New Birthday!

I got to give a child a birthdate!  A day of new beginnings.

We met Sara* during our medical outreach.  She is severely malnourished.  She is 5 years old and only weighs 21 pounds!

Nurse Allen measuring the circumference of Sara's arm.  This is how you measure for malnourishment.

I talked with the village health worker.  She said that she is the living with the grandparents. The mother had abandoned her a few years ago.

Sara had been beaten and rejected by her father.  The father did not believe that she was his child, so the mother took Sara to her parents and left her.  She has been living with them for the past few years.  

But, the grandparents have 10 other children living in the house; 15 people in the hut total.  They cannot feed everyone.  Sara only has mangos most days.  Slowly, slowly, she has become malnourished.

But, on Thursday,  her life was turned upside down.  Helping Hands found her!

I sat with the grandmother and told her that I would like for Sara to be a resident at the Village of Eden.  I explained that she would receive medical care, food, clothing and an education.  

Then, I explained that we are “born again Christian” and she would learn about that also.  Usually, this is not a problem.  But, Sara’s family is Muslim.

The grandmother said she would have to consult with the grandfather.  They would essentially be consenting to the child changing religions! (I prayed hard)

Later, we received news that the grandfather had consented.  We arranged for me to return on Friday to meet with the family.

Nurse Allen, Heather and I returned on Friday after lunch.  

The mango tree that serves as a marker for reaching their house.

There was only one mud hut with a grass roof. The hut was in disrepair.  There was a cleared, packed earth area of about 100 square feet with a beautiful tree in the middle.   The entire hut was surrounded by head-high corn.  Sara was waiting along with the grandmother and several neighbors.  Sara looked scared and sad with her frail body. She was dirty and wearing tattered clothing.

We sat on a grass mat and greeted each one individually.  The neighbors laughed at our English.  We laughed together.  

Finally, I asked where the grandfather was.  The grandmother explained that he was with the cows.  She got up and disappeared into a field of corn.  She eventually came back and said that he was coming.

A while later, a man began appearing between the corn stalks as the walked to the hut.  The grandfather.  Another man was with him.  The uncle.  The grandmother went and got a stump for them to sit on, providing a chair of sorts.

I introduced myself and Allen and Heather.  Then I explained why we were there.  I got to the point where I just needed them to consent to Sara attending our school by signing a paper and everything would be in order.

I said, “Will you sign this paper, giving consent?”

The two men looked at each other, mumbling and talking.  Then, they got up and walked away!

Oh, no!

I was praying so hard.  “Lord, this girl needs help.  We can give it.  Don’t break my heart, Lord.”

After a while, they came back and explained they did not know how to sign their name!  Heather had a green highlighter so we stamped their thumbprint as a signature!  

(Later I found out that they walked away to talk about the cows - they were worried about them eating someone else's crop while they had been talking to me.  And they were ashamed that they could not sign their names!)

I asked when her birthday was.  No one knew, they just knew it that it was 2013 and the corn was about the same height as now!  I decided to give her the birthday of April 27 because that was the day that her life was totally changed!  April 27 was the day that her life would become better!

She has been with us at the Village of Eden for 24 hours now.  She is so smart and eager to learn.  She has a voracious appetite.  We found some clothes for her.  She wears a 12 month size pant and a 2T shirt!  I had all that in my house, things Anna had outgrown!  Anna is 2 1/2 year old, weighs 28 pounds, 7 more than Sara!  But, I know Sara is going to grow and get strong and happy, just giver her time.

*Sara is not her real name