Meet Nancy!!!

A lot of people told me that they were predicting I would come back from my trip with a Kenyan baby. As much as I would LOVE to physically bring an adorable Kenyan little one back to the States, the government unfortunately won't let me do that. So instead I have chosen the alternative option...I'm coming back with a precious Kenyan toddler in my heart.

Meet Nancy.

(Nancy on the swing at Naomi's Village)

 

Nancy was born in 2010 to a father that was never around and a mother who was an alcoholic. When Nancy was an infant her mom would disappear everynight and leave Nancy's 3 year old sister, Rosemary, to care for herself and her baby sister. On one of those nights the steaming hot pot of chai tea that Rosemary was trying to pour for herself (because her mother had left) tipped and the scalding tea fell on top of Nancy at the age of 9 months old. All of Nancy's right side, trunk and arm, were burned deeply. No one came to rescue the girls even though they cried all the way through the night. The next morning their mother staggered in still drunk and found Nancy with third degree burns over 1/4th of her body and very near death. The skin peeled off of Nancy’s side and arm when her mother picked her up and they ran for the nearest road to find a ride to the hospital. Nancy was in the hospital for a week and once she returned home, her burn wounds got worse because her mom did not have the understanding, supplies, or maturity to care for them.  Her mom started drinking more and more after feeling the guilt of the accident. Infection started to set in on the burns and if a visiting relative would not have come by then Nancy would have died. Nancy was thankfully given proper treatment for the infection at the hospital, and her mother was sentenced to 2 years prison.

 

(Above picture shows the burns on Nancy's arm and hand)

Both daughters went to prison with their mother to continue to be raised there by her. They spent 2 years of their childhoods locked inside the prison walls. In April 2013, their mother was released from prison. She unfortunately started drinking right after being released and she knew relatives would catch on so she left the girls in half-built houses and abandoned buildings all night, ignoring their pleas and cries as she left to drink until sunrise.  This went on for 7 months before a friend found out about her secret and threatened to turn her in to the police. Faced with the choice of keeping her kids or continuing drinking, she abandoned the two little girls at a friend’s house and took flight for good and has not been found since.  The girls were sent to live with an uncle in a 7×7 ft shack but their uncle could not provide for them there and child services soon contacted Naomi's Village and the girls both moved there in mid-January 2014.

(Nancy the first time she got to try on the dress-up clothes)

 

Exactly one month after Nancy had arrived at Naomi's village I had the opportunity to go visit the orphanage with my mom. My heart was broken hearing the children's stories but at the same time I fell in love with all of the precious kids. One of the first questions I asked the family that runs the orphanage was "Do any of your kids have disabilities and need PT?" And they immediately responded by describing how one of their newest family members, Nancy, had bad burn contractures and would be needing lots of medical procedures and PT to get movement back in her trunk and arm. After my visit to the orphanage I started praying about sponsoring a child from Naomi's village because I believe in their mission and vision of raising up godly Kenyan leaders and I want to play whatever small role I can in that.

This week I decided to sponsor Nancy and she knows me as "Auntie Anna." I had the opportunity to go visit the orphanage again today and I got to play with precious 3 year old Nancy. She has a beautiful smile and a fantastic laugh! She loves playing with my long blonde hair and putting it on top of her head and pretending like its hers and laughing hysterically. She wanted to be held and carried or have me hold her hand the majority of the day. She needed some help with eating because it is very hard for her to use her contractured right hand. (I'm actually impressed with how well she has learned to use it despite the severity of the burn contracture.)  We got to do a lot of swinging outside and play a lot of games with the other adorable kiddos. She loves high fives and she also liked to "pound". My heart is overflowing with love for Nancy and all of the other kids at Naomi's Village. I feel so blessed for the time I have been able to spend there at the village and with my precious Nancy!

(Nancy playing with the toys today at Naomi's Village)

 

I plan on playing a role in Nancy's life in several ways: 1) I want to pray for her often. The surgeries and treatment she will have to undergo will be excruciatingly painful and I want to pray that it will go well and that she will feel God's peace and love through the whole process. 2) I want to skype and facetime with her. They let the sponsors do that and I seriously can't wait to see her precious face on my screen ; ) 3) I think that my family will be coming back to this hospital and village again and I look forward to seeing her again someday and having my family meet her as well!

-Everyday 700 kids become orphans in Kenya. Naomi's Village is trying to help these orphans and they now provide a home to 50 orphans all under the age of 13 from all over Kenya. They need sponsorship for all of their children so if you are interested at all in becoming part of this process then please check out the website/facebook page or email me if you have any questions about it! http://naomisvillage.org/. https://www.facebook.com/NaomisVillage#!/NaomisVillage

 

PS- if you recognize the name Naomi's village it's because I wrote about it in my "Story of Elisha" blog! It's so neat to see how all of our stories have been weaved together!