New Life Home for AIDS Babies

Big Ted & I share some cake.

After our third Kiswahili lesson, we headed out in the afternoon to New Life Homes, a 24-hour daycare center for abandoned infants and toddlers with AIDS. The home has existed here in Nairobi since 1994, with plans to have centers in each of Kenya’s 8 provinces. They take in babies that have been abandoned by their parent(s) in hospitals, trash heaps and even urinal pits. Many of the babies come in as HIV positive but within a few months turn HIV negative (I’m not certain why the change). Many mothers are so desperate in their unwanted and shameful state of being HIV positive that they cannot bear to raise their kid in such an environment. The organizations tries to confront these issues not only by taking in the babies but also educating the women on opportunities, treatment and the misconception that their babies will be condemned with AIDS.

We got to spend time with the kids - two of whom were celebrating a birthday - by playing, holding and walking with them. In the pictures you’ll find Ted & me eating cake (above) and Levin and me and exploring what’s behind the stairs (below). I thoroughly enjoyed the time there and seeing God’s redeeming life and hope in each of these kids’ faces. So many babies come to New Life unresponsive to any outside influence, yet in a few weeks most are crying, laughing and responding to the caretakers. There were tons of volunteers there to take care of and play with the 40 plus babies, and the center draws financial resources from both at home and abroad. As one worker said, the wealthier Kenyans are finally getting the picture that they, too, can donate their time and resources to a worthwhile cause. As my grandmother often reminds me, some of are blessed that we might be a blessing to others. To find out more, go to www.newlifehometrust.org or email info@newlifehometrust.org.