Defending the weak & fatherless...

Today we admitted our 882nd baby into Door of Hope’s safe haven. At one year (to the day), our newest arrival weighs 100g less than she did the day she was born. For one hour today I sat across from this baby girl lying in her father’s arms, staring in disbelief as I watched her move only her eyes from side to side to follow the conversation. As we counseled her parents on how to make the right choices from today for their daughter, whether to consider adoption, foster care, etc... my arms ached to take this baby and run with her! With another child on the way, these parents were desperate to find help to look after this sweet girl, but I can’t help but wonder why it took so long to seek it! This child, who used to hold herself in sitting position, can now not even hold her own head. When I changed her nappy I counted every rib in her chest and tried to soothe her blistered bum. We’ve cleaned the wounds on her hands and ears where rats have begun to bite her. I believe she is loved by her parents and that is ultimately why they brought her to us today, but still I’m asking... how could they have let it get so bad?

I love the work the Lord has called me to. Every day is a gift (whether I realize it at the time or not), and I adore each and every tiny blessing He delivers to us. It is a day like today, though, that affirms and reaffirms the reason I am here, as difficult and as heart-wrenching as it can be - to “defend the weak and fatherless; to uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed. To rescue the weak and needy, and deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82: 3&4. Please keep our baby girl in your prayers and I’ll keep you posted on how she is doing. Steph has taken her to hospital now, where I hope they’ll sort out her emergent needs so that she can come home to us soon.

My toddlers continue to blossom, although I believe a lot has changed since I last updated you. Again, I need to keep the children't identities confidential and I am working on a system to help you know who's who. My little "Beauty" and our "Answer " were placed with their forever families while I was on leave in the states last Fall. I have only heard from "Answer’s" family, and she seems to be doing incredibly! My cheeky "Baldy" was returned to his family and I pray that things are going great for him as well. Just last week, our sassy "Gift" was also returned to her family! I am so pleased with this placement. The lady who will be her guardian seemed wonderful and "Gift" will actually be able to grow up with her 5 year old sister!

While I was in the states we admitted a 3 1/2 year old boy with special needs into our home. Due to some severe neglect, Arthur was a bit of a mess when he arrived but is developing beautifully now! Please be praying for him especially as he has a few hurtles to overcome. Puleng also joined the toddler group in December. He has been with us in the Big Babies department for a while and eventually outgrew it! Since his move, he has refined his walking skills and is even beginning to say a few words. "Trust" is well adjusted now and continues to grow wonderfully. He is so chatty! I love being able to carry on a conversation with my big boy now. "Treasure" is still a petite little baba, but he is keeping up with the rest of the bunch! He has quite a few words in his vocabulary now, but is sill mostly content to jibber jabber. I love sitting upstairs in my flat, listening to him chat downstairs. My "Happy" girl is the sunshine of my life! She is also saying quite a few words now, and is so silly! I love to pull into the driveway with Innocent after school and hear her calling me as I walk up the path, “Aba Bep!” My "Lucky" boy is my serious little man. He is so cheeky! He loves to be pursued... he’ll make you work for your smile, but its worth it every time!

And finally my "Virtue"... I just love my sweet 4 1/2 year old to pieces. I have now been with Door of Hope for just over one year and I have seen this boy grow from a depressed, insecure little boy who was wary of accepting love, to a happy, more secure little boy who races into your arms as soon as you come through the door. I love this child so much. Please be in prayer for him. His parents have stopped showing up for visits and it is hard for him. Please pray for grace as He deals with things and for wisdom as I help guide him through it.

While I was home in the Fall, I felt as though I were an expectant mom waiting on my own baby to arrive. The Lord had placed a baby boy on my heart and I began to pray for him and wait for him! When I arrived back in South Africa, I didn’t have to wait long... my boy, we'll call him J, made his entrance to this world on January 2nd and I brought him home from the hospital on the 4th! He is wonderful, and I love being his stand-in mommy for a while. He is supposed to be placed with his adoptive family in May and as much as it kills me to think of him leaving, please pray with me that things move on so that he can get home to his forever mommy and daddy.

Our baby houses are currently full, and we’ve only a few adoptions happening in the month of April! This is a big problem. We’ve referred about 2/3 of the babies that have come in over the last 2 months because we just don’t have the space for them. I’ll fill you in more on those circumstances with the next blog (which WILL be in the next few weeks), but for now please keep all our wee ones in your prayers.

Thanks for keeping up with all of us, and thanks for all you do to help this work go on, whether by prayer, funds, or moving to South Africa for a few months (my Leigh and her Dave). We are so blessed to have your support.

Love and blessings, Beth