We got a beautiful 10 month old boy from Child Services, and Caroline took me aside to tell me his story. NOTHING could have prepared me for what I was about to see. She shared with me how this baby was forcibly removed from his home where he was being physically abused. 10 months. What in the world?!?!
First she told me that his eye had been gouged out and given to a sangoma (witch doctor) for some ritual that the father felt needed to take place. Then she showed me the burn marks that cover 85% of his lower body, where the sangoma apparently repeatedly set him on burning hot coals (we think) in an effort to cure him of something ... we're not sure what. Then she showed me the open sores that are on his thighs where there are fresh burn wounds that have yet to heal and scab over.
What in the world are people thinking? How do you do this to ANY human being, let alone your own child? He's such a sweet baby, too ... and beautiful. It made me glad that I work where I work, and for a few moments I wished I weren't leaving quite yet.
I'm glad that I don't come face to face with this mother ... although I have to have some pity on her because I feel that, given this culture, she's probably enduring some of the same at the hands of her significant other. And I'm glad that Caroline made the social workers promise that if she took him, he would never go back to this family. Amazingly enough, they were thinking about it if the parents had a "miraculous turnaround".
So glad that God has called me to love on kids like this and help them heal - physically, emotionally and mentally. And, I look forward to the day when he is placed in a loving family.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
Oops ...
I just realized that it's been a really long time since I've last blogged. Oops.
So, besides the normal craziness of life in South Africa (i.e. load shedding of electricity, random men trying to be my "friend" or put their slimy hands on me, navigating S.A. cultural norms, and trying not to be a victim of crime), I'm really looking forward to heading to American soil in 8 days.
In church on Sunday, the worship leader opened things up by asking us what was the one thing that annoyed us most about South Africa. What is the one thing that, if you could change it, you would. I knew my answer immediately, without even thinking about it.
The men.
Then he said that he wanted us to pray about this, and release it to God because He is the only one that can bring about any change to this thing ... and so often, we talk and complain about this thing, but don't pray about it.
Talk about being reprimanded.
I did pray for the men of S.A. at that time, and have really tried since then to pray whenever I'm annoyed. What a difference it has made.
I'm trusting God to give me a new perspective and frame of reference regarding the men here.
I need it.
So, besides the normal craziness of life in South Africa (i.e. load shedding of electricity, random men trying to be my "friend" or put their slimy hands on me, navigating S.A. cultural norms, and trying not to be a victim of crime), I'm really looking forward to heading to American soil in 8 days.
In church on Sunday, the worship leader opened things up by asking us what was the one thing that annoyed us most about South Africa. What is the one thing that, if you could change it, you would. I knew my answer immediately, without even thinking about it.
The men.
Then he said that he wanted us to pray about this, and release it to God because He is the only one that can bring about any change to this thing ... and so often, we talk and complain about this thing, but don't pray about it.
Talk about being reprimanded.
I did pray for the men of S.A. at that time, and have really tried since then to pray whenever I'm annoyed. What a difference it has made.
I'm trusting God to give me a new perspective and frame of reference regarding the men here.
I need it.
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