Birthday: March 20

Three Primary School students were headed to school one morning in Moshi, Tanzania, when they heard the faint cry of a baby. They stopped and looked around. There were no other people in the area and they wonderedwhere the cry could be coming from. Suddenly, they spied a bundle on the ground under a tree. When they drew near, they realized that someone had abandoned an infant in the dirt. They saw that it was tiny baby boy whose tender skin was being gnawed by ants. They wasted no time in running to find help, instead they bravely scooped up the helpless child and walked with him to the nearest hospital. They turned the child over to the first nurse they could find.

The baby was a newborn, not more than a few days old, with the umbilical cord still attached. With no name and no family claiming him, he was destined to be turned over to the government Welfare authorities and placed in an orphanage. A Christian pediatrician at the hospital who was very familar with the work of Treasures of Africa, called and let us know of the new arrival. We visited the baby in the hospital nursery where he was being treated with anti-biotics for the extensive ant bites on his neck and foot. We spoke with the hospital social worker and informed her that Treasures of Africa was ready to accept the child upon discharge.

Baby David Joseph came to live at Treasures of Africa on April 14, 2014. We had the privilege of naming him after two Biblical figures who overcame great obstacles to become men of great destiny. Young David overcame the giant Goliath and Joseph overcame the rejection of his brothers who sold him into slavery to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. We believe Baby David will become a man of great destiny. Treasures of Africa is committed to raising him with love and calling forth the greatness in his life.

UPDATE:

We are thrilled to report that David now has a FOREVER FAMILY!

Birthday: January 13

We can only imagine the anguish of a young mother who feels she cannot adequately care for her newborn son. Maybe she was a single mother with no money and no extended family to help her. All we do know, is that she bravely carried her bundled child and stood in a prayer line at a local church in Moshi, Tanzania. After waiting for a while, as a visiting Bishop prayed for those who patiently stood in line, she asked a nearby woman if she would hold her baby for a moment. Then she disappeared, leaving a bag of baby clothes and her child in the arms of a stranger.

We are grateful for the sake of the child, that the mother didn't leave him abandoned in a field or other place where he could have potentially been harmed. Instead, she brought him to a safe place. Church leaders turned the child over to the Welfare authorities who in turn called Treasures of Africa Children's Home. Our pediatrician estimated the child to be three months old. He came to live at Treasures on April 13, 2016.

Baby Baraka James (Baraka means "blessing" in Swahili) joined our six month old J.J. (John Joseph) in the "baby room" at Treasures of Africa. We trust that these two boys will grow into great playmates.

UPDATE:

We are thrilled to report that Baraka now has a FOREVER FAMILY!

Birthday: January 1

In January 2017, a tiny baby girl was brought to Treasures of Africa. She had been abandoned in a public outhouse in a rural village. An elderly woman who had gone to use the toilet heard her weak cries. She was a newborn weighing less than 5 pounds.

After being examined at the hospital, she was eventually brought to Treasures of Africa Children’s Home. This tiny treasure was instantly the center of attention of both our staff and children. She has been loved on, prayed over and carefully fed and changed and accepted as a full-fledged family member! Since we had the privilege of naming this precious child, we decided on “Charity Joy,” in order to speak the opposite of what she experienced in that rough beginning. We believe that love and joy will be the hallmarks of her life. She has already brought joy to the house at Treasures of Africa!

UPDATE:

We are thrilled to report that Charity Joy now has a FOREVER FAMILY!