Lydia, David, and Johnson

Mama Lydia is a talker. When I sit with her and her kids at lunch, she tells her story readily, as well as that of her kiddos. I learned that she grew up in a Muslim family. Sometime in the past decade, she accepted Jesus Christ into her life, and her family disowned her. The church where she was saved took her in, and she became a Christian missionary to Rwanda. Boy did she have stories about that! I didn't get the whole story because Johnson timed his daily lunch tantrum to finish that conversation prematurely. But I look forward to hearing the rest of the story...

She also told me David's and Johnson's stories. According to Lydia, she got custody of David when he was just a baby. She claims he could fit in the palm of her hand. He's not even two yet, I don't believe, but look at the little bruiser now! And she tells the chilling tale of Johnson's early days at Rafiki, when he was also that small and covered with sores. Doctors kept drawing blood and repeating the HIV/AIDS blood test, because young babies often show up as false positive due to the infected mother's antibodies left in their systems until they grow older. Twice he was positive and twice negative. He needed to be finally cleared as a true negative before Rafiki will adopt them.

Speaking of adoption, nearly a dozen of our kids have been "committed" since I arrived, which means legally that Rafiki has custody of them until they are 18 years old. YIPPEEE!!!!! They do get lots of love here, not to mention tons of family members, plenty of food, a great education, and awesome medical and dental care. Throw in the MiniMissionaries, and they also get more love and numerous "enrichment activities". I've read more great childrens' books and made more silly faces here than I can remember in two decades! We love playing with these little guys, and getting to know their mamas. Here is a collection of pics of mostly David, but also little brother Johnson, and Mama Lydia. Check out the cheeks on that boy! We can't resist squeezing them. Nobody can, so his cheeks get squeezed a bunch!