Righteous turns 15

Villagers lined up for cake.

Nevaeh and Samara icing the cupcakes before adding the sprinkles.

Righteous does not like to be the center of attention. It would not be her preference to have a big birthday bash and have it all revolved around her. Instead she prefers one on one conversations with people. She also delights in being involved out in the community in all different capacities. We have stopped going to the farm on clinic days in order to focus on school but I had asked if she would be interested in going this week and "celebrating there". She said that is what she wanted. We made batches of cupcakes to hand out and homemade icing (that gets very liquidity  in the heat). We put some decorations up in the trees and made party hats with all the patients that came. I  made a poster for people to sign. Righteous told me that all day the villagers had huge smiles on their faces and admired the pictures on the poster from when she was little. One individual approached her to Thank her for deciding to come to the farm for her birthday- the lady was so happy to be apart of the festivities. 

There are many beautiful qualities I see in Righteous. One of them is to fight for justice and to help make right what is wrong. Like her Father, she is very bothered by seeing villagers (and anyone for that matter) wearing charm necklaces. It appalls her that people have paid what little money they have for these gimmicks. On the clinic day Righteous tried her best to convince this one Mama to make an exchange with her. She would give one of her bracelets she made if the Mama would remove the charm necklace from her baby and hand it over to Righteous. This went on and on for a few minutes when finally my friend Grace stepped in to inquire more from the Mama. The Mama believed that the neckalace was actually medicine that would protect her child and therefore could not part ways with it. She explained that when her child sleeps at night the eyes would roll back in his head and it looked very scary. The bracelet is suppose to stop the eyes from rolling back. I told her that my children all did that when they were younger and Samara eyes still do this when she sleeps. Grace translated what I said to the Mama and proceeded to tell the lady that in her own culture and even our families culture there are different ways we can put our trust in. But ultimately we recognize that God is Almighty and all powerful. He is able to protect our families from harm, sicknesses, or the "evil eye". We do not need to seek after other ways to preserve our lives - instead we can rely on God to take care of us. The Mother agreed that in her religion she should be believing in God the same way we are choosing to. I praised God for giving Grace the words to bring about a good conversation instead of coming in as a bulldozer that Christianity is the better way. I believe God has made Righteous passionate about truth and I pray He would have her yearn and plead for those still bound in darkness. I pray she would not shrink back in speaking up and continue to fight the good fight of faith. 

Yesterday Righteous turned 15. She had organized all the missionary kids to perform skits and dramas about sin and our need for a Savior. I was so proud to watch her and all the children boldly use their acting skills for the adults to bring glory to God. We are planning on having an outreach at the farm on Christmas day. We are hoping the children can do these same skits for the villagers to see and learn more about Jesus. 

What a blessing from God it is to step back a see that we are raising some pretty decent Human beings! It is only by His Grace and for His Glory!

Righteous tying on one of the bracelets she has made on a school girl.

Ready for cupcakes 

Party hats

Getting the hats all pretty

Grace explaining how to glue the papers on the crown.

Got her party hat on.

Filled with signatures and messages.

Time to go home.