Rehema Ministries/dba In Step Foundation, Kenya

Arrived September, 2011, Willingstone was very small and malnourished. His mother was only 14 years old. She was barely producing enough milk to feed her child on a regular basis. 

It is a sad, sickening story and so common. The step-father is the father of the baby. He is now in prison. The girl’s mother is believed to be mentally unstable. 

When the mother of Willy arrived at the court, she eyed Carla and Meredith up and down.  Not a single smile cracked from her lips.  When the children’s officer told her they would be taking the baby to the children’s home, she did not want to release her baby until she talked to her mother. The children’s officer took the girl to her family’s home to retrieve her mother. When they returned, the mother to the girl (grandmother to the baby), was explaining to her daughter that this was the best thing for her baby. This way, she could still go to school and then be able to provide for her child someday. We explained that she would be able to come and see her child at any time. She handed the baby over. Meredith kissed his forehead, looked up to the mother and gave her a nod. And then Carla and Meredith saw it. A smile broke across this 14-year olds face. A big smile. She began laughing and joking with her mother. It was like she was 14 again. And the weight of the world, and this baby, had been lifted off her shoulders. Willy has a great home now and 104 brothers and sisters to love him.

Arrived May 2011, Evie was 18 months old.  Evie and her brother were taken into protective custody after reported abuse.  She spent just over two months in the hospital with third-degree burns on her buttocks, thighs and bottoms of her feet as a result of being placed on a geko (small charcoal burner).

Arrived April, 2011, Moses was nine months old and healthy. Interesting story, however, involving a church bishop and possibly two wives. The second wife and caretaker of Moses has AIDS and is not doing well. If he is her child, wife number one does not have to care for him. So they sent him away, which is acceptable in the Kenyan culture.  He placed here by the children’s authorities.

Sponsored in Memory of Maddox Hemnes $100 monthly.

Arrived March 2011, Alvin was about three months old. He was healthy and absolutely perfect. His mother is considered a child and has no means to support herself and the baby. He has been placed with us and she has visitation rights. They will decide when she is of age if he will be returned to her.