Every time we go to the Transition Home to visit our children, we take along a little something to try to share with the other kids living there. Sometimes we just bring a jump rope and play games with everyone, sometimes we pass out little things like lollipops or pipe cleaner rings. This weekend we had the privilege of passing out hats to EVERY SINGLE child!

A friend of mine from Idaho has a mother who loves to knit. When her mother heard about our trip to Ethiopia, she wanted to do something to help. She started knitting hats. This grandmother spent her time lovingly knitting over 100 hats to send with us! Do you know how many hours of knitting that is? Neither do I. But you can bet those hats represent many days of her time and effort.

Oh my goodness! You would have thought it was Christmas! Those kids were pushing up around us, reaching out of the crowd, trading with their friends and trying on hat after hat. I wish I could post some of the pictures of their smiling faces. Their grins reached from ear to ear! I have a little video of one boy, about 5 years old, who when he gets his hat and puts it on his head, starts jumping up and down and doing this little dance of joy. Here are just a few pictures that I am allowed to share.

Abigail and Micah

Some of the "big" boys

 

Can you find Scott in this picture?

When the kids were done choosing their hats, I had about 20 or 25 left in our bag. We put the bag away and started visiting with our children. Then, one of the nannies shyly comes over and asks if she can have some hats. She said she has 3 children at home. Could she maybe have 3 for her children? Of course! We let her go through the bag and pick out 3 hats.

A few minutes later, 2 of the other nannies come over and pantomime asking for some hats for their children. And then suddenly, we were surrounded by nannies. They were laughing and jabbering away in Amharic as they went through our bag. Then they started teasingly pulling away the hats that they wanted from the other nannies. Within one minute, our bag was empty. Every single nanny stopped to say thank you and then they disappeared back inside with their newfound treasure. And the last nanny? She asked if she could take our bag. Just the plain, large plastic bag that we had delivered the hats in. She was so thankful to be able to keep it.

It was a good day! Every person at that Transition Home was blessed today. And all because of a grandma in Idaho who lovingly gave of her time and talent. Do you think that you have nothing of worth to offer to our God? Do you ever wonder how God can use you if you are not rich? If you are not important? If you are not (fill in the blank)? Well, God can use anyone. All you have to be is willing.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Do you think that little grandma in Idaho could ever travel over to Ethiopia to work in an orphanage? Probably not. Do you think that I could ever knit 100 hats? Definitely not! But together, by allowing God to use us in the ways that He deems best, we can be God’s hands and feet.

Blessings!

Natalie

PRAYER REQUESTS

*The birth mother interview which is scheduled for Monday

*Our children’s hearts as many emotions will be stirred up when seeing their mother for the first time in about a year