African Cousins

After Haiti and Stephanie Fast, I certainly prayed for God's direction in my husband's serious quest to help. Our four children added to the push in a roundabout way.

Tim's sister and her husband help children through Children's Medical Mission (CMM). The Ringgers host little ones from Ghana and Burkina Faso, Africa while the kids receive necessary medical attention. The kids come with issues like cleft pallet and club foot that would leave them extremely disadvantaged in their home country situations.

These kiddos have become our "African Cousins," celebrating family birthdays and holidays right along with us. We also celebrate with them, attend church with them, and love on them whenever possible. These are not orphaned children, but while they are here the Ringger family considers them one of their own.

 This past summer, Faida (held by Tim's sister, Kim) stayed with the Ringgers. Here, we were celebrating Faida and saying our goodbyes before she left to return to Burkina-Faso and her mommy.

This little guy, Jayson, stayed with Ringger's twice: first for leg amputations, then for surgery, and will likely come again to be fitted with prosthetic legs. It took a while for him to warm up to people, so Grace is excited here to be holding him and loving on him!

Our own kids desperately want to help a child through CMM, but our situation does not allow us to host. Tim's sister stays at home to be available for the numerous doctor appointments required to keep these kids on schedule for repairs, therapy, and general check-ups. Nevertheless, our children often ask if we too could host an African child.

Of course, I meet this with "realistic" situational suggestions to show that having an extra child in the home is not like getting a puppy. They see the smiles, braids, and clapping hands without the tears, wounds, and diapers. In a way, the Ringgers have opened the eyes of our youngest children without them stepping a foot in a third world country. Grace, Jackson, and Josie see these beautiful, spirited children and love them as part of our extended family.

In this way, I think God was preparing our kids for adoption. At the time, I knew it was expanding their world-view...but God was using it for a larger purpose.