The day started like any other. In the dark hours of the morning I came before my Father in prayer, lifting up my day and the many lives He might touch. As I prayed, I began to ask for life over my clients, and over those women and children I had yet to meet who He might bring across my path through Baby Safe. That their lives might be saved, that they would be delivered and transformed; not just "helped" but ransomed from darkness, redeemed and restored.
Why is it we're surprised when the LORD answers our prayers?
I was on call that week, in the middle of a busy day of work and meetings when I got the call to meet a woman and her baby at the King of Kings Baptist Church where we have our safe. I arrived to find an elderly Xhosa woman who we'll call Noxolo, with a sweet 17 month old girl who turned out to be her granddaughter, who we'll call Lungiswa. As we sat in the back office Noxolo began to pour out her circumstances and ask for help. Her daughter, Lungiswa's mother, was living off-and-on the streets with no job, struggling with alcohol, and Lungiswa's father was in prison. Noxolo had become her granddaughter's primary caregiver while continuing to provide for her own teenage son. But recently, she'd lost her job and now the entire family was struggling just to eat. As she ended her story she looked into my eyes and asked, "Will you take her?"
I was shocked. Usually when a family comes to us for help placing their child is a last resort. But as Noxolo sat before me she saw no hope, no help, no options. So we agreed on a temporary plan where we could take her granddaughter for a period of 3 months while Baby Safe would help her try to get another job and make plans for Lungiswa's longterm care, either with Noxolo or other family. As we discussed plans it came out that she had another grand-baby, who she said was only weeks old and living wherever his mother chose to take him. Her concern was great for this baby, as a previous grandchild had died, and with the mother's current irresponsibility she feared he may as well. Would we take this baby too?
Our Father has a sense of humor. I could almost sense Him laughing as I and my teammates scrambled around making calls, plans and arrangements, figuring out immediate needs and potential longterm solutions. "You wanted to change lives didn't you? Well, here's a group of them!" Miraculously we had two-and only two!-safety families able to take a child for an immediate placement over a prolonged period of time. The following day Lungiswa was safely in the arms and home of some wonderful friends, playing with their own sweet boys. During that time Bethany met with Noxolo to discuss her grand-baby and arrange a meeting with her daughter.
Miraculously, she showed up! And the circle of influence only continued to expand after Bethany and I drove into Masiphumelele to meet with her. Noxolo's daughter, who we'll call Patricia, was living temporarily in a friends shabeen (a bar run in their home). As we chatted about her baby, her circumstances and alcoholism, she willing brought her little boy to us and asked for safe care for him, and help for herself to recover and work on a plan to enable her to work and care for her children herself!
And so our journey began. It has been over a month now, and it is incredible to see the hand of the LORD in every circumstance. So many times when struggling mothers place their babies, they continue in their previous cycles without any effort to change, and the struggle is huge. But Patricia has shown amazing desire for change, taking initiative and rarely missing a meeting. She has created a CV (resume') and signed up for AA, while attending weekly meetings with both her children and their safety families. Lungiswa is the resident princess and life of the party with her two temporary brothers and the family that welcomed her into their home and hearts. Noxolo now has part time work, and continues to look for an even better job. And Patricia's precious baby boy grows in strength and health at the home of yet more friends to Baby Safe while continuing to bond with his mother during frequent visits. It is amazing to see the recognition in one so small, and the connection the Father weaves between the hearts of a mother and child.
As we move forward I continue to pray for life, and I know the LORD answers! I am praying for life and life abundant for Patricia, her children, and her mother Noxolo. For reconciliation in relationships, release from addictions, provision of needs. That Patricia would be empowered to be a strong, competent woman able to provide for and love her children, and that these children would grow up in love, freedom, and security. I pray they all would arise and live in the destiny the Father has created them for, for they are the wealth of secret places, treasures hidden in darkness called forth into light!
