Feeding 7 babies

Feeding and caring for 7 babies at a time... keep smiling and singing...

Update after 7 weeks at TLC

Thank you to a few of you who have emailed or sent a letter. I am doing well here and really enjoying life at TLC. At the beginning when some volunteers said it would take about 4-6 weeks to adjust and feel at home and know what you're doing here...I didn't quite believe them. But now since it has been 7 weeks, I know what they mean and now can say I know my way around here. Though things here never stay the same for long. Life here is ever changing. The babies come and go and grow and grow some more. Since arriving 10 babies have left. 8 were adopted into loving families all from overseas. And the other 2 went back to their biological family...one with mom and one with granny. We have also received 6 new babies. They each have their own story of how and why they came here. The newest one arrived just Thursday. Her name is Freya and she was found on a doorstep. She is now 2 weeks old and we are glad she is now safe here with us. It is so amazing to see these babies come and then in time go.

The babies are continuously growing and changing. So they move into the next age group and eat different foods and wear bigger clothes and drink more milk, wear bigger nappies. We have detailed charts to keep track of all of their feedings and changings. The nursery is busy 24/7...though less busy in the night. Every 4 weeks each volunteer has to work on night-shift with two others. It is from 7p - 6a for seven nights. During night-shift we have to do chores like laundry, sweeping, mopping, dusting, cleaning bathroom, restocking nappies and wet wipes, etc. And we also have to change and feed the babies who are on 3 and 4 hourly feeds a few times each through the night. I have been on night-shift once a coupe weeks ago and quite liked it. Though by the end of the week I was glad I could be going back on day-shift.

Tuesday nights we have a volunteer meeting for an hour so where we discuss upcoming adoptions, changes in the nursery, sick babies, discipline difficulties with the toddlers, feeding problems, etc. There is a couple here who are in their 50s or 60s from Minnesota. This is their 3rd 6 month term. They are Ron and Lynn... and they are amazing. Lynn leads the meetings and always brings a homemade treat for us...often chocolate chip cookies or brownies. And then Thursdays are Tea with Thea (the founder and mother of TLC). We have a chat with her and tea and cake or pie. It's a quiet evening to get to know her and the other volunteers better.

The weather has been gorgeous. It is summer now...but fading into autumn. Then end of May brings winter. The sun is out everyday and sometimes a thunderstorm and rain in the afternoon. The days have been warm and lovely!

Each volunteer gets one day-off per week. Some things I have done on my days-off are: touring Soweto, shopping at nearby malls, going to African markets, going out to lunch, or just chillin in the cottage. We've also gone to play volleyball and to the movies. Sunday evening we go to church. It hasn't worked every week but at least a couple times a month. I always come back from church refreshed and ready for a new week. It is encouraging to be in the house of the Lord and to worship with brothers and sisters across the globe from home.

Focusing on God -- holding and helping babies

I have been discouraged at times and felt alone, but God reminds me He's here with me and loves me. And when I spend time in His word and prayer I am so encouraged to be known by Him and be His.

Sometimes I forget all the reasons of why I'm here and all the things back home and everything becomes a blur...but God helps me to focus back on Him and His plan for me, why I'm here, and His love. Please pray for me to be focused on Him and this work here.

Pray for the babies as they come and go and sometimes are sick.

Jolene is finger painting

Finger painting... this is Jolene...

The Lord provides abundantly

A huge donation from a local drug/pharmacy company... this is just the beginning of it... they are supplying a years worth of this stuff!!

The Lord provides abundantly indeed!!

Rupert, Erick, and PV - Chillin Out

Rupert, Erik, and I one morning after nightshift... just chillin together on the couch.

In February all the volunteers went on a training weekend at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. We were trained in baby CPR and learned a lot about HIV/AIDS, and baby development as well. We also bonded as volunteers and had some free-time to swim and chill and go on some game drives where we saw many beautiful wild animals!

The babies got taken home with local families and day volunteers and friends from church.

There are about 20 volunteers here for mostly 6 months time though some for 2 months or less. And one for a year. They come from Canada, USA, Holland, Norway, Wales, and England. It's neat living together and working with so many different people. Most of them are young gals...but there are some older ladies and some guys as well.