An Oasis in the Desert

At God's Littlest Angels, we have all endured a great deal of loss over the past four weeks. For us, each new arrival signifies new hope - a chance to sooth someone else's hurts. It is in reaching out to these suffering little ones, that our own hearts begin to heal.

On Friday, our orphanage Director was given temporary custody of 32 children, who have been in the care of BRESMA orphanage in Port-au-Prince. This is the same orphanage that transferred Peterson into our care on Wednesday.

Their buildings were badly damaged by the magnitude 7 earthquake that stuck Haiti on the 12th of January this year. BRESMA's children have been living outside, and the orphanage staff have not been able to supply adequate food and medicine to them. The Director of the BRESMA orphanage has become increasingly concerned for the welfare of these children, who have been exposed to nightly rainfall over the past week.


Most of the youngest children (under the age of three) are sick. They show signs of recent weight loss, and they have ear infections, chest infections, parasites and diarrhoea. Four of the babies, including Peterson, were in Hospital on Friday,They joined us at GLA yesterday, as soon as they are discharged.

I feel so blessed that were we able to welcome these children into God's Littlest Angels. We can provide them with safe drinking water, nutritious food, and round the clock care from our nurses and nannies, together with play opportunities and schooling.

This 10 month old girl was among the new arrivals. She weighs just over 12lb. It seems as though she is a failure to thrive baby; she has not been gaining weight over the past few months. This beautiful baby girl has scabies, a troublesome cough, and an ear infection.

I have enrolled her on our malnutrition programme. She will be receiving high calorie milk, enriched peanut butter and supplemental vitamins. She will also receive medicines for her skin condition and her ear infection. She is very hungry, and eats very well, so I am sure that she will recover soon.

It is so good to have these children here; to love them, hug them, hold them, heal them. They have been through such a lot in the past month and a half. They arrived like wanderers in the desert; tired and desperatey thirsty. They have certainly found their oasis.