Monday 31 January 2011

Heart warming

I want to re-introduce you to a wonderful project: Operation Warm Baby.  And to some very special kids who have taken it on...

Livingston Christians Schools is a pre-K to 12 school located in Pinckney, Michigan.  My dad's cousin Rachel is a retired school teacher from there.  When she heard that the school was looking for a mission project, she knew that Operation Warm Baby would be the right fit.  Rachel began visiting thrift stores and shopping at garage sales for baby clothes.  She contacted some local stores for donations.  The school kids sorted socks, folded baby clothes, stuffed zip lock bags, and colored pictures to send along with the packages.  I was able to visit the school prior to coming to PNG.  Wow, it was quite a production!  What an incredible way to get kids excited about missions.

The students--and teachers and administrators and parents--at LCS have continued to be involved over these past two years.  Just before Christmas, they complied another batch of Warm Baby packs.  Here are a few of the pictures...


























Warm Baby packs are mailed to Oregon and are then sent on to PNG by the Nazarene Hospital Foundation.  Once the items make it all the way around the world, the nurses and I have the privilege of giving them out to the mothers on maternity ward.  It is so much fun "playing Santa" all year round.  (Though the big man in the red costume who travels in a car without wheels pulled by horse-like animals--that doesn't really translate to Pidgin.)  The mothers are so happy to receive a gift for their new baby!  Many hearts are warmed.









A few months ago, one of the Warm Baby packs caught my eye.  The bag contained a drawing by one of the children at LCS!  I was very excited to give away this special present, and I knew the perfect patient...  Lesi had just delivered her third baby.  She had previously carried two babies at home in the bush.  Both of them died at the time of birth.  This little one was her first living child.  And she was so excited about being a new mom!  What a blessing to receive a gift to help her clothe and care for her baby.

Rachel has also sent a few items for the nursery.  Premie clothes have been put to good use, as we have many low birth weight babies.  I recently gave the fuzzy elephant blanket to baby of Agnes.  The elephant is keeping her company as she grows toward the 2000 gram milestone












LCS has also been such a blessing to me.  I was surprised by a wonderful Christmas box with all sorts of wonderful goodies inside.  I have enjoyed emails and notes from the teachers.  And I so appreciate the prayers of the students.  Thank you for adopting me as your missionary :).


"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
~ from Matthew 25

1 comment:

  1. this is a great project, Steph. What a blessing for all concerned!

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