Meet Our Babies

What a wonderful week it has been at Haven of Hope! Full of smiles and laughs. Taking these little babies into our home has been such a blessing! They all seem to be adjusting very well.

I feel so honored to be a part of these babies' lives. God has truly entrusted us with some precious children and we want to do our best to give the love and care they deserve. In their short little lives they have already experienced rejection, neglect and pain. We are blessed to be a part of offering them the hope of a future where they will prosper and not be harmed. Haven of Hope is happy to be "home" to Jeremiah, Elizabeth and Julia during this season of their lives.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah is 6 months old. He was completely abandoned by his mother and we have no information whatsoever. He was referred to Nairobi Children's Home, a government operated temporary placement shelter, in April. He was told to be 1 or 2 months old at the time. He was supposedly found and taken to the the Dagoretti Police Station, which is not far from our home, but we have no official record of that. I do have a social worker who will be trying to attain more background information on Jeremiah.

He is a tiny little guy. He doesn't look so small in this picture, but he wears 3 mo clothes, even some 0-3's. He started out as a super-serious little man but he is beginning to laugh and play and show his personality more. He still has a very serious, analytical side. He likes to look and study peoples' faces. But when he smiles, he can melt any heart! In the past two days he has started laughing and playing a lot more. He has very little core muscle strength, likely due to lack of exercise. He is looking forward to Auntie Kris coming for a little physical therapy play (although he doesn't know that yet). :-)

Elizabeth

Elizabeth is approximately 2 1/2 years old. She was referred to Nairobi Childrens Home by the High Court as her mother was declared "unfit." We are told that her mother is mentally unstable and tried to kill her. We do not know if this was an intention act or simply a negligent act due to her condition. Elizabeth was in NCH for over one year.

Elizabeth has a beautiful smile! Her favorite toy is a baby doll. She face lights up when she is given the doll, and then she pats her back and tries to rock the baby. So sweet! She will even use her eyes and make little grunt noises to communicate when she wants to be given the doll. Elizabeth has CP (cerebral palsy) and is currently unable to sit or stand. I have no doubt that sitting unassisted is easily within her capabilities and will be accomplished very soon! (Hopefully while Auntie Kris is here in September to do daily therapy with her!) She began therapy yesterday at Heshima, the center for special needs where I help out. I am the special education coordinator there, but the only financial commitment that His Cherished Ones has with Heshima just happens to be that we pay the salary of the physical therapist! Hmmm....funny how God works.

Julia

Julia is 9 months. She was taken to Nairobi Children's Home in March at approx 3 months of age. Her mother is mentally retarded and we are told that her condition worsened after giving birth. She progressively became more confused and could not even recognize her own baby, leaving her many places. She was placed at NCH as "a child in need of care an protection."

Julia (or "Lulie" as Tracy calls her) is known as "the easy one" and "the funny one." She's a small little thing (wears all 6 mo clothes) but has no delays. In fact, she's quite a little mover. She can easily pull up on anything and make her way around. The first night and morning that she was in the house she was trying to get up on her knees to crawl. She had no trouble scooting around! Within a few days, she was crawling all over the place! She just needed space and opportunity to do what her little body was ready to do! Julia's little personality is adorable! She likes to talk. It usually comes out in a loud, fast gibberish. She looks at you intently as if she expect you to understand and respond. And the conversation begins.

Tracy

Tracy is the daughter of Lynette, one of our baby caretakers. They live with us. I first met Tracy and Lynette at Heshima. They lived two doors down from the center. I have known her since she was about 6 months old, and she has never feared me. (Many Kenyan babies who are not exposed to white people regularly fear them.) In fact, Tracy loved me and would easily leave her mom and go next door and hang out at Heshima with me. I originally asked Lynette to come work for me just a few days as we were setting up the house. I quickly learned what a valuable resource she was! Lynette is an amazing young woman. She has a great heart, willing spirit, and gentle nature. I cannot wait to see what the Lord does through her here at Haven of Hope! She has great potential. She just needs some encouragement and to know that she is indeed valuable, talented and very worthy of the gifts God has given her.

Tracy is a wonderful part of the "Lynette Package." Tracy is one of the most fun kids ever. She is 16 months old and is very bright. She talks a lot, LOVES Daisy and Judah (especially "Uda") and is a great "big sister" to the babies. When she is tired, she will walk up to one of us and stand behind us with a lesso, the cloth piece that Kenyan women use for everything, mainly for carrying babies on their backs. We love having them with us!