Day 6 in Liberia...

Today was our last day to spend with the kids and caregivers.  It's always so sad to leave.  Each and every one of these children are so special, as well and our caregivers and Josephus, the Liberian director.  I'm proud of all their hard work and the love they pour into this program.  It takes so many hands to make a program work, and everyone on our FMN team is truly making it work! This program is changing the lives of these precious children!

Cutie Mohammed!

Our newest caregiver, Martha, and our new boy, Junior!  He is severely afraid of 'white people' and the camera, so we did not get a smile out of him.

This smile is sooooo worth a million bucks!  After just two days in our care, Hope was smiling!!!! She was so weak and dehydrated when she came into our program, she couldn't lift her head or move.  Now, after two days with her foster mom...she's holding up her head briefly, and started moving her arms and legs a little bit. She's going to do great in our program!

   

Christina and Kou. Kou is my most precious foster mom and the 'overseer' of the other foster moms.  I see the love of Jesus when I watch her with our FMN kids.

Day 5 in Liberia...

Christina and Gborlee...

John with his drum.  He loves to dance to his drum!!

Melvin posing for pic.  He was pretty silly today, we just didn't catch the silliness on camera!

Surprise can laugh like crazy!  He is very engaging and interacts wonderfully, and, throws some amazing tantrums!

Day 4 in Liberia...

Today we went to one of the hospitals that have referred us several of our FMN kids.  It was great to see the nurses and doctors who cared for them, and they were all so greatful for our type of program to come alongside them and help these special kids.  

We then went to a chicken farm to get some pricing on chicks.  Our goal is to provide each of our foster homes with egg laying chickens so they'll can get more protein in the kids' diet.  The FMN program will be doing an Easter fundraiser for this purpose in the next few weeks!  

We then went to visit the foster moms and FMN kids!  Our favorite part of every day here!

We are in need of 3 new sponsors for 3 new kids!  Please consider being part of the FMN sponsorship program to help these precious little ones.  It is the committed sponsors that help these special ones thrive!

Enjoy a few pics... 

This is from our cake and balloon day! 

This little girl we took in yesterday as an immediate placement due to her condition.   She is very malnourished and weak, but is now with a loving foster mom. 

Eric enjoying his new toy!

Karen laughing at her foster mom!  Super cute smile!

Beauty Queen Korpu!

Day 3 with the kids!

Today I surprised all the foster moms and kids with cake and balloons!  I wanted to celebrate and congratulate them on the wonderful care they've been providing, but especially for the praises we have been getting from the government.  Pics of the party will come later!  Enjoy a few pics that the internet allowed to upload.

Cutie Angel!!!

                                Michelle and Gborlee...he was really studying Michelle's face...

Beautiful Grace (the foster moms call her Gracie)

Today was another awesome day of spending a lot of time with all the caregivers and kids.  The cake and balloons went over really well with everyone!  Since we are able to spend so much time with the kids, we are seeing some wonderful personalities come out.  Here is a quick rundown of a few...

Favour interacts so well with her foster mom, playing and teasing, then giggles!  So cute!

Barry is full of smiles and has giggled more than I have ever seen him!

John is loving school and is adorable in his uniform!  Still sings and dances!

William is doing so well, likes hugs on his terms,and continues to improve around crowds. 

Gborlee was playing, smiling and laughing!  I haven't been able to see that before!

Karen was giggling and laughing with her foster mom and a few neighborhood kids.

There's a lot more details, but again, unreliable internet, so I want to send this out!

Goodnight from Liberia! Christina

Day 2 at the FMN homes

Today we brought bubbles for blowing, yesterday we brought supplies and gifts for all the kids, tomorrow is a surprise!
The kids are warming up to the camera, as well as us.   We had a lot of smiles!  Barry was funny...he started to cry everytime I walked away from him, he was even trying to 'noodle' his way out of the wheelchair to get down to try to get to me.  Barry has improved so much in his ability to move.  He loves air walking, but mostly loves to be held.  He's got a million dollar smile!  Korpu came right up to me for holding, Melvin did come to me with some coaxing, John was all smiles, William continues to amaze me with his desire to hold my hand and walk around with me.  Karen has been gaining some good weight, and her skin has cleared up so nicely.  She had terrible sores when she came into our program, was even chewing on her feet and lip.  She's looking great now!  Gborlee is just cute, period!  Grace loves to giggle and practice walking...she's adjusting quite well to her foster mom.  We did not have time to see Favour today, but will tomorrow...her foster home is farther out.  Angel, Eric, Surprise and Mohammed are the 'quadruplets!'  Their foster mom, Kou, is an amazing woman...she beams joy and love for each one of these boys.  It was such a treat to spend a long time sitting and chatting with her, and holding all the boys.  Today was a great day of 'chilling' with the moms and loving on all the kids! 

Barry all smiles!

***After several attempts to upload pics, it's just not working.  Most of the pics for the blog will have to wait until we get back to the states.

I forgot to mention this...yesterday the foster moms had bought fresh watermelon for Michelle and I.  We all sat around at Kou's and enjoyed it thoroughly!! 

Posting from Liberia!!! Our first full day!

Our first full day in Liberia was FANTASTIC!!  I may have a short window of internet time, so I won't waste it on writing, but more importantly, share pics!  Michelle did a great job with the pictures and I can't wait for her to fill up the week with more pictures and video! 
All the FMN kids look soooooo beautiful and healthy!!  WAHOO!!  I absolutely loved seeing the growth and improvement of each of our kids.  I am so proud of Josephus and our foster moms!  They are all so dear to my heart, and I am so appreciative and thankful for their commitment to the care of these special little ones! 

William (Christina's little butterfly), smiling and giggling!!!  This beautiful boy could not smile or laugh when he was first brought into our program 6 months ago.  Look at him now!!  That's my boy!!!! 

Handsome Mohammed!  I don't think he could be any cuter!!

Gorgeous Favour...she's so beautiful!

Foster mom, Esther, with our newest little girl, Grace.  She's loving sharing her sucker with Mom!

Eric pondering.  This is one of the few moments he wasn't

 doing silly faces!

We will be visiting the kids almost everyday while we are here.  So...if we have internet, I will be posting everyday with pics.
From Liberia, Christina

The FMN program has been rated EXCELLENT!

I just received this news from Josephus today...

..."The Ministry Of Health & Social Welfare unexpectedly came to our FMN Homes today.The team consisted of five members, including those from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. They really praised our program  for quality caretaking and graded us excellent!"

This just makes me beam with great pride for all our team members on the ground in Liberia!

Great job Josephus!  Great job FMN foster moms!!!