More than a few people have said that we should start a blog. Some wanted to follow our trip to Sierra Leone, to hear funny Matti quotes or to just my sarcastic take on life. So if your curious about the Rodgers family craziness- here you go.
It's no secret that Jeff and I will be traveling to Africa in September. If you are not familiar with the work of The Raining Season, I encourage you to check out their blog. You will see pictures of where we will be visiting and the kiddos that we have come to love. I'm not sure that I could tell you exactly how we got to this point, but there is a verse in Proverbs that sums it up.
"...once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act."
There is a little three year old boy fast asleep in Sierra Leone tonight. Just like my children he cries when he falls down. He gazes at the same moon and smiles as he rests in his mommy's arms just like my children. The difference is that he was born with a serious heart condition and lives in a country where the hospital doesn't even have a consistent source of electricity or clean water.
I have an amazing job where I often sit next to tearful mothers as they weep over the diagnosis that has been labeled on to their child. I am able to confidently look them in the eyes and talk about the hope that early intervention can bring. We live miles from an amazing children's hospital that regardless of socio-economic status, their child will receive the most up-to-date treatment. I can talk about therapists who will come to their home to help their child meet their full potential. What would I say if I were sitting next to this little guys mom? In a country with the highest child mortality rates in the world, what do you say?
It the past year we have decided that is not ok for children to die of ridiculous things like an infected cut on their foot or dirty drinking water. It is not ok that when a baby cries at night, there is no one to comfort them. It's not ok that where you are born dictates whether you live or die. It would be so much easier to turn our heads, to look away and pretend that we didn't know. We know that we can't save the world. We know that true hope is not found in this life or with hospitals, therapies and medicine. But we are called to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. Who are you fighting for today?
Proverbs 31:8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
Awesome job, Jenny!
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