ATLARELA BABY HOME
This month was full of challenges, but we are grateful to God, who gives us grace and helps us continue caring for each of our children with patience, dedication, joy, and deep love. We will keep striving to care for them and meet their needs in the best way possible.
Lady. L
The Strong-Willed Explorer with a Playful Heart
Lady L. is growing well and continues to thrive. She loves school and enjoys running around, often following the older boys in the home. She is a busy, determined, and strong-willed little girl. This month, we are focusing on supporting her speech development, as she is slightly delayed.
She tends to use similar sounds for different words, although her understanding is strong and she follows instructions well. We are working to support her through intentional conversation, reading, and singing. Additionally, we will continue guiding her in learning to regulate her emotions, helping her understand that God is the King of the world and of her life.
Mr. N
The Affectionate Storyteller with a Growing Voice
Mr. N. continues to grow and develop so well. It has been amazing to see how much his vocabulary has expanded over the past few months, and his storytelling has become increasingly detailed and expressive. He remains a very affectionate boy, generously giving hugs and kisses to both caregivers and other children.
Recently, he began visits with a family we are prayerfully hoping will soon become his own. We praise the Lord for the progress in his case and continue to pray that he will be home soon. While we have shared many sweet and special moments, there have also been challenging days where he struggles with making good choices and may hurt those around him. We are working consistently on setting clear boundaries, applying consequences, and encouraging positive behavior through a reward system.
Lady N
The Brave Fighter Wrapped in Strength and Resilience
Lady N. has had a particularly challenging few weeks. She has been more vocal, often expressing herself through increased screaming and resistance, especially during standing activities. Mealtimes have also become more difficult. Many days are hard, as she is unable to communicate clearly when something is troubling her. We are incredibly grateful for a dedicated team of caregivers who patiently use trial and error to understand her needs. Their willingness to comfort her, even during long and difficult moments, is a beautiful reflection of the love she receives daily.
She continues to attend therapy twice a week, and we are consistently working on walking and standing with her. We are thankful to have recently received feedback regarding her case after a long period of silence. We are praying for wisdom and diligence for her caseworkers as they seek what is best for her. We also praise the Lord for an upcoming court date in May.
Mr. L
He has become much more physically active and enjoys staying busy, especially during outdoor playtime. He loves coming home to share stories about his day, his friends, and his experiences at school.
Mr. K
The Joyful Little Scholar Stepping into Big Adventures
Mr. K. began attending school last week—and he is absolutely loving it! We are so thankful for the Lord’s provision through this school, which has been incredibly kind and generous to us. He now attends the same school as some of the other children, which has been a great blessing. He delights in getting ready each morning, proudly putting on his backpack and heading off like a “big boy.”
When asked about his day, his response is often, “I went to school and played with my friends.” We are grateful for how this new environment is gently stretching him beyond his comfort zone and helping him grow. This has been a long-awaited answer to prayer. At home, he continues to bring joy with his humor and energy and remains a helpful presence. We also praise the Lord for his upcoming court date in May.
Mr. B
The Lively Leader with Endless Energy and a Joyful Spirit
Mr. B. is a lively and energetic boy who brings constant movement and excitement to the home. From the moment he wakes up until he falls asleep, he is full of energy and enthusiasm. In many ways, he is the heartbeat of the house. He has a joyful and contagious laugh, which can sometimes distract from moments of disobedience. We are working intentionally on consistent discipline and helping him learn to regulate his emotions.
He is beginning to understand that he is not the center of everything, but that he was created to honor and glorify God. Since Mr. K. started school, he has been enjoying more focused attention at home, which he clearly values. He has a strong love for learning, and it has been wonderful to see his concentration improve. He especially enjoys sorting colors, coloring, playing with playdough, and enthusiastically practicing the days of the week.
Caring for them through laughter, tantrums, and endless running around—guiding, correcting, and nurturing them every step of the way.
Exploring the World at Full Speed
He continues to amaze us with how quickly he is developing. He loves exploring and moves quickly toward anything that catches his interest. He is beginning to pull himself up on objects and is very curious about handles and knobs. He often looks at people with a thoughtful or puzzled expression, which quickly turns into a sweet smile.
Baby T is also becoming quite the little escape artist, keeping us on our toes as he tries to crawl under furniture. This month, we are working on crawling on all fours, and we are confident he will master it very soon.
Baby S.
A Gentle Journey of Growth
He is becoming more and more expressive, enjoying “chatting” and babbling to himself. He smiles easily and loves to move around as if he is “swimming,” even if he doesn’t get very far yet. He enjoys cuddles and being around others, and he is showing great enthusiasm during mealtimes. He is very interactive when spoken to face-to-face and responds quickly when his name is called. This month, we are working on developing his scooting and sitting skills as he continues to grow and thrive, especially considering his premature start.
He enjoys being where the action is and loves taking part in whatever others are doing. He also has a strong interest in music, especially the guitar, and can often be seen playing air guitar with enthusiasm. This month, we are focusing on helping him follow instructions well and respond when others speak to him. He is a kind friend, always quick to offer a comforting hug or gentle pat.
A Burst of Energy and Laughter
He is full of energy and can go from calm to highly active in an instant. He truly loves life and expresses his excitement in big, enthusiastic ways. We are supporting him in learning to use words instead of shouting, especially when he feels frustrated.
He has a joyful, contagious laugh—especially during playtime—and loves chasing after the adults while calling their names and giggling. He is also beginning to engage more with books and story time, even though sitting still for long periods remains a challenge.
A Budding Leader with a Joyful Spirit
He is becoming increasingly independent and enjoys helping wherever he can. At times, he seems to think he is one of the adults, as he often tells the other children what to do or eagerly runs to the gate to greet visitors. He loves reading storybooks and dancing to a good beat (and he’s quite a talented dancer too!). It’s wonderful to see him beginning to reason and figure things out for himself.
He has a playful sense of humor and often makes himself laugh with his own jokes. He is a joy to be around as we watch him embrace life. This month, we are helping him learn to spell his name and encouraging him to persevere, especially when tasks feel challenging.
Thank you for making it this far in our newsletter. Here are our prayer requests for this month. May God bless your faithfulness and support
Until next month!
Muphamuzi Baby Home
Prayer requests:
- Perseverance and encouragement as we handle multiple maintenance issues one after another, without becoming discouraged.
- Protection and good health for the babies as winter approaches, especially with colds and flu going around.
- Wisdom and guidance as we teach our boys about Jesus and their need for Him.
Atlarela Baby Home
Prayer requests: There has been a number of prayers, that we have been praying for a while now and it is such a joy to see the Lord answer these!
- Please continue to pray for the finalisation of Nkateko's case and that he would be home soon.
- Praying for a clear way forward with the other children. That they would be matched with godly families.
- Pray for renewed strength and daily grace for the ladies caring for our kiddos, the days a long and some harder than others.
- Pray we would be a good witness to these kiddos, that we would point them to the love of Christ.