I have 52 kids!!! And I love them all..every single one of them, even though I am still learning names and stories..every single one of them I have a heart for like they are mine. I love walking down from my “house” in the morning and being welcomed with an overwhelming hug that knocks me off my feet. They range from 3 months old-10 years old. 

I love teaching them to sing “God our Father” for prayer and hearing it everyday. I love them to just come and crawl in my lap while I am working at the desk. So here is my day…for those who are wondering.

It’s breakfast and then school for the older kids. I love this because it gives me a chance to love on the babies and there is one named Marvin that breaks my heart each time. (I apologize because I left my camera at the babies home so I will post pictures later) Marvin is suffering from severe malnutrition and neglect. He is 2 years old but the size of a 6 month old baby, who is not walking yet. He does not respond to anyone. I love the time just holding him and praying knowing that Jesus’s affections can break through any heart at any age. 

Then I do some work…there are tons of reports to do so as much as you want to just play with the children all day there is business to take care of. I laugh because you don’t just get to run to Wal-mart for diapers, food, toothbrush…well anything. I am instead thinking about what crops we have to increase the menu for the children, are the cows going to produce enough milk? This city girl is out of her element for sure but Jesus is so sweet to give me wisdom beyond my years and I am positive that He is laughing at me as I wing it. Then it’s time for lunch…52 hands washed…52 plates while feeding the babies. Then it’s bath time and nap. Then it’s dinner and we repeat. Yesterday I sat with sweet Rachel as she was diagnosed with Malaria and running a 104 temperature and I cried as she cried trying to find a vein to start an IV. We had two diagnosed yesterday. I try to place myself in their shoes and I remember as a child and even now when I am sick, I just want my mom. They have no mom to hold them and place a cold wash rag on their head…I try my hardest to stand in but my heart breaks not only because they are sick but because there is no mommy.

The best part and most trying part of the day is bath time for all 52. The greatest is that the electricity goes out around 8 so if you are not done giving baths, then it’s quite the experience to give 52 baths in the darkest place you can imagine. But we do it, with one flashlight. The other night it went out a lot earlier and I had about 15 little boys from 2-5 running around me with no clothes on in the dark yelling Auntie Daci Aunti Daci…I just had to laugh as I tried to cloth them all and there is no telling what they went to bed in that night. I am almost ready to lock myself in a closet by the end of getting all pj’s, changing diapers, brushing teeth one at a time, and putting sheets on but all is worth it when it comes to this. We all sit in the dark before we get into our beds and sing together…I have taught them “I love you Lord” and then they started singing “I surrender All” I cry. I would do this every day. I would tuck 52 to babies into their beds and tuck their mosquito nets in and want to pull out my hair to have precious hugs goodnight, to hear I love you Aunti Daci and to see Jesus starting to make an orphan His own.

I am learning more and more about how Christ will pour you out and fill you up. I can’t imagine going back to the normal. I can’t imagine not feeling this tired and exhausted every day but so fulfilled and overwhelmed with purpose. I know so many people think you have to come do something like I am doing to find this overwhelming since of purpose. But I think it’s just looking around where the Lord has placed you and living out the Gospel. Go to the dark places, get out of your comfort zone…look outward instead of inward. 

I promise you this, I am seeing it everyday in the eyes of children who have been abandoned, whose parents have passed down to them HIV, who have watched their fathers kill their mothers…their worlds could be very dark but this is true..”I will give you the TREASURES of darkness, riches stored in secret places so that you may know that I am the Lord” Is. 45:3

I see it in the eyes and smiles of these children. He is coming into our darkness, darkness that He has allowed into our lives so that He can give us the treasures that can only be found there. Days can be overwhelming here with darkness and wondering how He will rescue but He is has taken us into darkness so we can know that He is Lord. May you find the treasure in the darkness today, and find the riches of Him there. Live out the Gospel. There is nothing like it.