Rehema Ministries/dba In Step Foundation, Kenya

Arrived March 2008, Sarah was born on March 29, immediately after giving birth, Sarah’s mother dropped her down a pit latrine and left her for dead. Fortunately, the baby landed face up in the muck (we believe an angel was holding her head up) and a neighbor heard her crying. After tracing the cry, the neighbor called other neighbors together and they disassembled the structure over the pit, making it possible for a young man to climb into the pit on a rope and rescue the newborn. Sarah appeared to be slightly premature and, of course, had to be treated for infections acquired in the pit, but has recovered well and is now a healthy girl,but shy, little girl.

Arrived December 2009, Anthony was about 12 months old when he was abandoned at the gate of the Village Inn area of town. He is severely handicapped with cerebral palsy. We suspect that his disability may have contributed to the reason he was abandoned. When he arrived, his hands were completely curled in, the skin literally rotting. With massage and manipulation exercises daily, his muscles are relaxing and he is slowly becoming more active.

Arrived December 2009, Michelle and her twin brother, Nigel, were placed with us by the Children’s Department, when they heard the desperate plight of their mother. It was reported to their office, that the mother had been admitted into a hospital after attempting to abort an eight-month pregnancy. The doctors did not think she would survive. She managed to pull through, but was still homeless and unable to care for the twins. They remain with us. They were 1 year old and Michelle was the bigger of the two, but still looks and acts younger.

Arrived May 2010, A tiny baby girl, Gloria Neema (Swahili for grace), is what the nurses at the hospital called her. Gloria’s mother gave birth on May 2. It isn’t known if she actually birthed her outside or just dumped her off shortly after giving birth. Either way, the baby wasn’t cleaned up and was left naked in the bushes. Because she hadn’t been washed, the blood and other fluids that covered her little body attracted insects. When she was found, she was covered with tiny ants that were literally eating her flesh! One arm and most of her torso had open wounds from the insect attack, but with antibiotics it cleared up. She may have some scars on the outside but won’t remember what happened.

Gloria weighed just barely 4 pounds and had the sweetest little face. It is amazing how loudly this little person could cry! She was obviously thriving and strong, despite her tiny size.