|
| Monday, July 30, 2007
Young pianist
Friday, July 20, 2007
 Uttom, who was born with cerebal malaria has developed into an articulate, clever 3.5 year old with a bright future. He is the staff's favorite and his dimpled smile can win anyone over. Uttom, which means "best" in Bangla, was practicing his music skills when Thomas took this photo. posted by Thomas at 1:15 PM Overload
Thursday, July 12, 2007
 The public transportation system would have to world class to transport all the people wanting to go places each day in Bangladesh. With an infamous title of being the most densely populated place on earth, there are too many people and not enough buses and trains. posted by Thomas at 1:06 PM Jackfruit and Pineapple season
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
 Bangladesh doesn't have greenhouses so that means that we can only get certain fruits and vegetables while they are in season. The seasonal fruit is so good, fresh and cheap that we eat a lot of it. So much that eventually you don't really want to see anymore until the next year! That can't be true about mangos and pineapples though as they are always delicious! Did you know that mangos are the most widely eaten fruit worldwide? Every day more mangos are eaten than any other fruit. Jackfruit is the green watermelon shaped fruit on the picture, that has rough skin with little points on it. The fruit are in yellow clusters that taste similar to a cross between a banana and mango, in my opinion. Right now the streets are piled up with mini mountains of pineapples and jackfruits.  posted by Thomas at 2:36 PM Awbek smiles
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
 Taking kids to the doctor, dentist and hospital is one of my jobs, either if I go myself or organize the trip, make the appointment and do the follow up. When we go to Malumghat it is a whole day affair as it takes about 2.5 hours to drive there and then to wait in line another good while. Car sickness goes with the territory and since there are no real public bathrooms along the way other problems often occur also. I guess I should start taking a change of clothes for myself instead of just for the kids... Awbek has been at the orphanage now for about 2 months. She has not smiled, at least not in my presence, once in those 60+ days. Awbek often lies on the floor of the nursery and just stares or collects little pieces of garbage and hides them in her dress. Sad, bitter, depressed and hurt are the words that describe little three year old Awbek. Roben came at the same time as Awbek but he cried for two weeks straight because of his malaria and seems to have cried all his sadness right out of his system. Roben is the happiest kid around and between you and me: the cutest also! Awbek on the other hand has never cried nor spoke to any of us. When I give her, her fruit in the afternoons she isn't happy like the others and recently just let the apple slip out of her hand and didn't pick it up again. I had to wonder if she was mentally okay and if she would ever break out of her personal misery. The trip to Malumghat did wonders for our little Awbek. Our friend, Dr. Kelley was right when he wrote on her file that she needed love 4x daily as her prescription! I loved and held Awbek the whole day; I spoke to her although she ignored me with empty eyes. On the return trip I bought Awbek a little tiny doll as I had seen that she loved collecting little bits of things. The doll became a bridge between us and she smiled at me for the first time. Then she began hiding the doll in the door handle and looking mischievously at me to find it. My heart soared as I realized that she had thought up this game and had engaged me in it. Her brain was still in tact! Awbek smiled at least 100 times on our return trip and we all said that she had somehow turned into a different girl. I am so grateful that God is healing this broken heart and redeeming the sadness in her life. May Awbek know love and joy in abundance that is my prayer. Written by Colleen and posted by Thomas at 9:36 AM Another hospital trip
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
 I took three kids down to Malumghat hospital for treatment. Asha (5yrs) and John (3yrs) needed a check up on their legs and braces and I wanted to see if our new little 3 year old, Awbek needed anything as her legs looked crooked. John's club feet are now nearly perfect and he has made amazing progress. We will continue the treatment of him wearing reverse shoes during the day, splints at night and 30 minutes of physical therapy just to cement those bones forever in the right place. Thank you for those who have prayed for John and followed his treatment. It has been a long, arduous but fruitful journey. Asha must keep wearing her heavy full leg braces for another six months. The metal piece around her lower back is weighty and very uncomfortable but she does not complain, the brace has become part of her daily clothes. The good news continued as we heard that Awbek will be fine but just needs calcium tablets to strengthen her bones. In August, we want to begin to feed the little ones a glass of milk everyday. Up until now only the small babies received milk as it was too expensive to buy for all of the toddlers. Cow's milk is not readily available here and is always watered down, so we will make milk with full cream powder. Written by Colleen and as always posted by Thomas at 1:26 PM Who am I?
Sunday, July 01, 2007
 The first person who can give the right answer to the question above will win a small price. Our e-mail address is under: "Contact Us" on your left (people that work here at the "Home of Love" and their families are not allowed to participate). Have fun! posted by Thomas at 5:46 PM Fishing season is OPEN
 Rain doesn't mean tragedy for some villagers, it means fish fry! When it really rains in Bangladesh the ponds all overflow into the roads and fields and the fish stocked in those ponds become a free-for-all. People make nets out of bamboo and mosquito netting to catch the stray fish. Streams and drains turn into small rivers this season and fishermen line the banks trying to catch tonight's dinner. Some people even try to catch the fish with their hands.  posted by Thomas at 5:20 PM
Designed by Supergreen, Hosted by Valuetech |
