Our 'Boys'

Remember our trip to Africa? Well, we got home and HAD TO DO something...we couldn't just keep going on as usual. Luckily, we were able to sponsor the two little babies, Newton and North, who had been brought to Eric's House while we were there. When babies there reach the age of 2 1/2 though, they are given back to their families (or whoever is considered a family member--aunts, uncles, etc.). So after a couple years, we were given new babies to sponsor.

We regularly receive emails updating us on Eric's House and the boys we sponsor--this particular email we received was addressed to us, regarding information and pictures of "our kids". If ONLY they really were!!!

Meet Dennis:
Dennis is little--only 5 months old. He is HIV-negative, but apparently being treated for TB. He is a sweet little thing. Ollie prays for him often before a meal, that "we'll get to ride in a plane way up high and go see Dennis." I would love that.

And here's Jonathon.
Jonathon is actually 3 (almost 4) but has a few physical handicaps which at this point don't allow him to walk. Here is what Roy (their 'dad' at the orphanage) wrote:

Jonathan will be four years old in May. He is by far the happiest child we have. He is now able to get around REALLY fast—crawling, and will walk when assisted. So there is some chance of him being able to walk on his own some day. His father took Victoria, his twin, but wants nothing to do with Jonathan. So Jonathan is one of our ‘keepers’.

We sponsored Victoria (his sister) for a couple years, but she was healthy and able to go home. A 'keeper' means that Jonathon will live at Eric's House until he is 18 (or able to live independently).

Zambia really has no active adoption program right now--and yet it has one of, if not THE highest orphan rates in the world. So it's up to orphanages to find and keep these kids. We found out recently that Eric's House has many babies that don't have sponsors--so if you and your family are looking for a way to really make a difference in the life of a little one--we can pass on that information!

For now, we just love to hear more about these guys--don't you just want to hold and cuddle them???