Update on Kate

Thank you for your prayers for little Kate and the situation surrounding her. Kate is now back at our house, safe and sound with all her little "brothers" and "sisters."

Kate's parents have accused each other of abandoning or selling the baby. At one point, they were both in jail. The "father" has been released and appeared in court to testify.  His statement was that he had never seen the baby before and did not want her.  So, the police took Kate, along with our social worker and Julie, the babies' caretaker, to Langata Womens Prison where the mother is being held.  She was to identify the baby and make a statement. 

According to Julie, the mother "cried tears of joy" when she saw Kate. The mother is an IDP (Internally Displaced Person) with no job, no home and no way to care for her baby. She probably left the baby on the man's doorstep out of sheer desperation. Things are so different here in Kenya than in America. It is not so "black and white." This mother could truly love and care for her baby. She had obviously taken great care of her before she left her; that was evident from the day we received Kate. In fact, I told the staff several times within the first few days that I expected the mother to come back for her within days. 

At this point, Kate was summoned to court in order for the parents to identify her and for the judge to see the state of her welfare at this time. Her mother claims to want custody of her, but obviously does not have a means to provide for her. Our position at Haven of Hope is that we would release Kate to her mother if she indeed can find a way to provide for her baby.  We will keep Kate in our care until that is done. If the mother cannot meet that requirement and/or if the judge terminates the rights of the parents, then Kate will be eligible for adoption after the waiting period of six months.  


We will go back to court on December 18th.  A DNA test will be done on the "father" to prove if he is or is not the father. If he is the father, he will also be charged with abandonment. The judge will determine their parental rights at that time. It is highly likely that he will rule that Kate will remain with us, at least for a predetermined amount of time.


Above all, we pray that the Lord's will be done; that Kate is in a place where she will be greatly loved and well cared for.  


God DOES have a plan and a purpose for each of our babies' lives.  As is painted on our wall in teh playroom of HOH, "Every child is a story yet to be told." This is just one more page in the story of Kate's life.

Thank you for praying for our babies and for the next chapters of their lives.