The family is growing!

We’re getting new kids!!  As of tomorrow afternoon, Cornerstone Children’s Home will be having 7 new children- woohoo!  These new children will bring the total number of kids to 30- the children we have now are so excited.  Margret, who’s 4 years old, keeps asking me: “Are the new children coming now?  How about now, Teacher Abby?”  I get a little tired of answering the question, but it’s fun to see the joy these new arrivals are bringing.

           Speaking of our children, Moses continues to progress greatly each week.  I have been teaching him sign language along with verbal words, in hopes that he learns to communicate faster.  He has learned to sign these words: shoes, clean-up, please, cold, hot, and again.  He continues to say some definite words, and then babble in-between, but he is learning to communicate what he wants in a way that we can understand.  He is also saying his sister, Natasha’s, name, which sounds like “Ay-yas-ha.”  Yeah, Moses! 

         Moses continues to show us that he wants to walk, too.  So often now, instead of agreeing to be carried by the other children, he pushes them away and walks by himself while holding onto the wall or whatever happens to be nearby.  It just makes me think about when I first came, and how he never wanted to stand up and just wanted to scoot around on his bottom. So cute to watch him scooting.  Now, every day, Aunt Monica (the “mom” at the orphanage) puts his sandals on and he proudly walks around with them.  Yesterday we were having races of boys and girls and I took Moses by the hands and helped him “run,” while he giggled uncontrollably.  What a happy, fulfilled little boy he is- thank you, Lord.

         I am so lucky to be here getting to be with these kids like Moses.  I was talking to a friend from the States this morning, and she asked what I was passionate about in the work at Cornerstone.  So many things came to mind that I couldn’t even name them all, and I realized once again that I am so thankful to be here in Budaka with these children who I love- and those ones who are coming and who will be so loved.  Thank you for the support, friends!