“I don’t have time for her any more.” “I’m tired.” “I no longer want him.” “If you don’t take him, I will destroy him.” “I want to go to school, this child is keeping me from my goals.” “There is no one who will care for him.” “I stopped feeding him more than a week ago.” “Please take this girl.” These are just a few of the words that I heard over the past several weeks as parents, grandparents, and the police brought several special needs children to us and pleaded for us to take them.
5 additional families came to us in a similar situation. Praise God we were able to rescue all 6 children.
One of our goals at His Safe Haven’s Village is to help parents be successful at raising their own special needs children. We do not believe the solution for every child is our group homes. As I meet with parents, I try hard to persuade them to love and keep their children. I often share my testimony of how my special needs brother, Michael, changed my life. I often quote Scriptures about being created in the image of God and about being knit together in our mother’s womb. I tell parents that God does not make mistakes therefore their children are not mistakes. I try hard to convince parents that their children are not broken. They are not a demon, a snake, a devil nor the result of sin. I speak! I pray! I speak more! I pray more! The result is almost always the same. If we do not intervene, children suffer and are starved. These children are not broken! We are the ones who are broken!
There is a fine line I walk when I counsel parents. While trying to persuade parents to keep their children I have to discern if the child’s life is in danger. Last month, two special needs children were drowned in our county and 5 children were brought to us who were in the process of being starved to death. My heart breaks! A few weeks ago, I became infuriated as I counseled two families whom I learned were in the process of starving their children to death. I told them, “If you lock your child in a room and allow her to starve to death, you are guilty of murder! While the world around you may think you are doing something good, you will answer to God someday for your actions! What will you tell God when He asks you why you murdered your daughter?” I praise God, both of these children are now my children! They are safe in our group homes!
Sometimes, parents say some of the most hurtful things in front of their special needs children, knowing full well that their children understand everything they are saying. The tragic impact on their children is beyond words! About 2 months ago, we rescued Joash. He was also in the process of being starved to death. He was completely aware of his parents words and actions. He has been grieving deeply since we received him. It is like he has no will to survive. We have to force him to live. Please pray that God heals his heart!
Please keep His Safe Haven group homes in your prayers. We have built 5 group homes, a community kitchen and a medical clinic. Our 6th group home, dinning hall and therapy center are nearly completed.
Sadly, our 6th group homes is already full even though it is still under construction. Please pray that we can construct 4 more group homes soon and that we will be able to find sponsors for all of our children.
I want you to meet all 25 of our precious sons and daughters.
