nigeria , Africa . I want to thank each of you who contributed to this mission in some way, whether it was monetary or through prayer. God works miracles when his people will humble themselves and pray. So…Thank You!
I want to share with you some of the highlights of my experiences while in Nigeria . This was my first international flying experience. Although the three flights to get us from Dallas , Texas to Abuja , Nigeria were quite long, I honestly enjoyed having that much time of relaxing without kids. As most of you know, I have a son (Ty) who will be four in October and we adopted our daughter (Paige), who will be one in October.
It is about a 5-6 hour bus ride from Abuja to the Ministry of Mercy Orphanage (M.O.M.) in Otutulu Village , Kogi State , Nigeria . This is merely because the roads are in such bad condition - especially the last several miles that took us directly to the orphanage. It is rainy season in Nigeria and it happened to be raining as we were trying to go up the very narrow muddy road that led high up in the hills/mountains to the orphanage. Our buses ended up getting stuck and had to be maneuvered to get up the hill. Some of the local boys were in a car in front of our three buses. They jumped out and began to help push the first bus up the hill. That didn't work. So they ended up digging some of the mud out around the wheels. That didn't work. The people in the front bus unloaded, and then we all backed up and waited to see what they would try next. We ended up having to take the hill quickly to get up that hill. I would not have been surprised if the buses had tipped over. We were trying to shift our weight inside the bus as the bus tilted from side to side with the rugged terrain. The roads are “that bad!”
As we got higher in the mountains we passed several small villages where the children and adults came running toward the buses and waved to us. When we arrived at the Ministry of Mercy orphanage on Monday night, all of the kids came running up to the buses and surrounded us as we stepped off the bus. The little ones started grabbing our hands and others looked up at us and raised there arms, wanting to be held. I could tell from the start that these kids are starving for affection. Once they have a hold of you, they don't want to let go; nor you them.
The clinic opened Tuesday morning for villagers and orphanage residents. Praise God we had four doctors this trip. When Zoya Ministries went to the orphanage in 2006 they only had one doctor. The clinic stayed open from 8:00 AM to about 8:00 PM . They were very long days…but I really enjoyed it.
As part of the clinic I worked in the pharmacy, organizing and distributing medicines. I also assisted with circumcisions and redressing bandages for circumcisions the day after the surgery. (Our pharmacy area also functioned as the surgical area.) One of the things that amazed me while working in the pharmacy was the little knowledge that the people had about basic things. For example – They did not know how to open a pill bottle that was a push down and twist. Some day, once the orphanage gets all the help that they need to care for and educate the children , I would like to see someone or a team going in to educate the surrounding communities. This would also be a great opportunity to teach them about the gospel of Jesus!
Other activities that went on during the 7 days we were at M.O.M. were the distribution of croc-styled shoes, backpacks/school bags, candy & a new outfit to each of the children. However, we didn't have enough clothes for the older kids or enough underwear for most of kids. There was also a presentation of new wheelchairs to five of the orphanage residents.
Some of our team also participated in soccer games with some of the orphanage kids as well as kids from the village. In addition, most of us had the opportunity to climb a mountain (or big hill – depending on who you ask) that sits right behind the orphanage. The view from the top is awesome – lush green jungle everywhere. We also walked about 15 minutes through the jungle to “the stream,” where the kids go to swim. Most of us just watched as the kids played in the water, but a few of the older boys from our team joined in the fun. You have to check out the pictures (Robert's pics) on the Zoya Ministries website.
Now I want to share with you what I observed while at M.O.M. The children, young and old, were starving for attention. When I just took a moment to look at them or touch their head or face, they melted to my touch. Children who are under the age of about 7 have an Auntie. Aunties are typically young women, widowed or sometimes physically challenged. They are hired by the orphanage as surrogate mothers to care for the children. Each woman will be assigned up to 12 children and will eat and sleep with and care for these children as if they were her own. Once children turn about 7 years old, they no longer have an Auntie to be a “mother-figure” to them.
While visiting the girls' dorm my heart broke. Babies who were old enough to sit up by themselves were often left on the dirty cement floors by themselves. We would walk by them and try to encourage a smile…but they just stared at us with empty expressions. Many of the younger kids were dirty and smelled of urine.
The orphanage can't afford to provide enough food, clothing, diapers, or caregivers for these kiddos. Many of the younger ones had the protruding bellies from malnutrition. Some of the kids would get up at 4:30 AM with their one food bowl, to catch and eat the termites that were so plentiful there.
I could tell you so much more… But what I want to tell you is that my heart is still there. Day and night I think about those kids and how we might be able to help them to grow into the men and women God created them to be.
Zoya Ministries has decided to start a Sponsor a Child program for the kids at the Ministry of Mercy orphanage. Since I am on the staff of Zoya (all volunteer staff), I have been “commissioned” to get the program up and running as quickly as possible. I have been putting in lots of late nights trying to teach myself how to create a website for the program as well as trying to decide exactly how the program will work for us. I am so anxious to get this program up and running I cannot contain myself. It truly is a PASSION I believe that God has placed inside me. It really feels like a physical need that I must fulfill.
If God lays it on your heart to be a part of our Sponsor a Child program for the children at the Ministry of Mercy orphanage of Otutulu, please check out Zoya's website at www.zoyaministries.org over the next 6 weeks. The website currently has lots of pictures from several of the team members and we will be adding more pictures and stories as we are able.
Please keep the kids at M.O.M. in your prayers. Also, please pray that God will lead the right person to Zoya Ministries that would be able to assist us in all of our website needs. Thanks again for your prayers for me and our team on this medical mission to Otutulu. Only God knows what your prayers have done and I pray will continue to do for the kids and people in Otutulu.
Sincerely,
Tami Kenney
