Feeding The Orphans?

Recently, I went and fed the kiddos at the Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery.  Currently, there are about 20 babies from infancy to two years old.  I think they all look to be about 6 months old (mostly due to malnutrition) but they really do range in age.  Most of the kids are orphans but some have been removed from families that were not properly caring for them. 

The interesting thing is that all of these orphaned kids are not up for adoption.  The family structure works a bit differently here.  Several of the kids were there because the mom died from complications of child birth.  In fact, out of the twenty kids there were three sets of twins.  I thought that was strange but didn't initially make the connection that many mothers die during the birth of twins due to complications. Which seems to account for some of the negative attitudes towards twins throughout parts of Africa.  Sadly, obstetricians are a rarity here and there is no NICU.  When the mom dies many kids go to crisis nursery facilities till the kids are weened and relatively healthy.  Then the kids will either rejoin the dad or extended family members.  The kids would have to be completely abandoned in order for them to be adopted.  All of those kids have a family member still interested in having them apart of their family. 

Some of the kids are HIV positive.  I didn't ask who was who.  Many kids end up at the facility due to neglect and malnutrition and are quite sick.  One of the babies had passed away that morning, so moral was low at the facility that day.

Carson & Melissa playing with 20 not crying babies.

One of the twins whose mom passed away from complications due to childbirth.

I am not one to oooh and aahh over any baby that I see.  Kids of close family and friends are a totally different story.   Knowing that these kids didn't have their families loving on them all day made me want to love on them more.  I have never been with this many babies in one room for so long and not witness a crying breakdown.  They were all happy and mild mannered.  The Malawian staff ladies there are really good with the kids, too.  It's about a five to one ratio at this point.

Seeking to make everyday meaningful.

The good news is that the facility is well equipped with clothes and other baby supplies through donations from the U.S.  The problem is that they could use more staff, which costs money and depends on more donations and/or volunteers.  I hope to go about once a week and help with feedings.  I think Monday afternoon is my day. 

1 comment:

  1. So glad God is using you for His purpose! Those precious babies need all of the love you are sharing with them now. Only God knows their future.

    LOVE

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