September 5, 2012 FBC Columbus, GA

The trip to the Malnutrition Center is about an hour away from the hotel. There are five different areas that start with F that we pass on the way there: freeway, forest, farm, furniture and flowers.  Some of us joke that there should be a fifth F which is fertilizer!  The trip is typically filled with talking and laughing on the way there and filled with stories from the day on the way back to the hotel. 

On the way back yesterday I learned that Angel, one of the boys in the younger toddler group, took his first steps this week. He has now joined with Alex as a recent walker, since Alex started walking just a couple of weeks ago.  Today I heard that Daniel came for a checkup, and he has gained weight and is doing very well! 

In addition to sharing about our day on the bus ride back to the hotel, we gather after dinner to share our Wow! moments that we encountered throughout the day. It is during this time that we really bond as a team and share about what has impacted us during this experience.  

Today has been a busy day at the Malnutrition Center.  Several of the children have gone to the clinic in town to get shots.  Twenty one of the children were due for immunizations, and several of the team members went to help take the kids.  The facility was very different from what we are accustomed to.   The waiting area was a narrow hallway with wooden benches.  An interesting observation was that the staff was in street clothing and you couldn’t tell by the clothing if somebody was a doctor or a truck driver.  Our children were very well behaved and didn’t appear apprehensive of the experience or scared of the needles.  Most of the children rarely get to leave the walls of the Center, so some of them were transfixed at the traffic and sights around them.   

Several of us are trying to find ways to serve and show our appreciation to the nannies, cooks and other workers here in our own ways. Somebody graciously made necklaces to give to Charlene to pass along to the workers. We were able to buy a few dozen roses at the market in town to pass out to the workers as part of goodie bags that we are preparing to give out on the last day.  Jennifer has continued to cut hair today and is planning on dying the workers hair tomorrow. It really is amazing how much the nannies have on their plates when we aren’t here to help them, so it is nice to help give back in whatever ways we can.

We have been blessed by having two of the best translators on the planet with us this week: Alejandra and Olivia.  They have been with us every step of the way, and as much as we think we love these children, these two women love them more!  They have worked with many groups over the years, and they are a great resource--not only for translating words but for knowing the ins and outs of the Center and knowing each and every one of the kids.  Olivia and Alejandra meet us for breakfast, travel with us and even help us barter at the market. They are not only talented translators but they are wonderful women with sweet hearts as well.