There’s been a recent addition to our family. His name is Mcolisi (pronounced with a click), which means “peacemaker” in Siswati, and he’s a beautiful, 5 ½ week-old baby. His four older siblings attend one of the care points that our team works at. His father abandoned the family, and his mother, Pelile, is sick with AIDS, unable to care for him. His 7 year-old sister was in the process of learning to be a mother when we learned of their situation.
Pelile agreed to let us care for him, so long as we bring him to the care point each time we go so that she can see him. When Traci took him from his home last week he was severely dehydrated and malnourished, weighing less than 5 pounds. Since then his health has been improving, and it’s been a relief to hear him crying more these last few days as he gains strength.
We’ve been giving him antibiotics for a respiratory infection, and some special nutrients and electrolytes in addition to his regular formula. His “crib” is a wash basin that is the perfect size for his tiny body. A few of us have been taking turns with him sleeping in our tents, since his coughing and crying keeps at least one of us up most of the night.
Having him has been a huge joy to our team. In less than a week I’ve grown to love him so much. It’s never tiring to watch his tiny face with its growing variety of expressions. He’s passed from one set of arms to the next throughout the day, and he’s a constant source of attention for the staff and tourists at the safari.
We’re not sure yet what’s going to happen to him when we leave. Pelile was admitted to the hospital the day before yesterday. There are several excellent homes for abandoned and orphaned babies that we know of, but it’s a difficult and serious thing to ask a mother to sign over adoption papers, even when she could be dying.
So for now he’s ours. We pray and speak life over him every day, dreaming about the possibilities that his life holds and the peacemaker that he’s going to be.
