At Danita's Children, there is always Room for One More. Find out how some of our children came to us and how lives are changed "when love takes you in".

When Love Takes You In | Jocelyn | Gonaives Orphans | Junette | Margarette | Thierry | Lubenson | Rafaelis | Rose Mica | Jameson

In October of 2007, a young Haitian woman showed up at the orphanage with a baby boy. She said she was the child's aunt, forced to care for him because his mother had died. Later, it was discovered that she was really the child's mother, but had conceived him during prostitution, and was embarrassed.

We were filled with compassion and began to pray healing over this baby, as well as for the wisdom to handle the situation properly. Linzi Sharpling, a short-term volunteer for Danita’s Children, agreed to take the child to the closest medical clinic. “This sickly child gazed up at me from the broken stroller. I took off his clothing covered with dirt and urine. He had probably been wearing it for at least three days,” Linzi says. “As I was uncovering his frail body, bones were all I saw. His eyes were somber, slowly closing and opening.”

Doctors said that Jameson had syphilis, so we purchased the proper medication and returned him to his home. Over the next few weeks, Linzi would make home visits to check on Jameson and his family almost everyday. Before long, she became deeply concerned for the child. “On several occasions I found him underneath a table in his own feces, or sitting on the ground in the dirt,” says Linzi. “I suspected he was being physically abused because of the marks on his face.” On one home visit, Linzi noticed that one foot was swollen and asked to take the child across the border to the Dominican Republic to get an x-ray. His ankle had been broken. It was then that we made the decision that there was room for one more in our home.

In January of 2008, Jameson officially became one of our children. It’s unclear exactly how old he is, but this little one, once hidden, is now found. He started walking and will require special shoes and surgery because of his injuries, but he’s a healthy, happy little boy, and has become the joy of the staff and missionaries at Hope for Haiti. Brenda Sapp, long-term missionary for Danita’s Children, has become his new mommy.

"It is a great honor and privilege to be able to see a life changed by the love of God," says Brenda. Psalm 27:10 says, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me…” Because of the support and generosity of our sponsors and donors, Danita’s Children is able to provide Jameson and all of our precious children with the love of a family and the hope of bright future.

To help love, feed and care for a child like Jameson, click here.