Well folks… it’s official. Walking Third is living with eight orphaned toddlers for the month. We’re sharing the most amazing house with them just outside of Jo’Burg, working with an organization called Door of Hope. This ministry was created to provide a way to combat the all-too-common problem of babies being prematurely delivered through late-term abortions, wrapped in a plastic bag and abandoned. Not all of the kids here have such rough stories, of course, but most of them have been through enough to know they’re lucky to be alive. Right now, the organization is caring for 51 kids. They’re separated into four groups: infants (strict access since most of them are preemies with severe health issues), big babies (2 to about 6 months old), starfish (where the HIV and underdeveloped babies are cared for) and toddlers. The babies are all at a different house across town, which we’ll be working at as well. Alison and I actually worked the day shift (7am-6pm) with the starfish yesterday and got to love on 12 amazing little babies who will steal your heart as soon as they smile at you. Most of our month is going to be spent taking care of the toddlers, though, since we’re living here with them. It’s almost like they’re our own kids!
What Door of Hope works to do once they get the kids is to prepare them for adoption. They are not an agency but they work directly with one that matches the kids fairly quickly with “forever families.�
Unfortunately, we can’t share any information about any of the kids over the Internet to protect them but I’ll have personal pictures of them so I can share their beautiful faces and amazing stories when we get back home!
Door of Hope is letting us use a van to drive ourselves around this month! Tommy and I are the only ones comfortable with a stick and, I have to admit, it’s a lot of fun to drive in the right seat on the left side of the road. We’re getting our socks blessed off this month with a washer machine, our own beds and many stores and other things within walking distance. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts! I’m so excited to be spending Christmas and New Year’s with these amazing kids! I’ll try my best to get some unidentifying pictures of me with the kids that I can post.
Please don’t forget that I still have $3,876 to raise until I’m fully funded. All I want for Christmas is to be fully funded by our January 4th deadline so if you could help me get there, I would really appreciate it! Thank you to all those who have been so supportive so far! I can’t believe we’re at the half-way mark of the Race already!
