More reasons I love Mali

After I wrote the post the other day of three reasons I love Mali, I kept seeing more things that I loved about being here. So here are a few more...

Pure joy with just being thrown in the air. This is Kadia with Alan, the peds oncologist who has been giving us all the protocols and information on how to treat the cancer kids. I just love this little girl. She has spunk. I love her. Today I had to take Kadia, her mom and Amos to someone who was heading to Bamako who was going to drop them at home on the way. I had to leave the house at 5:45 AM to do so. When I picked her up to put her in the car, she wrapped her arms around me so tight and wouldn't let go. I drove across town with her in my lap and her arms around my neck. It was wonderful. Special moments.

Amos, in the center, just makes me smile. He is so fun. Loves having his picture taken. A camera can always provide lots of entertainment.

Suturing baby Elmo during rounds one morning. Yes, these are the important moments in life.

All four of these kids (and the two men behind them) make me smile. Thankful for Alan and his willingness to help us with these kids despite his full time job and his 4 kids at home. Thankful for my best friend who walks through life with me and helps correct all my mistakes. And for the four kids- I've learned a lot because of them. Not only about cancer treatment, but about myself and finding peace with being weak and unwise so that God's glory may be displayed more fully.

Djara, one of the type 1 diabetics, went home yesterday. They were teaching Kristen how to carry things on her head.

Jeremie agreed to take Djara in out of the kindness of his heart. He will have many crowns in heaven. You can't get much better than him. This is Djara with Jeremie's two older kids and his mother.

It was an event to take Djara home. Kadia, Amos, Balla, and Francois all jumped in the car for the ride and the adventure of a car ride. I love not only that they want to come along but that we can just take them away from the hospital. No checking out. No asking parents. We just take them and go. (Maybe that's not always a good thing if the wrong person is taking them, but I do enjoy it!)

Thankful tonight for the opportunity to live here and be a part of the kids' lives.