It Began with Bale

I just heard from Lale and he picked up a 10 day old baby boy, he promised pictures soon! He also said that he is heading back out to the Hammer tribe where there is another baby waiting for him to come rescue it. We are praying that things go smooth and that he is able to rescue this new baby. He is renting a car for this trip and it appears that it may be the last rental we need to do, the new car should be here any day now… Fingers crossed on that one!

I’m moved to tears to think that these babies and children are killed. I think of my friend, who as I write this entry, is in labor with twins. She and her husband wanted children so badly and had already been approved for adoption before being blessed with a pregnancy of their own. I guess I wrestle with the fact that the people who are not in a place or even ready to receive a child, can get pregnant and the ones who want children so badly, can sometimes not conceive. In the case of these children, they have a family and are loved. However, if the village elder says your child will bring a curse to your people and orders your child to be thrown into a river to die, you have no other choice. How heartbreaking…..for a family, a mother, and the child.

I was not in the position to be having a child at age 20, only half way into college, with my boyfriend back in his home country, Australia and legally not approved to work in my country. What a mess of timing. However, God has His own plan and brought us together, making something I only could have dreamed up become a reality. I believe if you are even willing, not necessarily ready, then He will bring change!

Kristen was willing and ready. I heard from her auntie, who is a dear friend of mine that her niece, Kristen had gone to Africa to speak with the elders to ask if they would turn the children they deem “mingi” or ”cursed” over to her and others to care for instead of throwing them into the river to drown. Thus “Drawn from Water” was born. This amazing organization has grown so much in just over a year. Within eight weeks of the first rescue, eight more children were rescued!! I believe so passionately in this organization. Ten percent of profits from Julie Cahill Photography are donated here. To learn more, check out their blog, Drawn from Water and please view the short video below.

“And sometimes it takes just one voice

to interrupt the pattern of injustice…”

Please, please, please watch this amazing and beautifully made video about the birth of this organization.