Birthday: October 15

It is hard to imagine any parent throwing their own child away like trash. We only know that whoever treated this precious infant like garbage, must have felt an unimaginable level of hopelessness to think that the child would be better off dead than alive in their care.

The baby was only a few weeks old when someone found him thrown away in a plastic bag. He was taken to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Moshi, Tanzania. 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 pediatrician at the hospital who is very familiar with the work of Treasures of Africa, called and let us know of the new arrival.

When we heard his story, we were determined to receive him as the “treasure” that he truly is. Arrangements were made with the Welfare department, informing them that Treasures of Africa Children’s Home was ready to accept the child upon discharge from the hospital.

Baby John Joseph came to live at Treasures of Africa on December 4, 2015. We had the privilege of naming him, and chose the name “John” after the beloved disciple of Jesus. The name John means "Jehovah has been gracious and has shown favor." And we feel like he has been favored of God and so have we - to have him join the Treasures of Africa family! Such joy he has brought to the house!

We gave him the second name of “Joseph” after the Biblical figure who overcame the rejection of his family who sold him into slavery but was destined by God to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. Like those men, we believe little John Joseph 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, while we pray and await a “FOREVER FAMILY” to adopt him.

UPDATE:

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

Birthday: August 3

It is hard to imagine the desperation in the heart of a woman who would leave her newborn baby girl - only hours old – in the middle of the bush. We only know she must have felt utterly despairing of life and hopeless of being able to raise that child.

A villager found the helpless babe and brought her to a hospital in the city of Moshi. She was then turned over to the government Welfare authorities who in turn brought her to Treasures of Africa Children’s Home.

This baby went from being unwanted to cherished in a single day. What a difference a day makes!

One of the privileges we have at TOA is being able to choose a name for these precious treasures when they come to us without one. We take that responsibility quite seriously and we pray for God to reveal the identity He has for that child. We named this beautiful baby girl "HOPE" because we believe she will be a great encourager and "hope-giver" to other people during her lifetime. Please pray for her health and well-being as this tiny baby grows in the loving atmosphere of her new Treasures of Africa family.

UPDATE:

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

Birthday: December 15

Our orphanage Chaplain at Treasures of Africa, Christina Oberst, was at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center for a clinic appointment with one of the TOA kids when she ran into a lady doctor that she knew. Dr. Esther told her that the police had just brought in a tiny abandoned infant that was found in the trash. She wanted to know if Treasures of Africa would take in the child. Christina took the child in her arms and just wept.

Gabriella came to live at Treasures of Africa Children's Home on January 30, 2014. Though no one knew her date of birth or the family she belonged to, God had seen her the day she was born. And He had planned for her safety and care by making sure that she was found before she died alone in that trash can. We know that her coming to Treasures of Africa was truly a divine appointment. Two days before she was found, our Executive Director, who was back in the U.S. at the time, had a dream about finding two abandoned babies - who had been discarded like "trash." Then Gabriella was found by the police and Treasures of Africa was asked to care for her.

Time passed and Gabriella grew, and began to smile, laugh, crawl, and eventually walk. All her “firsts” were cheered and Gabi thrived on the love and attention she was receiving at Treasures of Africa. Meanwhile, the wonderful Christian Pediatrician who had cared for her in the hospital began to make "house calls" and followed Gabi's progress. She had felt God speak to her when she treated her in the hospital, that she was to adopt the little baby girl. So not long before Gabriella's 2nd birthday in December 2015, Dr. Esther and her husband Clint, received the word from the government that the long legal paperwork battle was finished. They brought Gabriellla home for Christmas.

UPDATE:

We are thrilled that Gabriella, whose name means "God is my strength," now has a FOREVER FAMILY!

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!