Praise God from whom all blessings flow



Mamanjan & I at his birthday festa

Something happened yesterday that would be pretty normal for an western family, but that most people thought was impossible. My best friend Mariama's little boy (Mamanjan) turned one year old!


This poor little guy has struggle with many health problems which, for a time, left him weak and frail. He was constantly sick, not only unable to gain weight, but constantly loosing, was signifigantly developmentally delayed. People often told his parents he would die and even some medical professionals accused them of neglecting him. His parents were heartbroken and discouraged with his state of health and his mother often couldn't eat or sleep well . Over the last 2 months Mamanjan has remained healthy, started gaining weight, and started making up ground developmentally. He has begun babbling, playing with toys, and can bear weight with a little support. His Mama has been able to gain a little weight and has replaced the big dark circles under her eyes with a gleam of hope and admiration for her son.

I am so thankful for our heavenly father who not only hears our prayers but who loves little Mamanjan more than I can imagine. I'm thankful that God already has an awesome plan for his life. Please continue to pray that God will speak to Mamanjan's parents (Mariama and Amadori) and that their spiritual eyes and ears will be opened as He works in their lives.


By the way, Mamanjan LOVED the brownies we took to his birthday party. I have a video of him eating them that is nothing short of Betty Crocker commercial material!

Meet Mariama

Mariama & I on moving night

Mariama is my best friend here in Guinea-Bissau.

She's (give or take) around 17 years old. It's not uncommon for Africans to not know their age.
She's married and has a little son, Mamanjan, who will turn 1 next month.

Amadori and his friend packing all their possessions
into this little hauler when they moved.

 Mariama, lived in Catel with her son, husband, and brother-in-law until about 2 weeks ago when they moved to a village a few kilometers away.  Mariama is part of the Fulani tribe which stretches across Africa and is originally from Conakry, Guinea. And thus her primary language is Fula, but she's also pretty fluent in Portuguese Kriol as well. Mariama was a bit reserved when I first met her but has generously opened her home and her heart as we became friends over the last 6 months.

Though, like most Fula people, her family is Muslim, I see her seeking truth and pray God will reveal himself to her and her husband and take a strong hold on their lives so that their son might grow up knowing Him.

Amadori & Mamanjan   May 2012

Mariama and her husband Amadori have struggled emotionally and financially as their little son, Mamanjan, has been ailed by one illness after another during his short life. A long battle with malaria, at the beginning of the year, left Mamanjan's body frail and developmentally delayed. In April, at 9 months old, he weighed a mere 4.2kg (aprox 9.2 lbs). In addition to breast milk he's being supplemented with fortified baby cereal and fortified formula to help him get the nutrients he needs to stay healthy and grow. He's now up to about 5kg and we praise god that he's been relatively healthy these last 2 months and is now able to sit on his own, play, and babble

Mariama and Amadori both adore Mamanjan and I pray that God will strengthen them as a family and that they will come to know him. I'm so thankful for the friends God has blessed me with in Catel and I pray that he will use me to be a blessing unto them!