Abandoned Baby Packs

In an effort to help manage the horrific baby dumping epidemic in South Africa, Baby Safe is putting together “Abandoned Baby Packs” for the South African Police force. Often times, a newborn baby is found in a plastic bag dumped next to a rubbish bin or in an open field. Once the police respond and take baby to hospital, it is too late. By Baby Safe equipping the local Police force on what to do with an abandoned newborn as well as provide them with life saving supplies, we hope to save more babies. I will be visiting and training police on what procedure to follow in the event of finding a newborn baby. This would include clamping the umbilical cord, clothing the child, providing CPR, formula and a legal procedure on where to take child, etc. We are busy putting these life saving “Abandoned baby packs” together. The cost of one is roughly $35 USD. If you want to sponsor one of these packs, let me know!

my studies with UNISA

School studies are going well, challenging but well. It’s constantly a struggle for me to be disciplined and study, when I’d rather be in the communities. I am half way done and enjoying what I am learning! Some of the courses I am taking include business management, social work, psychology in the african context, etc.


me and valentine at nick and danielle's wedding

2 years old

One of my favorite sounds in the whole world is Chene calling
my name, “Alli!” Pronounced A-Yee. My favorite little girl turned
2 years old! It seems like just yesterday I received a phone call
from the police asking me to hide the little newborn from her
young abusive pr*stitute mother. A lot has happened in the 2
years of this little ones life. I am excited for this girlsʼ future. She
has a future, a life!! She is alive! Healthy, happy, full of destiny!
Spared from a generational life of addiction. She
continues to live with grandma while mom is in prison.

the scripture I often pray over Chene's life*
Zephaniah 3:15-19 “Sing, Daughter Zion, Be glad and rejoice with all your heart. The LORD has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you”, says the LORD.”

Yes, it is true...

…I am dating someone. He is an incredible man who loves Africa, and has a heart to see African youth change their continent. His name is Valentine and he is Zimbabwean. He is on staff at All Nations Cape Town and leads CPx outreaches to unreached people in Zanzibar and beyond. We have known each other since 2009 and have been dating since April 2011. We have so much fun together and are looking forward to him coming to Colorado in December.

Makorokoto e Birthday ra mwana!

Baby turns 1 year old!

This time one year ago, baby was fighting for his life. Baby's mom was not coping. Single, jobless, family-less, she was having a hard time handling the stress of a newborn.
Fast-forward to last saturday, as I arrive at baby's house, mom comes running out side with her arms in the air cheering "Oh Alli! Can you believe my baby is one year old today! I am so happy!" We went into her house that she was proud to show off. She and her friends were busy making potato salad and chicken. She proudly showed me baby's cake. I lost count of how many times she said, "thank you God, thank you Alli for helping me with my baby". She goes on to tell Bethany, me and her other friends how this baby should not be alive. She was practically jumping up and down while shouting, "Alli, my friend, I am so much better! I am not so sick, my baby is fat!".
I have been working with Tonya for about a year and a half. After deciding to keep her baby after baby's daddy left her, I got involved in supporting her during her pregnancy. It was a rough pregnancy and an even harder first 3 months of baby's life. In and out of the hospital, we discovered that baby was extremely sick. Baby Safe was extremely involved in their lives, including encouraging Tonya to get onto some life saving medicine. This was scary for mom, as she was fighting stereo-types and common misperceptions about this sickness. Months after getting on the medicine, both mom and baby look and feel amazing!

This is why I live in Africa, to help young mom's like Tonya raise their babies!

**story have been used with permission, names have been changed

umbilical cords

She's 20 years old, 5 months pregnant with her 2nd child and she has no idea what an umbilical cord is for...

As Jenna and I sit on the pavement next the drug apartments, I show her pictures of what her unborn baby looks like at 5 months. It's with excitement that I show her pictures of how her baby's eyebrows and eyelids have already formed. I tell her that her baby is now 5 inches long and about 5 ounces. She can not help but smile.

I have been working with Jenna for over a year and a half. A pr*stitute and Tik (crystal meth) addict, she has already had her first child taken from her because she would beg with him on the street, rain or shine, for spare change for her drug habit. Unfortunately, she never heeded my pleas to get the contraceptive injection. The father of the baby is in prison for theft. Mom continues to drug and walk the streets at night.
Jenna dropped out of school in the 8th grade. She was never shown these pictures, she never had a sex-ed class. It is on the street, 10 feet from the gamblers, that I explain what sex really is. Yes, she is proud of the fact she can "operate with the men", but she has no idea about the scientific/biological side of sex. So how would she know what an umbilical cord is? I explain in the simplest of words that "whatever Jenna eats, baby eats. Whatever Jenna smokes, baby smokes. Whatever Jenna drinks, baby drinks". I can tell she is embarrassed, she puts her jacket hood over her head and stares at her feet. We both smell the Tik chemical seeping out from her pores. I continue to encourage her to get registered at the local clinic for anti-natal check ups and the baby's birth. She is overwhelmed, she doesn't know where to begin the process. She asks me to help her book her first appointment and go with her. She is nervous, all of the nurses know who she is. They will scold her because at 5 months, this will be her first appointment. She is also nervous for the mandatory AIDS test. Right there on the street, I phone the clinic and book her an appointment. I'm also nervous, I'm nervous Jenna's addiction will continue to rule her weekend and monday morning she will not pitch for her appointment. Jenna goes on to tell me how she wants to be a proper mom for this baby. She feels it's going to be a girl. We dream about what this little "girl" will be doing in 1 yr, 5 yrs, 20 yrs. I tell her the first step to being a good mom is to make sure baby is healthy. 2 ways Jenna could make sure baby was healthy is by not using Tik and marijuana and going to the doctor appointment to get babies vitals checked.
Unfortunately, Jenna never went to her doctor appointment and I have not seen her since...

a day of Celebration!!

"Sisterhood of Success" is a Baby Safe Job/Life Skills Training Program, in partnership with Living Way, that is being offered to some of the communities' most down and out women - all looking for REAL change and hope for an exciting future.
Graduation...incredible! We are so proud of the 14 women who, dressed in their Sunday best, graduated today. They completed Sisterhood of Excellence and Sisterhood of Value.

Many of these woman have never graduated from something or received a certificate. This was an exciting moment!

FUTURE BUSINESS OWNERS: Of these 14 women, 5 will go on to "Sisterhood of Dreams" and learn how to create a business plan, conduct market research, and start their own business with a micro-loan.
SOON-TO-BE EMPLOYEES: At the same time, we will continue to meet with the 9 women who are now actively seeking employment. With weekly support groups, we will empower them to look for jobs online, keep their resume/CV up-to-date, role-play for interviews and become accountable for applying for jobs.

my sweet Theresa. the Lord highlighted her to me a week before Sisterhood started. she approached me and asked if she could do Sisterhood. She was faithful to come and participate and do her homework. There were a few days where she was beaten with a garden ho or a knife the night before but she still managed to get her daughter to preschool and catch a taxi to class.

This is the first thing most of these girls have graduated from or finished successfully. There was lots of tears of joy and laughter. No longer are these girls known as drug addicts or prost*t*tes but as students, small business owners! Victory!

Sisterhood of Success

(julie and alli. fearless Sisterhood leaders and relentless dreamers of change)


Looking back at Julie's journal entries I'm amazed at how well things went... take a look.

March 10, 2011 - Graduation...incredible! We are so proud of the 14 women who graduated today. They completed Sisterhood of Excellence and Sisterhood of Value.

BUSINESS OWNERS: Of these women, 5 will go on to "Sisterhood of Dreams" and learn how to create a business plan, conduct market research, and start their own business with a micro-loan.

EMPLOYEES: At the same time, we will continue to meet with the 9 women who are now actively seeking employment. With weekly support groups, we will empower them to look for jobs online, keep their resume/CV up-to-date, role-play for interviews and become accountable for applying for jobs.

February 18, 2011 - We have 15 women attending the class and they LOVE every minute! They say the class is already changing their mindset and it's amazing to see how their attitudes and even lifestyles have changed in these first 2 weeks of the class. During each class we do a Discovery Bible Studies and they are learning how to hear God speak to them. It’s amazing to see these women laugh, share, and discover a God that cares deeply about them! See February journal updates.

February 8, 2011 - They came!! We have 13 women attending the class. I was hoping for 12 and God threw in an extra one. Amazing!
February 6, 2011 - The class starts tomorrow. Pray that they come! I would love to have 10 women there. Note: God provided childcare workers for most of the days this week. Yeah!

January 31, 2011 - Here is our BIG prayer need: We have no one to watch the kids while the mothers are in class! Even after all the hard work the mothers have gone to raise money for the class – if there is no one to watch their kids, they won’t come.

January 10, 2011 - Wow! We have 15 women fundraising in the community for this class! Please pray God would bless their efforts. Many women have not sold any diapers yet, and need the Lord's blessing.

January 6, 2011 - Please pray from the fundraiser meeting today and tomorrow (that women would actually come to the meeting and feel encouraged and enabled to sell the diapers).

December 10, 2010 - God provided a sponsor for the program (although the women will still need to raise about half the money) **THANK YOU FAITH BIBLE CHAPEL WOMENS MINISTRY!!!!

December 3, 2010 - Thank you for praying for our first informational meeting, introducing the Sisterhood of Succes Job Skills program to women in the community. At first we thought no one was coming...read journal update.

Prayer

This course will put a major cramp on the enemy's strategy to destroy these girls' lives, so we are anticipating a lot of spiritual warfare. Please pray…
*that the ladies continue to come and have their heart encouraged and mindsets changed
*that Christ will continue to draw them to Himself and ultimately live a life of Freedom
* protection for our team (Alli, Bethany, Julie and Melissa)- physical, mental, emotional, & spiritual protection tomorrow
*that the girls would crave freedom and righteousness (start to hate drugs, selling sex, lying, stealing, gangs, abusive relationships, and violence)
Course Description
Sisterhood of Success is a two month course offered in February and March to women in the communities. There will be three classes within the course and Discovery Bible Studies will be integrated throughout program.



One woman said, "I have already changed my entire mindset and know I will be success in life. I am excited to start my own business and be an example of positive change in my community!"
Another woman said, “I am hopeful for my future! With the tools learned in this class, I will be able to find a job and stay employed so I can provide for my family.”

1: Sisterhood of Excellence (STEPS to Excellence program)
Social scientists estimate that as human beings we use only 1 % - 5 % of our potential during our lifetime. This program taught the women how the mind works, which thought patterns make some people more successful than others, and how to think more effectively. They learned that each of us creates our own barriers to success, happiness, and fulfillment! The women discovered that obstacles disappear when they have a clear picture of their habits, attitudes, aspirations, potential and goals.

Class #2: Sisterhood of Value (Work Readiness program)
This course taught the women how to find employment and earn promotions based on the values of work ethic, initiative, time management, communication, integrity, conflict resolution, hygiene and goal setting.

Class #3: Sisterhood of Dreams (Pre-entrepreneur program):
Based on performance and personal goals, several women from the class will go on to become business owners in their community! This course will teach them how to create a business plan, research the industry and apply for a micro loan.
Discovery Bible Studies have been integrated throughout the program: Women have learned to read the Bible for themselves, discover what God is saying to THEM, and be encouraged to obey God.

2010 in review. How Baby Safe impacted our communities.

In 2010, approximately 500 babies were dumped in Cape Town alone. A result of poverty, abuse, HIV/AIDS, hopelessness and desperation, the challenge seemed overwhelming. And yet…










Even in the midst of seemingly impossible obstacles, the LORD is bringing hope.







In 2010 Baby Safe worked with a recorded total of 238 women and children, and others that were not documented. In one year, we saw 107 women for the Termination of Pregnancy counseling at the local hospital. Of these women, 20 of them changes their minds and made a choice for life-over 1/5th!-and possibly more that went unknown.

We worked with 58 women on an individual level of some kind who made a choice to parent, and saw the birth of 38 babies.

7 babies were successfully placed in loving homes through adoption.

8 children were put in a place of safety in our network of safety families, 4 of whom were placed long term while the other 4 were able to be reunited with their family.

27 women and children experienced intervention or preventing for either difficult or even life-threatening situations, many going through the process of discipleship.

2010 saw the 1st baby left successfully in our baby safe, as 1 brave woman chose to give her child a future rather than dumping it!

These women and children came to us from every background, circumstance, race and region. We worked with countless from our local communities of Masiphumelele, Ocean View, and Fish Hoek, as well as surrounding areas like Muizenberg or even Khayelitsha. They were black, white and colored, Xhosa, Afrikaanse, Zulu, Zimbabwean, Malawian, and more. Each one different. Each one desperate.
Yet the LORD sees each of them and calls them by name. He called them to life and not death, to hope and to healing. He looks upon them and sees his children, forsaken royalty, calling them to a greater destiny. “The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will designate. You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,” nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”; but you will be called, “My delight is in her,” and your land, “Married”; for the LORD delights in you.” -Isaiah 62:2-4.

In 2010, 50+ babies were not dumped. 78+ mothers chose life; they made a plan and sought help instead of a rubbish heap. 27+ women and children walked a road of rescue or restoration, to prevent these circumstances from even happening. 238 lives were touched, changed, challenged.

In 2010, the statistics dropped by 238.

Now in 2011, we look ahead with expectation, that the LORD will do even more!
**photos used with permission

the baby safe

For those of you who are curious about the looks and working of an actual baby safe which we use to receive abandoned babies, here is a staged shot for you. This is not an actual abandoned baby but an enactment that we staged for a newspaper interview. We are thankful for the publicity and that this magazine is writing a feature article which includes an interview with one of our mothers who decided to keep and parent her child. This particular safe is located in the front of a church and was the very first one to be installed in 2008. The child inside is 18 months old {premature} so you can see approximately how large the safe is in relation to her.

We are working on our 3.0 version of the baby safe wich will be deeper and taller to hold an older child. A children’s home in Heramanus, South Africa just joined the Baby Safe Network and picked up theirs from us this week!
This month we transitioned to a new system of production and we are overwhelmed by the generousity and committment from a new team member, a company called GSM Commander. They are volunteering their time and energy to lead the process of obtaining donations of all the parts we need to make baby safes, so that the cost of them will decrease dramtically with the aim of being completely free. We would like to give away atleast 50 baby safes a year to areas of need. GSM Commander are also giving their company as a base of technical assistance for our growing network of baby safes ( www.gsmcommander.com). We remain deeply thankful to the orginal creator and manufacturer of the baby safe, Luke Pederson (www.pedersenlennard.co.za).

God is reaching his mighty arm to rescue the unwanted through out Africa…

Next installs are a church in Swaziland, a community care centre in Inchanga, a All Nations mission base in Zambia, and the city centre of a region called Potcheftsroom…