Last year a tiny 2.2  pound baby came to live at Neema.  She had been abandoned at the hospital and Grandpa Jack said she was not much to look at then.

Maxine in the hospital

A few days later we realized this baby we had named Maxine was in serious trouble.  So we made an emergency trip back to the  hospital  where she stayed in the NICU unit for more than two weeks being fed through a tube in her tummy.   Our daughter Bekah, an EMT directing Neema for a few months until Matt and Kelly could arrive,  said this baby was strong willed as an elephant!  That, and the incredible Grace of God, saw her through some tough days.

Rebekah feeding Maxine with a dropper

Now as precocious, cute and funny as they come, Maxine survived and found her way into the hearts of everyone at Neema House.

Maxine making a funny face

Instead of crying she made a funny  Who –WAhh’ sound when she wanted your attention and had the cutest laugh I have ever heard a baby make.  And she grew and became beautiful and chubby and funny and worked her way into the hearts of Ron and Stella, an Arusha couple looking for a baby to adopt decided she was the baby for them

Maxine and new mon, Stella

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So last Saturday Maxine got to go home!  We had a huge party for her and all the nannies came in even those off duty.  We fried 15 chickens, made a huge fruit salad and baked a cake to celebrate this incredibly happy, sad day.  Stella and Ron gave each of the staff a gift and Stella read a thank you note to each one that began with  Who – Wah.’   Ron had us all in tears as he said, “You have all done a good job saving this baby and we’ll take over from here.”

Maxine and her new dad. Notice the same facial expressions!

Stella, a Tanzanian, and Ron from Scotland both work for the UN.  Ron had worked in the past tracking down warlords from the Rwandan massacres.  I told him Maxine will be the only baby in Arusha speaking Swahili in a Scottish brogue.

Maxine with her cake

While the Music Man played, Ron waltzed Maxine around the room and through tears of joy my heart knew that Maxine had found her permanent  home.

Dorris loving Maxine

Once again what the evil one meant for death, God meant for life!  Praise His Name!

Michael and Dorris Fortson

If you want to read the story of Maxine published last year in our blog we hope to republish it later for your enjoyment!

We have had some great videos of life around Neema made this summer by volunteers.
Astrid and Edward from Belgium made a beautiful video and you can view it here.  Having reviewed the published blog, I am now putting this disclaimer.  The end of Edward and Astrid’s video contains material neither we nor they intended, and we can not find a way to delete it.  Sorry  The video they published is great.

Barry and Rebecca from Australia made a video that will touch your heart as you see this sweet couple loving the Neema babies.  You can view it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuPsQwrgvHo