Did you know?

I've started another blog. It will be used for the purpose of raising awareness for children in need. I needed to have two separate blogs - one to share fun, random day to day stuff (this blog here) and another one to share about the very tragic things being done to children, the very incredible things God is doing around the world in the lives of children and what He expects from us, His followers and representatives.

My first two posts on this new blog lay the foundation for what's to come.

So check it out http://speakupforthechildren.blogspot.com/

And come back here from time to time for random posts about my life and those in it.

All the previous posts from Nigeria and beyond will remain on this blog.

If this doesn't increase your faith in the Lord, I don't know what will...

Written by Kelly Malloy, missionary in Nigeria:

The story that I am about to tell you is absolutely the most AMAZING and unbelieveable narrative that I have ever written to you. I can imagine that many of you might have a hard time swallowing the details of the story of Emmanuel. Even our Nigerian co-workers have been taken aback by the history of this precious child. One of the pastors on the staff of City Ministries Nigeria is a manager of a Care Center with 10 boys. Pastor Bulus was on an outreach in a remote village. Ambling through a field on the outskirts of the village, he stumbled upon what he believed to be a log. How shocked he was to find that the tiny article at his feet was the wrecked body of a small boy. Lifting the boy into his arms, he raced into the town in search of help.

The villagers disdain was instantaneous as they recounted the story of the emaciated child. Calling the village leaders together, the story was unanumous; the boy had been born to a mad man and a weak woman. He did not thrive after birth, possibly a result of being "tongue tied" and malnourished. At the age of two, he was unable to speak or walk, which was unacceptable to his parents. Blinded by ignorance and fear, they concluded that their son was either a ghost or possessed by a demon. Their only solution was to leave him in the bush to die alone.

And there the boy remained for THIRTEEN YEARS. Alone. The mothers in the village came to the consensus that he was born the same year as their fifteen-year old sons. This area of the country is devoid of streamsand trees. Somehow he survived in the open fileds, subjected to six months of blistering sun, followed by six months of torrential rain. Agreeing that he must be a wicked spirit, the local people never took the child into their village. Never was he fed or clothed. He was never bathed, held, taught to speak, potty-trained, or loved. He experienced neither human contact nor kindness - ever.

Until, that is, the moment that the Lord placed him in the path of Pastor Bulus, a gentle and humble man. Almost immediately, Bulus bathed and clothed the child and placed food before him. The village women scoffed, "He doesn't know how to eat proper food from a plate Throw it in the dirt and let him eat like a dog!" Bulus refused, realizing then that the boy had possibly been filling his stomach with sand and dead leaves his entire life. Bulus pleaded with the village chief, "I will give you half of my salary if you will promise to care for this child in your own home." (His monthly salary is less than one meal at a nice American restaurant.) The chief refused the offer, giving Bulus full permission to take the boy back to the orphan home. Pastor Bulus aptly named him "Emmanuel" which means "God with us".

SIM missionary, Missy Camiola, holding Emmanuel

After spending several days in our Jos hospital, he began to exhibit signs of attachment to several people, and even crawled into my lap and fell asleep. His behaviors most closely resemble the jerky expressions of birds, and he appears to be very at peace in the presence of pastor Bulus, who is an excellent caretaker. Emmanuel weighs 22 pounds.

After three weeks in the City Ministries Nigeria Care Center, he has already learned to walk on shaky legs. He has discovered pounded yam and beans, which he eats from a bowl (that must be placed on the floor. He will not eat if anyone is looking at him. ) Emmanuel does not speak. He has very few human mannerisms, gestures, or noises.

As you can imagine, Emmanuel has a long road ahead of him, learning to live in civilization. Our most sincere prayer for him is that he will come to know the One who has daily protected him from starvation, dehydration, every kind of illness, snakes, countless other atrocities. As Bulus says, "He is a miracle. Only the Lord has been his Shepherd!" Please join us in prayer for Emmanuel and his full restoration. Pray for Pastor Bulus, his wife and the 10 other orphans as they care for and love Emmanuel.

Kelly is the nurse for the kids now (my old job). She's holding Emmanuel. Pastor Bulus found him. You can imagine how badly I wish I was holding him in this picture! Praise the Lord for these two incredible servants of God whom He has used to do miracles!

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute."

Proverbs 31:7-9

Nigeria... Haiti... God is there

Nigeria:
If you haven't heard, there has been rioting, killing, and destruction in Jos, Nigeria (where I lived for 4 years) since last Sunday. I won't go into the details of why this is going on here - but you can check http://bbc.com/ for more specific information (though keep in mind it is still a media's report).

Thankfully, the military and police responded quickly. The city of Jos was put on a 24 hour curfew for two days straight, to try and quell the violence.

Early Tuesday morning at 3am Chicago time, I received a text from Nigeria to pray for the village of Gyero, where 100+ of City Ministries orphans live. I spent a lot of time in Gyero and was heartbroken to hear that the violence had spread to this little village off the beaten path. I prayed and prayed and was so grateful to receive a text an hour later that said the military had arrived and regained control. Ok, so *that* is a miracle. That the military would even care to go out to little Gyero. But GOD cares and He sent them!

Praise GOD none of our children or staff were hurt, but other village kids and adults were killed during this attack.

Yesterday, the 24 hour curfew was lifted and people are allowed to move around between 10am - 5pm Nigeria time (which is 7 hours ahead of CST).

I've received reports from friends there that it seems calm, but to not assume it is safe. Please continue to pray!!


Haiti:

We are all stunned and the media is a great way to keep informed. However, to get more intimate with it all...

Aaron and Jamie Ivey live in Austin, TX. They've already adopted a boy from America and a girl
from Haiti. The Ivey's have been working for 2 1/2 years to adopt Amos, who is still in Haiti. He is safe and they are working desperately to complete the adoption and bring him home. Here is a video that Aaron made for Amos.




See their interview on CNN here:

http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/15/familys-adopted-son-in-haiti/



Also, the Livesay family are missionaries in Haiti. Here is a very encouraging post on their blog about God's sovereignty and concern for the least of these...

http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-eight.html

Praying for a special Miracle

The above picture was taken in January 2008, when Miracle was 2 months old.

She had just been dedicated to the Lord at church. Nigerians put eye make-up on babies for special occasions. :-)

Please read the story below about Miracle.

Some of you have already heard it - it's fascinating!

And then updated pictures of this sweetheart are at the end.

Written in January 2008:.. My Nigerian 'parents', Reverand Haruna and 'Mommy', took care of Friday, their nephew, for seven years. Just recently Friday died from a sudden sickness at age 12, which devastated Rev. and Mommy. However, God was so good. The day before Friday passed, Mommy was at work at the community health clinic, where she stays for a few nights at a time, since it is outside of Jos. Someone brought in a newborn baby with her umbilical cord still attached. The baby had been abandoned and covered with sand. She was discovered because a dog was biting on her umbilical cord and she began to cry. The mother of the baby, of course, was nowhere to be found. The police interviewed different women in the neighborhood and decided that Mommy was the best candidate to look after the baby while they tried to find her mother. Mommy was caring for her when she received the news that Friday had died. So Mommy bundled her up and took her home with her.

In the midst of the intense grief, God provided a miracle baby to bring joy, comfort and purpose to their lives. I went to their home the day we received the sad news about Friday. When I saw the baby and heard her story I said to Mommy "You must name her Miracle, for indeed she is." She agreed and that is her name. :)

Today...

Two years have passed and Miracle continues to bring happiness and God's love into their home. They see how the Lord was so good to them and His timing was just incredible, giving Miracle to them the day before Friday passed. Rev and Mommy have been wanting to have another baby (have 2 older children), but it has not been possible. They have formally adopted Miracle.

I sent Miracle some Christmas presents. I just received the pictures below - so adorable!!! She's modeling the gifts I sent to her. The picture with the rabbit on her back is so great because she is 'backing her baby' - Nigerian women carry babies on their backs.

Miracle is a child who was chosen by the Lord to be rescued from certain death and adopted into an earthly family who are the perfect God-send to raise her in His Word and His love. My prayer is that is special Miracle will be a mighty Warrior Princess for her King!

Allah ya bamu godiya kowace rana. Ku kwallo masu! = God gives us blessings every day! Watch for them!