On the afternoon of November 2, 2007 the Welfare Department called and asked us to come to their office. As I walked toward the Welfare Officer’s door, I noticed two small children. The Welfare Officer shared with us the story of the two children sitting outside his office. He explained that they were brought by their mother who was on her way to check herself into the hospital because she was very ill and HIV positive. Her husband had died and she had no family to take care of her children. I informed the Welfare Officer that Treasures of Africa Children’s Home was currently full and not able to take in any more children at the moment. He insisted we would only be taking them in temporarily until another home could be found.

I walked outside and saw Jeremiah first. He was sitting in the dirt wearing footsie pajamas that were too small to be zipped up…if the zipper weren’t already broken. Jeremiah, approx 2 1/2 years old, had not been potty-trained and was not wearing a diaper. From the way he looked, I could tell he had not been changed or bathed in over a week. He looked at me and lifted his arms for me to hold him. He held on to me and smiled.
His sister, Pendo, approx five years old, watched me pick up her brother just as Eli, our Asst Director of the orphanage reached for her. Pendo was frightened as she watched her mother walk away and we carried her and Jeremiah to our vehicle. Within minutes I noticed something was different about Jeremiah. It did not take long to observe that he has some level of mental handicap.

After a few days, the Welfare Dept informed us it would be best if we kept Jeremiah and Pendo. They were no longer looking for another home to take them in. After rearranging some beds at TOA and moving a few kids around, we were able to make space for Pendo and Jeremiah to permanently live with us. That was November, 2007. They have become very comfortable living with us and are well adjusted to their new home.
Pendo attends our TOA nursery school program in the mornings and Jeremiah enjoys playing with Awadhi.

Both children are doing well. They are good eaters and sleepers. They enjoy playing outside with the other children and they get along well with everyone. Jeremiah loves to be held and hugged. He would be content to be in someone’s arms all day long. Pendo, whose name means LOVE in Swahili, has come out of her shell and is a happy, smiling, laughing little girl. We are very glad to have both of them here with us at Treasures of Africa

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