All for One

As much as I enjoyed working with the babies in Gueladio and watching the numbers on the scale increase every 2 weeks, my heart has grown for the big number of one(baby) in Koira Tegui. Is it because this 10 month old baby girl only weighed a little over 8 pounds? Is it because she’s been an orphan since her 4th day on earth? Perhaps it’s because she was the only child we saw that first day of assessment. Is it due to weekly visits, instead of every 2 weeks? Maybe it was reality enveloping me as my hands met her ribs, carrying her from her aunt’s hands to the baby scale. Or is because she got sick, lost weight and could’ve easily died? After accompanying her to a clinic for a malaria test and receiving the negative results, was it fear that she wouldn’t be admitted to a hospital in time a contribution to my higher level of concern for her? Is that why my heart is so attached?
Meet Rahina:



I began to parallel the desire for God to pursue one amidst the multitudes. He had Dave, myself and Dave’s dad (who was visiting) go assess and distribute plumpy’nut to what we thought would be many babies. There was a misunderstanding and there were no babies for us to see that day. Or so we thought. Then, in a group of children receiving lunch from the church, there was little Rahina.

All for one

We had thought, “well this is Africa, where communication sometimes just lacks and time is wasted.” However, this was anything but a waste of time. It was just in time. Our visit commenced the restoration of a little girl named Rahina. The Lord knew she was there and we’d be there too. He knew she needed help and we had the resources to do so! God saw her need and the boxes of plumpy’nut in my room. How would a severely malnourished body and a nutrient dense product meet? They met. We met. In all the world, why us 4? I’m thinking so that she would be well, we’d be used and most importantly, Jesus would be glorified. He’s definitely being glorified through that tiny person, named Rahina not to pump himself up, but to plump her up! Because he loves her. After Rahina spent more than a week in the hospital, free of charges, we reassessed her and she gained over 1.5 pounds! Her road to recovery is slowly being covered. Can't wait to see the destination He has for her.

There is another baby receiving plumpy’nut in Koira Tegui named Ibrahim. He started plumpy’nut a week after Rahina. He is 2 years old and weighs about 15 pounds and currently does not walk. He sure hates seeing Dave and myself, especially if we touch him (even to pray for him). This is most likely due to the shocking skin color of ours. But he sure loves the taste of what we bring him. We watched him eat plumpy’nut a couple of times and I can’t express how awesome it was. I could imagine his cells soaking all those nutrients up. His mom says he asks for more of this yummy peanut butter based goodness! He is gaining weight too. We’re praying for his development level to increase (ex.walking).



Meet Ibrahim:


In the few, intimacy enables depths of my heart to be explored and pierced. In the multitudes, more are treated but surely relationships aren't the same. I’m thankful God loves Rahina. For Him, guiding a bigger girl to change her address to another continent for 11 months is worth all the costs so that a 10 month old baby girl could be healed through the wonderful product known as plumpy’nut and prayer! Perhaps it would’ve been someone else's hands, or Dave's alone, but I’m sure glad it’s too late for that to happen and He allowed me to live here!

Jesus would leave His 99 safe sheep to look for 1 lost. All for one.