Success and Heartbreak

After being in Malawi for 2 ½ months we are finally ready to bring babies into our home.  We have 2 bassinets, 1 crib, bottles, clothes, diapers and formula.  The cribs, diapers and clothes were donated by the crisis nursery in Lilongwe.  Last week we were introduced to the district social service office in Mzuzu by the Ministry of Hope Nursery director and a social service employee from Lilongwe.  The district social services director came to our home looked around and said I know where there is a baby that needs a home.  We made an appointment for the following day to go to the village where this baby lives with her grandma. 

 

We got a basket ready with diaper, blankets and formula expecting to return with our first baby.  This baby was being taken care of by a sick grandmother because her mother had died and the father was not around.  We arrived at the village and were told that the baby had died a month ago.  Needless to say we were heart broken. 

 

This just reinforced to us how great the need is for a crisis nursery in the north.  How many babies have died because there is no where to turn? Most of these babies need formula which the family can’t afford and the government doesn’t provide.  They have no WIC program that provides formula and medical help for these babies.  Currently, a few families go to social services expressing their need for help, the office records the information but have no way to help the family.  Most don’t bother.  The family goes away and the baby dies because they can’t survive on water or powdered milk. 

 

This is why we are here and we are excited to be used by God to help these babies.  Now the families will have hope and the babies will have an opportunity to survive.  Currently, we only have 3 cribs but we have room for at least 8 to 10.  We will begin looking for a carpenter to build us some more.  You don’t just walk into Babies R Us and buy them here in Malawi.  We will have to draw up the plans and hope the carpenter can actually make it.

 

We need to find nannies to stay with the babies at night and as we get more we will need help during the day also.  Please pray for wisdom in finding nannies.  We have a lot of people coming to our gate looking for work but the women we hire need to have a love for babies and the Lord. 

 

The social worker knows of 2 more babies but she is going to find out if they are still alive on Monday.  We are praying that we’re not too late and we can bring them home next week.  We will keep you posted and let you know when Mzuzu Crisis Nursery is officially open for business.  May God receive all the glory!