The Face of Hope

No one really likes to hear stories that don’t have happy endings. How often at the end of the movie, do we raise our voice at the screen when it leaves us on a low note, or without explanation? Who really wants to read another depressing account of human suffering coming from Africa? I like to think mine are a tad different but you can be the judge.

Fundisawa is 7 months pregnant and HIV +. She hadn’t eaten a meal in a few days and hardly even looked pregnant. She has three children already, they are all in orphanages. She admits with tears streaming that her children were taken from her because she used to drink a lot. She was hopelessly depressed. Her “husband” sadly meets the stereotypical description: a jobless, drunk, wife beater. She decides to make an adoption plan and is given some food. She is taken a couple days later to the adoption home for pregnant women. She goes into labor early the next day. The doctors delay the baby’s arrival but her husband meets her at the hospital and they leave to go home together, and decide against adoption.

Chandre is 17 years old with a 6 month old baby girl. Chandre has two cousins that have told her that they were raped as children by their grandfather, and he has hurt other children. Chandre now lives with this grandfather and sleeps with one eye open. She has no where else to go. She said she has never been sexually abused. Sadly she considers the 62 year old father of her baby a boyfriend, not a predator. Chandre has been given the opportunity to have help writing a resume and getting a job, and moving away from her grandfather who poses a sickening risk to her baby… But “she doesn’t want to work right now”. The grandfather was taken to court a while back and not convicted.

Jen is 14 and her mom found out that she was pregnant, raped by her cousin, and in labor, all in one moment. Jen has the face and disposition of a mere child. She nervously told her story for the first time, having kept these secrets for months. With the fear of shame and reproof she was calmed by understanding and four breath giving four words, “ Its not your fault..” Jen and her mom wanted an immediate adoption but later changed their mind and are keeping the baby. The cousin has been arrested and a family feud has broken out.

Timbeza has been a foster child herself most of her 21 years. She calls her foster mom, who is nearly 80 years old, mom. She is mentally slow but never missed a day of school. Her foster brother  raped her and two days ago the product of that rape arrived. This little baby could hardly be called a product however. When you look at her tiny face and hands, you know she is worth far more than rubies and her maker just may use her as a secret weapon. Timbeza must stay at hospital in the psychiatric ward for some time because she is severely depressed. The baby has been placed in a Baby Safe foster home until Timbeza gets better.

Shannon would hardly look up. She wouldn’t answer any questions. She looked young, certainly not old enough to have three kids already! It finally came out that Shannon’s alcoholic mother and brother have kicked her out, but still have her kids. She hasn’t eaten in two days, and yes also 7 months pregnant. The baby’s father is on drugs. Shannon admitted she was suicidal and had a plan to take her life, however she wouldn’t admit to what the plan was. Shannon waited for me for couple hours until I was done and it was the promise of food that kept her from leaving. I couldn’t let her leave the hospital in such a state so plans were made to take her to a different trauma unit. Shannon refused to go and the staff did not support me in persuading her. So she was taken to the shop for some food. With her head bowed as I was leaving, she not so shamefully asked for tax fare. Before departing Shannon made a promise not to hurt herself. She called later that week and is doing okay. Of the 8 or so shelters in Cape Town there is not one where a pregnant woman who is keeping her baby can stay.

Chanelle is 21 and has some kids already. Her boyfriend has tried to kill her before. She is 5 months pregnant and addicted to Tck (meth). Her boyfriend is a ganster and she wants help and but every attempt to meet her she has not showed. I was told this week by another girl in the community that she saw Chanelle with a busted lip. The reason she did not show last time was that her boyfriend found out and he actually stoned her, threw rocks at her face.

While my daily encounters often end on far less than a positive note, I have the joy of working with a unique demographic, where hope is always and literally birthed from suffering. Oh the paradox! The agony that a defenseless life is now going to be pulled into to the chaos, the pain, the cycle,….the pressures of a totally dependent child… this intensifies each woman’s circumstances. Yet the joy of new life, and the immeasurable love that a mother has for her child, it is often the one thing many of them can look forward to… seeing the face of their baby. The face of hope.

Hope that they will live a better life, make better decisions, have more, do more, be more.. Every mother hopes.

Cleary the odds are against these incoming lives. The weight of the societal, cultural, and family strongholds, to the faithless  may seem insurmountable. But what if one prayer of faith, that would otherwise never have been prayed, actually sets these babies apart for the King’s use. What if one prayer covering them in the invisible power of Jesus’ blood, one prayer declaring protection, preservation, declaring that they will know the love of their heavenly Father, that they will serve Him and bring Him glory, that His intentions and design for their life will not be thwarted but rather fulfilled…His plan to abide with them, empower them, bring salvation to others through them…. what if this one earnest prayer is granted. I try to touch and pray over every baby I encounter, whether in the womb or out and I “fix my eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”.

Job 6:8
“Oh, that I might have my request,that God would grant what I hope for…

( all names changed; both baby’s pictured with permission & both baby’s pictured were scheduled to be aborted).