It's been awhile... a lot has changed... Our secret baby from Ghana is not named Titan... turns out he is Gwen's not-so-secret baby. Our starving african baby turned out to be a sweet, chubby, spoiled 3 year old named Princess Mary Grace Jibbly. Her name, upon adoption, will be changed to Taylor Mary Grace Smith. I can't do "Princess", I just can't.
As time goes on I miss her more and more. It was hard to connect with her on some levels because we spent our days in the refugee camp, and her parents were with us constantly. For a while I felt a lot of guilt over the fact that I didn't FEEL like her mom... It's hard to watch someone take care of their child all day though, and build those feelings of "wow, thats my child now". Her older sister, Blessing, is Delilah's youngest daughter, so now, in a way they will be together again. At least in the same state. We haven't told Blessing yet, we plan to surprise her when we bring Taylor home.
Ghana was incredible. There is no other word. And not incredible in a beautiful, wonderful way alone... in a strike-awe-and-humility-deep-in-your-heart type of incredible. I've been to third-world war-torn countries before... But nothing could have prepared me for this. The utter poverty and destitution that grips these people... I have never felt so ashamed or so rich. Their cost of living is very similiar to that in the states, yet the average wage, for those lucky enough to work, is less than .50 cents a day... I literally spend a weeks wage on my starbucks coffee in the morning. I spend more money on caffiene in a week than they will earn in a month... I used to ask God why there were starving people in the world... Now He asks me. "Rachel, why are there starving people in the world?" Why, indeed. I could change the lives of many with what I throw away on starbucks... I am so selfish. But I'm learning.
Meet Michelle... 8 months old... not quite 11 pounds...
If you ever have the chance to hold a dying child it will change you at the deepest level, forever.
But, we are not without hope... So reads the sign to the farm they have begun...
Kelly is in Qatar... That sucks. That's all I have to say about that.
Gwen is 30!!! Yay! For her birthday we did the only mature thing, and went to a piercing/tattoo/hair salon/knicknack shop/Ron Jeremy shrine/closed in garage to get her nose pierced.
And there is the proof she went through with it.
That's all for now, busy day, lots to do...
