On Friday, the day I’ve been looking forward to for months (the day the children of the orphanage start their weekend), I came down with Acute Gastroenteritis (aka, stomach bug). I must have eaten something that I wasn’t supposed to eat. I was miserable that night, throwing up countless times, nauseated, the WHOLE shabang. Usually it takes a few days before something like this pasts, or at least gets a bit better. That night as I was rolling around in pain, I prayed and prayed and prayed until I feel asleep. I prayed, “God, please please heal me TONIGHT. Why would you bring me here and not let me hang out with the kids? I have already missed a night of loving on the kids, please don’t let me miss another day!” I woke up in the middle of the night absolutely miserable…ended up, again, praying myself to sleep. I woke up the next morning, feeling extremely week and exhausted…however, I felt good enough to spend the next day and a half having my best birthday celebration ever! Praise God!!!

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Being here, I realize how I have taken for granted the simplest of things. Clean shower and bathroom, not filled with spiders and cockroaches. Sleeping in a nice, comfortable bed without hearing flying roaches by my ear the entire night. Not having to pee in a hole. Being able to drink water straight from the tap! Being able to go to church and worshiping with lots of people. Air conditioning. Knowing I have friends and family that love me and care about me.

Looking up with great anticipation,
Dan