We spent
Thanksgiving as a family. Of course, we were the only ones here celebrating,
but we made a point to spend it in much the same way we would if we were home.
(You know, for the kids, yeah right) If you saw my face book post, I am still bragging
about my miraculous T-day feast. I cooked all day and pulled off a perfect
imitation of festive goodness. Roasted Chicken (no turkeys around, boo),
broccoli and cheese, beans, fried apples, stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots
and even some fudgy brownies were on the menu. The amazing portion, it was all
on a large coal pot, called a wonder stove and a little on a gas cook top that
you use like when we are camping. We decorated the house. Set out our best
plates (which are also our everyday plates, well, they are the only plates in
the house) which were beautiful, Heather Butler. We did good work! We gorged
ourselves on yummy food and Skyped with our families and spent time making
crafts with the girls. All in all, it was a good day.
Now, I would be
lying if I said I had no mental breakdowns during the day. I love the holidays.
I love being with our family. I love seeing aunts and uncles. I love cooking
together and playing together. This year we missed decorating the tree at my
dad’s. I missed attempting to defeat my father in law at a highly competitive,
full of trash talk game of ping pong. (Don’t worry Don, I haven’t forgotten I
owe you) We had conversations about what our families were doing at home and
what we would be doing if we were there.
But then, we had
conversations about how we love being at home. And we referred to Sierra Leone
as home. We laughed and hung up our homemade decorations. (Only one tree this
year, it’s crazy) We had visitors stop in just to wish us happy Thanksgiving
because they had heard it was that holiday for us. We truly had a wonderful
day. The happy and sad were there, but what holiday doesn’t have that?
Our blessings are
so many. Our home is secure and perfect for our needs. Our friends are just
what God knows we need. Our bellies are full and we are relatively healthy. We
are watched over in ways we can’t know and allowed the trials that grow our
faith. We are stretched and molded we are provided for and completely taken
care of. How could we not be thankful?
We are most
thankful for our little family. We constantly look at each other and wonder how
on earth our children are turning out so well. I know, you now all feel
obligated to tell us how awesome Michael and I are, but we go to bed with each
other every night, we know better. There is nothing good in us to raise such
amazing girls. We knew we would grow and change here and we would see changes
in our kids, but frankly, we weren’t sure which way those changes would go!
Never have we seen our kids blossom and grow than over the past couple of
months.
A couple of months
ago, our morning was flipped upside down. A desperate father, grandmother and
village chief showed up at our front gate. We often get visits from people
asking for help, so it didn’t seem that unusual at first. There was a terrible
cholera outbreak here in Sierra Leone this year. Many people died and we were
on high alert for some time. A young woman in a neighboring village had died
three days prior due to this outbreak, leaving behind her husband, 2 year old
daughter and 3 week old baby. The family brought the children to our gate
hoping we could get them in touch with the right people who could help care for
the children. Through conversation we discovered the baby hadn’t eaten since
her mother’s death 3 days earlier and the 2 year old was suffering from malnourishment
as well. Children here with orange hair are a common occurrence, I’m afraid,
but it is one of the first signs of being underfed. We decided to take the
children in for a few days until a social worker could come to do an intake.
I am going to
pause this story to explain some things. We Americans often have these
preconceived ideas of what love looks like and what a parent will do if they
love their kids. I know, I have had these same thoughts. First, the average
income here, around $1.25 a day. This is average. Meaning the population that
brings in nothing most days is huge. This is a country of haves and have-nots.
Not everyone has a little. Countless people bring home no money for weeks. They
eat what they grow or trap or hunt. This is how they survive. The nearest
“town” to us is a one hour drive and we are the only people in town with a car.
The town has no factories, maybe 10 businesses, no industry. There are no jobs.
NONE! So, those thoughts that you may have went to about what that father
should have done, stop it. This man farms. He makes something called gari,
which is incredibly hard work and occasionally he can sell some, when other
people in his village find a way to get money. The man had no access to formula
he had no access to better foods. He was doing all that he could do to provide
for his family all while grieving bitterly over the loss of his wife. His love
and compassion for his children astounds and amazes me. This father’s care for
these two girls is stronger than I can understand. This is Sierra Leone.
Strong, fiercely loyal, caring, compassionate, loving people, who work
tirelessly to provide for and care for the basic needs of themselves and their
families. My bare bones American budget, please, I don’t know poverty. It can’t
be described until you look through the eyes of a hungry father at his hungry
children.
Back to the story,
through a turn of events, the children’s few days with us has turned into the
last 2 months. Which, another rabbit to chase, if you will, if you aren’t
sponsoring a child, shame on you. There are so many kids who need so much. Not
new Christmas gifts or movie day, but food enough for at least one meal. Find
an organization and sponsor a child, NOW, go!! I have a favorite, check out
therainingseason.org. I love those kids and the way the founders and staff care
for them. Back again, during this time God has made one thing blaringly
obvious. These two girls are Ropiecki children, through and through. We love
them. We need them. We have no doubts. This is crazy, right? We live in three
rooms. NOT three bedrooms, three rooms. Our toilet is outside, our kitchen is
outdoors we don’t own a tv!! Do you know how little it takes to take care for a
baby? I have no baby seat, high chari, bumbo, swing, pacifier, diaper wipe
warmer, crib or mobile. But she is happy and healthy. Ever potty trained a baby
that has grown up in the bush and doesn’t speak English? She takes dumps in our
yard on a regular basis. Sometimes the front steps and she spends a lot of time
naked running around yelling Mende at us. But honestly, how many times have my
kids behaved similarly? (Holly Lanius, if you read this, remember the incident
with Ella in your front yard?) We are so excited to have them here. It is such
an adventure and joy. When the two year old started calling Michael “daddy”, I
thought I would never get him off of cloud nine. And when I pick up the now
almost 3 month old and she gives me the big grin with those cute dimple flashes
my heart is full. Aubrey, Anna and Ella have once again proved themselves the
perfect children, when they came to us and said you aren’t really going to send
them to an orphanage are you? They love us and we love them. They argue and bug
each other, they giggle at night instead of sleeping and they all love each
other.
So, it is with so
much giddiness that we introduce Hawa and Maggie. They are amazing beautiful
girls that we didn’t plan but God once again knew we needed. We have a long
road ahead because adoption isn’t an easy thing here and there is a different
route we will have to take, but we are confident this is our path. We can’t
wait for you to meet them!
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