The whole world (and two precious babies) in His hands

It is hard to believe but I am on Brazilian soil for almost six weeks! It has been good finding my place in the Miriam Home ministry. At this moment that place is "tampa buraco" (a plug!) =) Between driving lessons (learning the stick, oh the joy) and writing letters and newsletters (but obviously not blogs) I have been filling in whereever I'm needed. It is a great way to start because I get to know all the members of the team and the different areas of ministry. I have been fill in house mom, found out that I needed a refresher course in pressure cookers, given tours of the house to visiting dignitaries, helped with school work, accompanied kids to the doctor, played secretary in the office and collected donations around town. My latest activity has been picking up and dropping off children, but only in a restricted area since my shifting skills are still being honed.

When you think about working in a children's home it is easy to go all sentimental but living day to day brings you back to reality pretty quickly. In the short time I have been here we have had a few "reality checks". The biggest to date happened on Tuesday of this week. Altieres and Thavildy, twin babies that have been in our care for over a year were returned to their birth mother. This precious pair arrived weighing less than 6 lbs each, at nine months of age. They were so week they didn't have the strength to roll over on their own, much less sit up. Today they are dynamos! Still tiny for their age, Thavildy, runs and twirls, she honestly looks like a ballerina doll! They are so full of life, joy and excitement they capture the hearts of everyone they meet. Their mother, I really believe, loves them; sadly, she loves to drink more. Knowing the physical conditions the children were going to worse than any I saw in the favelas of Belo Horizonte) and the mother's inability to care for herself, not to mention two babies with serious health issues, my heart broke. When I went to my apartment Tuesday night Fran (a Bible School student) asked if I could help her with some home work. She was having trouble understanding the concept of our being co-heirs with Christ and co-participants in all of the promises of God. As we talked God ministered these powerful truthes to my heart, regarding my babies. "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion and the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you." Is 49:15 God's love for Altieres and Thavildy is greater than all of ours combined and they are being held in the strong, sure hands of the Living God. That gave me the peace of mind to sleep Tuesday night and it is the firm hope I hold on to for the twins.

Have a great week! Jonni