Happy Friday, everyone!

Well, the One Body One Hope team has been home from Liberia for a couple of weeks, and I think it's finally safe to say that we're settling into life as normal. Transitioning from Africa to the US is a rough adjustment no matter how you slice it, but I think the flip-flop was made especially hard this time around because we were focused primarily on relationship building--and when you spend time investing in relationships, it's always hard to say goodbye. But we're back, we're excited, and we're ready for all that is to come...

If you are a child sponsor, check your mailbox in the next week or so for a newsletter, some new photos of your sponsor child, and an extra-special surprise! And if you'd like to sponsor one of the gorgeous kids at Christ Our Hope, we do still have a few who are in need of support. Please email me if you'd like to commit, or even if you would just like some more information. nicolebaart@yahoo.com

Today I just want to share a few photos of our trip! I thought I would be able to do so in-country, but our internet access was too limited. So, sorry they're late. Hope you enjoy them all the same!

Our first day in-country, we toured the rice farm and got up close and personal with some of the local flora and fauna. Believe it or not, Fatu actually took this *ahem* little cutie home and cooked him up for supper. Not a word of a lie...

Too adorable to  not photograph. — Too adorable to not photograph.

Have I mentioned that the children are breathtakingly beautiful? These two sweethearts are twins and the children of one of the rice farm workers. They were too pretty not to photograph.

This is Benjamin, one of the boys at Christ Our Hope. He is a darling little man with a secret half-smile and a mischievous glint in his eye. I loved photographing him because he had no problem staring at the camera and giving me his characteristic tight-lipped smile.

You all spent time praying for JoJo, I thought it was only fair that you got to see her! This darling is our little Josephine, emphasis on the little. She's a tiny thing, but as you can tell from this photo the medicine was starting to work by this point and she was feeling better. Thank you for your prayers while we were in-country! We felt them so much! And please continue to uphold JoJo in your prayers, as well as Robert and Eve, two of the children who we are also concerned about.

My fondest memories of our time in Liberia was every minute that we spent with the kids. The first day we were at the orphanage we tried to teach them some American games like Red Rover and Duck, Duck Goose. Unfortunately, Red Rover was an epic failure... Though you can tell by their grins that it wasn't without a few redeeming qualities.

Thanks for stopping! Check back more for updates on our trip as well as information about our upcoming plans and projects!

Warmly,
Nicole

Back at it...