Day 2...Physicals for all FMN kids and outreach kids!

Tracey, a nurse practitioner, graciously agreed to give all our FMN kids physicals, as well as our outreach kids! Leslie took great notes and was her helper for the day!  Thanks so much you two!!!  This is a wonderful gift you have shared and given to our program!

Patience talking on the phone!

Gborlee

Korpu

Favour in foster mom's lap

Favour and Pastor Peter

Josephus passing out toy cars

Tracey and Brown

Patience

Melvin

Korpu

Eric

Surprise

John

Korpu

Denise and Melvin

William

John

A few pics from day 1

Christina, Leslie and Favour

Favour is stylin'

Foster mom with Melvin and Korpu

Gborlee and Christina

Our first full day in Liberia, was spent visiting the FMN kids and foster families.  What a blessing to see how the kids have grown and progressed,  meeting a few of our newest arrivals and giving big hugs to the foster moms, who I have grown to care for deeply.  They are wonderful examples to the surrounding communities!

Hi From Liberia!!!

We are in Liberia, loving on all the kids!  We have had no internet since we got here and don't know how long we will have internet...sooooo...this will be quick and I promise to update the blog on what we have been doing, when I get back to the states.  Internet is also VERY slow!

So far it's been a wonderful blessed trip and we still have a lot to do and see!

The kids are doing excellent and we are loving on all of them!

Promise to update later!!!!

God Bless From Liberia,
Christina

Some wonderful happenings for Forget-Me-Not...

Here is handsome Gborlee!  He is our newest FMN child.  I have to say, I just fell in love with his picture!  He will be turning 2 and has mild CP.  What a blessing he will be to his foster mom and foster sister!

Our trip to Liberia is coming up quick!  I cannot wait to love on all our beautiful FMN children and build upon the relationships of our foster families!  This is my favorite part of being involved in this wonderful program for 'special needs.'  I am blessed to work alongside such a compassionate team of people.  I have a wonderful Co-Director, Josephus, whose the hands and feet of FMN in Liberia.  He's got an amazing heart for these kids and FMN.  I work very closely with Donna, director and founder of Global Orphan Outreach.  And now our newest member of the FMN team, Leslie.  Leslie truly has a wonderful caring and compassionate heart and is a perfect fit for the FMN Sponsorship Coordinator.  She will be going to Liberia for the very first time this trip!  I'm so excited for her!

As always, everyday is  PACKED full of  things we will be doing.  Therapy and Hygiene training for our caregivers is a very important aspect of FMN, so that is always on the agenda!    We will also have a lot of fun handing out supplies and gifts.  Through some generous donors, we have over 50 Cabbage Patch dolls, 100 dresses from 'Little African Dresses', and over 300 little cars to give to the community kids! Plus, with our group of 7,  we all will be involved in doing a medical outreach for Pastor Peter's village, and giving medical attention to those we encounter along the way during the week.  Our last trip, everyday we encountered children, from several surrounding communities, that needed some sort of care.  This trip, two of the gals coming, have been filling their suitcases with medical supplies that will be utilized the whole week!  We will be well prepared wherever we go!

That is just a sampling of our week!  Keep checking the blog for updates while we are on our trip! 

SEE YOU IN LIBERIA!!!!

Needing two sponsors for some handsome boys!!

The Forget-Me-Not Program is in need of two more sponsors!!!  Surprise (in the above pic), and William, who we are awaiting a good picture.  Please consider becoming part of these precious lives...your support makes such an impact and change in these 'special needs' children's lives.  Thank You!!!

Favour is looking for her 'forever' family...

We are looking for an adoptive family for our sweet Favour.  The Liberian government has given Forget-Me-Not,  permission to advocate for a family for her .

Favour  is 3 1/2 years old and has Cerebral Palsy.  She is doing wonderful with her foster mom, getting therapy and gaining weight every month.  I can answer any questions you may have if you are an interested family.  We would prefer a 'homestudy ready' family.
Contact Christina for further info or questions...651-353-5248

Can you even imagine?

Can you imagine being an abandoned child in Liberia?  Do you know what it would feel like to not have a momma or a pappa to love and take care of you?  Can you imagine feeling those terrible stomach pains from being hungry for days? Can you imagine being so dirty, thirsty and hot, that just having a small drink of water and some shade would make your day?  Can you imagine not knowing the concept of 'play?'  No toy of any kind?

Of course most of us can't truly imagine or even come close how this would feel.

Now, imagine all of that, plus having a handicap/'special need'...

You are left for dead, abandoned because you are considered demonic, or you just may put a curse on the family.  Can you imagine others considering you such a burden, they treat you less than human?  No one helps you, so you just exist...waiting...

Some of these kids are blessed to have a stranger have pity on them,  bring them to a hospital or the police station.  But then what?  There is no place  'taking in'   just  'special needs' kids, for the purpose of helping them reach their highest potential.  Or, better yet, encouraging families and training them, to keep their 'special child.'   WE ARE DIFFERENT!

Forget-Me-Not Children's Homes and Program, specfically trains a foster family, to take in a 'special need' child.  They are taught therapy, proper hygiene care, equipped with food, supplies, beds, clothes, etc.  Our foster homes are also committed to be these kids parents, and be a witness to their community, that THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN ARE WORTHY AND CAN BE AN AMAZING BLESSING!!! We also encourage families by training, and giving some support of supplies to help take a little of the burden they may feel by the extra care their child requires.

Even though a lot of our kids have some severe disabilities, they are being loved, improving every day, and now have a family, a home, and all their needs met.

FMN is doing what it can to bring hope and help to these special little ones.  We do need your help though!

 We have two new children in our program that need sponsors ($100/per month/per child).  We need another $1500 to help our Toyota 4Runner make it out of the Monrovia port, smoothly.  We need to have two more beds built for our two older children. ($100). 

If you feel that you would like to help in ANY capacity, please email me and let me know!  I will be going to Liberia next month, and cannot wait to see all our precious FMN children.
I will also be sad for not being able to see sweet Kenneths face, and precious Martina! I will truly miss holding those two precious and delicate children.  I do gain comfort in the fact that they had wonderful foster moms, who loved them dearly and are truly mourning their loss.

Please pray for all the 'special children' that are lost, abandoned, starving, and have no home.  Pray for our program to grow in sponsors and children  Pray  for hearts to change,  compassion to grow for 'special children'.  We all can join together and help these children grow, flourish, love and reach their highest potential.