I knew as soon as I met her that we would be friends. I noticed her warm smile first but almost as quickly I noticed her protruding belly. Meet Grace, the very special women who has woven her way into my heart. It is so easy to form a unique bond with our day workers as we stand alongside them performing our duties, our cultures bashing and crashing together to meet somewhere in the middle, where deep friendships are forged and mutual respect develops.
It has been a privilege to journey alongside Grace, one of the dental day workers, and watch her belly swell with the infant inside her, finally giving birth to a beautiful baby girl and this Sunday, being present at baby Rosemary Francoise's dedication.
But rewind several months! Grace came on board the ship where the dental girls threw her a surprise baby shower. What started off a your typical charade playing, gift unwrapping baby shower of the west quickly dissolved into an Africa shower of blessing. Grace, overwhelmed with her gifts, began to sing a traditional West African song about your blessings being twofold, lifting her head to her heavenly Father....... "Double, double, double...". Quickly she was joined by the other dental day workers and they stood and danced with joy. If only we could all be this free to thank God for his blessings!
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Grace looking very shocked as she enters the room! |
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Trying to explain charades to the West African ladies was almost as much fun as playing it! |
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Grace opens her numerous gifts until she became so overwhelmed that we had to help her out. |
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The room erupts into spontaneous dancing and singing. |
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| You can't wipe the smile off Grace's face as she cuts her cake. |
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I have never been to a baby dedication in West Africa but it has some similarities to home apart from the fact that the pastor's wife holds the baby. Grace sat with her husband John and their other daughter, Sharon. They got a chair because nothing is ever short in West Africa!!! Many prayers were uttered, giving thanks for the precious life of Rosemary in a mish mash of English and French. Suddenly members of the congregation rushed forward and started throwing money at Rosemary. Very quickly an offering box was placed before her and we began what could loosely be described as a conga line past the offering box. After being introduced to Rosemary's namesakes and many photos later, Grace and John gave thanks to God for the life of their new daughter proclaiming her as a very special gift from God. |
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Presenting Rosemary Francoise who slept peacefully throughout the whole dedication. |
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Rosemary, meet Rosemary!!! Baby Rosemary with her namesake, head dental sterilizer Roses (Rosemary) Wall. |
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Grace was overjoyed that so many of the crew were able to help celebrate the dedication of Rosemary. |
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Grace and I......."Hey Grace, the camera is over here!" Love you lots xo |
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My turn to hold this sweet sleeping bundle. |
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Beautiful Grace in her amazing dress. Grace, the blessing of meeting and knowing you is "double, double, double...." |
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