Cradle of Love Baby Home

I finally am hearing from Zahara and Berenike at Cradle of Love with news of happenings around the Home.  One newsworthy item is that the twins Zainabu and Ally are back with us. Their mother has become very sick and cannot care for them. Imara Ministries who brought them to us and work with the mother, have gotten her to sign them over for adoption. We pray that it will all go through and they can have parents. You may remember that this is also the mother of the deceased Jane. After that tragedy, perhaps she now realizes that adoption is the only option for the twins. The suffering in this world is overwhelming at times. We can only do our best for each baby that is brought to us.

This afternoon, my Staci somehow locked herself in the bedroom and couldn't unlock the door, even with me and her sisters trying to instruct her. She was very upset. Finally, Kaley was able to get the window open from the outside and get Staci out. 

This evening my husband Max and some of my daughters, will be selling veggie hotdogs, drinks and glow-in-the dark toys at the July 4th fireworks festivities. He is raising money for putting a roof on a church in Tanzania. He is excited about doing this, but I think I will stay home and away from the huge crowd.

I was talking to a missionary friend today, who is on leave from Africa. Her baby got a roto-virus when they were in West Africa a couple years ago and nearly died.  Apparently in the States they now have a vaccine (oral) for it, but the medical people told her that it can attach to dust molecules and be inhaled. It is very dangerous for small babies. All the disinfecting of bottles, equipment and changing areas will not stop it. It sounds very much like what we had at the Home. Same symptoms and terrible results.

Illness in babies and small children has always been such a worry to me over the years–so why in the world am I running a Baby Home?!  Because God has asked me to do this. What a small thing to do for a God who gave His all for me!  Satan tries to discourage, but God is stronger than anything. I just have to continue to trust in Him and follow His leading. 

"As water to the thirsty, so is good news from a foreign land." My friend Trina Gee so kindly made the long trip from her house to the Home yesterday so that she could check on how things were for me.  She spent a lot of time there checking out everything and having a long talk with the supervisor, Zahara.  Trina was pleased with what she saw. Sure there are a few small issues, like a laundry lady has been sick and the weather is bad, so the laundry is piling up some. A couple babies with rashes and one with a urinary tract infection, but they are all being treated.  It was a tremendous relief to me.

On Friday I got word that baby Jane died. I did not want to talk about it until I knew the details. She is the baby who has a birthmother –the same mother of Ally and Zainabu. Jane was sick so the mother was called to come and take her to the hospital. She came, but did not take her to the hospital, but only took her home and gave her ORS. (Hospital care is free) Which we were already doing. Within 3 days, Jane died at home.  This is the mother who refused to allow Jane to be adopted because "there was nothing in it for her!"  What a needless tradgedy!

Several of our volunteers have left early because of frustrations and problems with immigration. I am sorry that they had such trouble and we are hoping that does not happen to future volunteers. It is hard to live in Africa! After nearly 19 years overseas (14 in Africa) I still struggle. 

My son said this is turning into a personal blog and I apologize for that. However when I am not at the Home, I don't have news to tell you. 

We are in Michigan now and it is a rainy, 62 degree day. I am wearing a jacket! Visited some close friends this morning and met their new grandson, so I got to cuddle a 3 month old for a few minutes.

Later this week I will be working with the videographer who was at CoL in February, so that we can finish the update version of the video that is on the website. Also want to work with the webmaster a bit and redesign our brochure.  On Thursday we will visit Kathy and Rod Weaver who donated Ebony and Toby to the Home.

Please keep the children and staff in your prayers. 

This journal entry is for potential volunteers.

*Remember, you MUST have a Volunteer, Class C visa to work at Cradle of Love, or any other organization in Tanzania. The Immigration Dept. has gotten very strict about this issue. Some may be able to apply and obtain it in the country in which you live. Others will have to send us photos, etc. (listed on the volunteer section of the website) so that we can apply for it before your arrival.

*Coming to a developing (third world) country to work is not an easy thing. It is nothing like being in your home country. The culture is totally different and the values are different. Everything from child raising, cleanliness, ability to understand, take direction and follow through, using equipment, preparing foods…you name it! And then there is the language difference. There are many frustrations that you will experience on a daily basis. The important thing is to not cast blame. If you can be instrumental in making positive changes within the volunteer experience, then that is super. However, keep in mind that the staff and administration have been doing this work for years, and have experienced similar frustration when things are not done correctly. There is repeated training of the staff and introduction of new and better techniques. You are coming with ideals that are not always attainable in a developing country. It SEEMS so simple–but in reality it is a constant struggle. Please come with a positive attitude, intent on helping and not pulling others down by negative comments.

We try to have a weekly volunteer meeting when I am in the country, so that we can share ideas. However, there are MANY volunteers that come, and it is not wise to try changing systems that have been put in place. This can cause the regular staff to resent the volunteers, because then the staff feels that every time a volunteer comes they are being criticized, and it causes upheaval in the work place.

So, you CAN change the world, but only one life at a time. Change the life of one child, so that they feel loved and secure and have good self-esteem. Other things around you, you cannot change, and you must have the wisdom to realize your limitations. Thank you for your interest in helping us, we DO appreciate the help of each and every volunteer.

-Davona-