Rehema Ministries/dba In Step Foundation, Kenya

Arrived October 2008, Joseph was born and abandoned at birth in the forest on a cold, rainy day.  He was just hours old when we were called to pick him up. When we arrived he was choking, his lips were blue and his body temperature was very low. We took him home and made him a bed on a camp shower filled with warm water (our makeshift incubator). His temperature returned to normal. He was a fragile baby who tested positive for HIV, since his mom never breast-fed him, he now shows no signs of HIV. He was named after Joe, who was there and went to the hospital with us to rescue him.

Arrived February 2008, Peris was found just hours old on the evening of February 26th, on the steps of a Catholic church. She was born during the political crisis and abandoned not far from where many displaced people were staying. We don’t know what we would do if put in that position of running for your life. It is possible that she was born to a mother who had lost everything and had no place to go. She is a beautiful, healthy baby.

Arrived May 2008, Joshua was born prematurely on March 27, 2008, weighing less than 2 pounds. Against all odds he survived in a hospital without an incubator. He was placed with us weighing only 4 pounds. He is a happy and active baby. He and Abednego were born eleven days apart and both abandoned, two tiny little boys who have found a home (they looked like twins).

Arrived September 2008, Betty was 8 months old when she was dropped off at our gate in the early morning. Her mother was arrested for abandoning her child. The Tribal Chief came with some of the other villagers and insisted she take her back. She told them; “if you make me take her, I will kill her”, so Betty remains with us. Betty is a beautiful, healthy girl. She enjoys playing but doesn’t like it when the kids get to ruff-housing and will break into tears.