Team Judah

I never knew how much my life could change in a matter of hours. I wish I could say that in my first days here I had an overwhelming assurance that this is where I needed to be, but the transition has been tough. I have restlessly questioned the Lord and wondered if I made a huge mistake in coming. I have wanted to run back to the airport and leave as fast as I could. I have struggled to have faith, but still God chooses to bless me beyond my comprehension. Everyone who knows me also knows my love for babies and my desire to work with orphans, but yet this was not how I imagined it beginning.  Four days after arriving in Liberia I heard about a woman in her 20s who bled to death during childbirth. This woman, who lived in the same community as me, left behind her two older children along with her newborn son. This family already had nothing and now has a baby who they cannot feed or care for. For the first two weeks of his life, this precious baby boy only had coconut water to drink; he is clearly underweight and has a terrible cough. I knew something big was about to happen as soon as I heard this story. Less than 18 hours after learning about this baby I was talking with his family about fostering him for the next three months until I get on my plane on December 20th. Everything changed yesterday when Judah was put into my arms. I really don’t know what this will turn into or what will happen in December, but what I do know is that it is a privilege to hold this baby in my arms and feed him his first bottle; it is a privilege that God would use me to care for His child; and it is a privilege to get to love him. In the midst of uncertainty I was given this child. I have quickly learned how expensive it is to raise a child in Liberia. Judah came with nothing other than the piece of fabric he was wrapped in so yesterday we walked to the market miles down the dirt road and got all of the essentials for the first few days. That was the first of many trips to the market. I also need to bring him to the hospital on Monday. Normally you have time to prepare for a baby but nothing about this is super normal. I have no doubt that The Lord has asked me to step out in faith and look after this child but as you know, that requires many materials. These are the estimated costs for the next few months: Diapers (4 months) $120 Formula (4 months) $160 Clothes $120 Medicine/ vaccines $300 Doctor $200 Bath soap/ wipes $50 Towels/ blankets $30 Would you help me care for this precious boy?