We are amazed at how fast this year is going by. We have had a fairly quiet month this month as we are still evicted from our new land but are constantly told that we will get it back and that it is looking good in our favour. So we get up every day and do what God has called us to do and that is to love on these precious babies that He has given to us to care for. We focus on our calling and are trusting God for the rest. We keep reminding ourselves that the land and the buildings and the new baby home are all His and in His care.
We were excited to welcome the Beyond Survival team, Rick & Laura Clapp and their family, to our home on the 8th. They blessed the home with many gifts and Robyn was, once again, able to share some of the ABC story with the team. They had also brought their adopted Swazi daughter with them this time and so we kept Keturah home from school for the day. The 2 girls are only 2 weeks apart in age, and have a lot in common. They both connected well and it was so lovely to see them spend the day together and enjoy each others company.
Gerry got very sick with a bad ‘flu that was going around and spent 3 weeks in bed recovering. Robyn made up the spare bed in the lounge for him and kept a close watch on him, as he constantly wanted to get up and work. Sam stepped in and took over a lot of Gerry’s chores and helped us so much during this time, which we were so grateful for. Gerry is fully recovered and doing well. At the same time, little Peter picked up a cold and had to go back onto oxygen for a few days. He has also recovered well and no longer needing the oxygen.
On the 16th, Destiny left us to move to her new permanent Care home. She will now be closer to her mother who will now have access to her and be allowed to visit her regularly. Destiny was an emergency placement newborn. She arrived straight from the maternity hospital to us. We noted that she had a clubfoot and so she was enrolled at the Clubfoot Clinic in Mbabane where she underwent treatment for the club foot, with regular visits to the hospital. She had recovered well and her foot is growing nicely but she still needs check-ups every 6 months as she grows and she has to wear her shoes on the wrong feet, we call it ‘Banana feet shoes”. It is always hard saying ‘Good-bye’ to our babies but we know that God has them in the palm of His hand and we have to let them go, as we can no longer raise children, particularly teenagers, in our old age.
Then Robyn suffered with a broken tooth and had to visit the dentist. The tooth was not repairable and had to be extracted on the 24th, which put her out of action for a few days. On the 25th, Keturah finished her exams and the schools broke up for the end of second term. She is now on a 3 week break and will spend time visiting with Dominique in Manzini.
Prayer Requests:
- Give thanks for the Lord’s provision for the running of the baby home and enough finances and provisions for us to continue running the home.
- Please pray that our land situation can be resolved so that we can continue building the new baby home.
- Please continue to pray for good homes to be found for our babies who need to move from our home once they turn 2 years old. We still have 3 older ones, over 2, that need to move to more permanent homes.
- Please give thanks to God for all that He is doing in ABC!
We are extremely grateful to everyone who assists us with finances which allows us to continue to pay the staff, the rent for this house and all other necessities needed to run the baby home. Our words cannot express our gratitude to everyone who supports us, who prays for us and encourages us to keep on going. We are extremely grateful to everyone and appreciate all that everyone does to assist us with the running of the ABC baby home. Without you, we cannot survive. THANK YOU!
We are also very grateful to the Ngwenya Glass Factory, just up the road from us, who have come alongside us and helped us with groceries and baby products this month. These donations from generous people, that we receive, are what help to keep us going. There is always a need for groceries to help us with the cost of running the baby home. www.shop.ngwenyaglass.co.sz
God bless you
Gerry & Robyn
