Happy Birthday....

A day, in celebration, holds new meaning as we partake in a birthday within a third world environment. An embraced thought of life truly is a Vapor; appearing for a short while, then vanishing. A life celebrated because in God's Providential Hand, the strives of this world have not taken this child. Faith, Edward's daughter, turned eight years old today. A normalcy for us, a rare treasure for her, Faith opened the gift we gave her with a meticulous hand. Every piece of tape was removed with tender care- paper that she has never known unclothed the gift she now proudly possessed. A fun to paint book brightened this child's demeanor, as we witnessed more gratitude from this 'simple' gift than any given in the States. With an instant reach, Faith already was experiencing her newly found love, painting--one that she has never seen before. 

We found ourselves wanting to shout, "Rip it, its your bday." Then realizing it was the first gift that she has ever known. This newness astounded her and with a patient ease, she savored the excitement that it brought. We witnessed true gratitude and thankfulness that took root in a precious child's joy of a 'simple' birthday gift. 

We were able to take the whole Kimosop family to a giraffe, 'twika,' center where Faith was able to feed them out of the palm of her hand. With great contemplation, she slowly inched toward this 'foreign' animal and laughed as Brett and Edward fed it from their mouths! An experience that Faith did not boldly accept, but timidly placed a few bits of food in her hand instead. With her head down in a frightened stance, and eyes looking upward toward the 'twika', Faith eventually welcomed its large tongue to swoop every morsel from her palm. In an immediate jolt, Faith took off to hide behind us. With a new found confidence, Faith carried herself with an 'older' step, that on her 8th birthday, she met a 'twika' face to face.