Baby James

During church one Sunday the community brought to us a very young and skinny baby boy. We were informed that he was one of a twin and that his twin brother Jason was well and healthy. After further investigation we discovered that James was indeed neglected and rejected. His mother simply

didn’t want him … his head had become slightly disfigured during labor.

He was terribly frail and by this stage was suffering from malnutrition and dehydration. After having his condition checked out by our mission Pediatrician, we brought him to our mission house for intense love and care.

Here he is today … thriving, strong and all the lumps and bumps on his head have recovered. It is true that love in action is a powerful force … and a force to be reckoned with.

Jobert

We first found Jobert and his family three years ago in Pier 4. He was four years old and weighed only 8 kilograms. He was literally starving to death, and suffering from TB.
We didn’t realize it at the time but his mother, Leah was 8 months pregnant and suffering from Hepatitis A, TB and pneumonia.

This was a family in crisis. We took them in to our mission house and commenced an intense care program not just for Jobert and Leah, but the entire family. One month later she delivered her beautiful baby Angeleah at the house.

Although Joberts recovery was phenomenal as far as his weight gain and strength to walk , talking was still a challenge.

The family had been living in such cramped, dark conditions its hard to really describe them as they are so foreign to our understanding. In a western culture not even animals would be allowed to live in this way.

So it is understandable that Jobert and his brother Louis had some challenges to overcome. We have seen that with love and care people can recover from the most amazing situations.
It is with great joy and celebration that during our March 2007 graduations of our kinder one and two classes, in Pier 4 that Jobert … seen here in the right, graduated with awardings. We were so proud to see him up there on the stage after such a struggle through his short life.

To the left, Jobert is photographed with his mother Leah. Leah was 14 years old when she was forced to marry … she felt that her life and opportunities had been taken from her and there was no future accept sickness and misery. She too had a great achievement to celebrate as she completed her first year of high school this year. Nothing is impossible to them that believe. We serve a mighty, powerful ever faithful God, a God of provision, who is in the business of restoration! AMEN

It is easy with the mundane activities of our life to forget or under estimate the value of supporting children such as Jobert. But as you can see there is such value beyond words … this young boy was doomed to die. He is now succeeding and growing strong. Let us not lose heart in doing good :-

… as it says in Galatians 6 and verses 7 to 10 …Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit from the spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. So we are all faced with the challenge to NOT give up in doing good to all … no matter how discouraged we may feel at times, no matter how small or big our assistance may be … the word tells us that if we DON’T give up, there is a good harvest coming! Thank you Lord for your words of encouragement.