Holding little babies.
…One of my heart’s desires for my World Race. Never mind smelly diapers and unpredictable spit-ups. I simply wanted to hold a little baby in need of being held.
God provided an opportunity to fulfill this desire of my heart during our first month of ministry in Guatemala. My team and I volunteered at Casa Jackson, a center that houses and cares for malnourished babies. Guatemala has one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world due to poverty, lack of resources and little opportunities for education. Many mothers are young and malnourished themselves, living off of a simple diet of coffee and tortillas. Once their child is born, they are not educated enough, nor do they have the means to provide a healthy diet for them. They feed them the only things they know…coffee and tortillas. The results of malnutrition can be devastating. Not only does it stunt growth and cause potbellies, but malnutrition can also lead to underdeveloped brains and problems such as cerebral palsy.
There are 8 little malnourished babies in Casa Jackson. They were brought there by the grace of God, and remain at Casa Jackson until they reach a healthy weight and their parents are educated on the importance of healthy meals for their children. Every time our team enters Casa Jackson, after putting on our blue scrubs and face masks, we make our way upstairs and find a baby to love on for the afternoon.
Each afternoon I reach into a crib and pick up a little child and cradle them in my arms. I can feel their spine through their doubled-up onesies, and their light weight deceives me. Many of the babies look younger than their actual age, so small compared to those I used to babysit during my teenage years in the States. Two-year-olds can barely hold their bodies up. 18-month-olds struggle to roll over. Casa Jackson is a heart-breaking experience, yet filled with the hope that these babies will soon be able to live healthy lives.
The tiniest baby I have ever held was little Henry. We were volunteering at Casa Jackson the day he arrived. When I first saw him lying in his crib, I thought he was a baby doll. He was so tiny and his skin was splotched from his poor diet. When I picked him up, most of the weight I held was the blanket he was wrapped in. He couldn’t have weighed more than five pounds, yet he was already two months old. God definitely provided me the chance to fulfill my heart’s desire to hold little babies on The World Race.
Henry, who was the smallest baby I had ever seen or held.
Holding Henry on his first day in Casa Jackson
Thankfully, little Henry came to Casa Jackson at just the right time. Right now he is receiving the nutrition he needs to grow healthy and his mother is gaining the education she needs to care for him properly. I see each baby in Casa Jackson as a little miracle from God.
What a blessing it was to be the hands that get to hold a little miracle.
Brittney and baby Alex
Caitlyn and Alan.
Nate holding and feeding a baby for the 1st time!
Julio, one of my favorites. He has to eat from a feeding tube for now.
Dan playing tea time with one of the little girls at Casa Jackson.
