Do you ever realize how much we all take for granted each and everyday. Most of these things we forget about until we don't have them anymore. These are things like having hot water for showers or tolet paper and systems that you can flush the tolet paper or electricity so you can have lights or plug in or computer with. This list goes on and on. Just take a look around your house at all the things that you have access to and use on a daily basis.
In the next paragraph is a blurb from Toya Mac from her blog at www.toyamac.myadventures.org (I encourage you to go read more stories from Cameroon). Toya does an amazing job at explaining what she is thinking and feeling as she is giving orphans a bath to get them ready for school.
"My heart aches as I splash ice cold water on each child to bathe them with my bare hands. Most kids flinch as the icy water touches their body. Tears want to fall but I fight them as I whisper prayers over each child. There is no time for tears. We have less than 2 hours to make sure that everything is done. My mind is racing as I dip my hand into the freezing water. There isn't time to boil water to bathe all of the children and there isn't money for a water heater for it to be done automatically. Even if there was money, there isn't adequate electricity for the water heater to work. Many of the people here have never had a warm bath in their lives. Cold water is hard to come by and warm water is a luxury mainly reserved for foreigners. Most people are shocked to learn that in the States we have hot water all the time and we don't have to "carry water" from the tap. The orphanage is fortunate to have their own tap on their property. Most people fill various jugs several times a day and carry water in their hands, on their heads or using wheel barrows to carry several jugs back home. "Showers" are taken with a bucket and using your hands. This is just the normal way of life. This is not only in Africa, but in many countries around the world. Bucket Showers are not bad. It is an efficient way to get clean and save water. I feel blessed to be able to warm my water on most days."
(Go to her blog to get the rest of the story titled "A Day at the Orphanage")
Please take the time right now to thank God for everything that you have. I know this may take a while but it will make you appriciate what you have a whole lot more.
Some things you may be doing in Cameroon include: Vacation Bible schools, church ministry, kids ministry, working to repair orphanages, praying for patients in hospitals, and prison ministry.
