God delights in the small, the fragile and the weak.
In America we hear the occasional sad story of finding babies in garbage cans or in boxes on the side of the road, here in South Africa that’s a lot more common than we think. But how can someone do that? A lot of the times the mothers are addicted to alcohol or drugs, they are prostitutes and forced by their pimps to get rid of their babies so they can go back to work. So these babies are found in fields or garbage cans. When they are found they are brought to uMephi where they are loved and cared for 24/7 until they are adopted. They have joyful babies from 2 months to 2 years old. Some are suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome or deformities from the mothers abuse of alcohol and drugs.
This place is such a light in this dark situation. One of the local churches, where a lot of babies are dumped, is building a “Baby Safe” which is a safe place to abandon your baby. It’s a little building where you can safely put your child on a sensors table where authorities are notified to come pick up the baby. Once the baby is placed on the table he or she is locked and safe in the building until police arrive. The table they are placed on has a heater that helps put the babies body temp at normal temperature. The mothers are given a slip of paper after putting the baby on the table that informs them the process that will take place after she leaves. They will be taken to the hospital and given an evaluation/HIV test, then they will be taken to uMephi or other orphanages around the area. Then they will be put up for adoption. The mother is allowed to regain custody of the child through a social worker. Apparently this system was created in the states, how cool!
There are a few babies at uMephi who are being adopted in countries around Europe and one child that’s mother is coming back.
By the grace of God these babies were found and given the love and attention they deserve. My heart hurts that they were left alone, worthless and thrown away. But thank you Jesus for places like this. Thank you for creating these babies perfectly and giving them a warm and loving home. Thank you for protecting them. Thank you for the bright life they have before them. Thank you for the grace you extend to the mothers of these children.
“Creator God creating.
The unseen places
Flesh and bone, muscle and nerve
Knitted perfectly
To your unique pattern
In the secret places
Joy and sorrow, hope and peace
Woven carefully
Through our unfolding days.
In the dark places
Pain and tears, laughter and love
Sewn deliberately
Life’s tapestry develops.
In the waiting
Still
Creating God in us.” -Tracy Ingham
