1 Year: 2 Parts

Part 1: Shepherd’s Keep

I can’t believe I only have one week left in South Africa!  Time has flown by.  I feel like it was only 3 months ago that I was starting at Shepherd’s Keep, getting the orientation and learning how to change a stoma bag for Philisandi (which I never had to do).  He was so tiny. I felt like I was picking up air when I lifted him, but now he has gained weight making him nice and round.  He is genuinely one of the most relational, people-oriented babies I have worked with.  He loves talking to, and smiling at everyone, even strangers. I think most of you know, but Philisandi was found as a premature baby in the back of an abandoned pick- up truck.  Had it not been for Shepherd’s Keep, he might not be the chipper, outgoing baby we know today.  Philisandi is one of the two babies who were there for the complete duration of my stay.  His first birthday is this week!  (Pic of Philisandi then and now).  

Philisandi January 2011

Philisandi November 2011

Cheryl and Michelle threw me a little tea time farewell, and tears were shed as they thanked me (Yes, people still do teatime here.  It is even demarcated in a work schedule: Teatime- 10:30-11:00). The made a photo booklet of my time there with all the babies, staff and volunteers.  I had to count backwards from 10 as I looked through photos of smiley babies, so I wouldn’t start sobbing.  Cheryl sat beside me talking of where babies had gone or were going.  She has been doing this of over 20 years now, and still cares so deeply for each one of these children.  So much so, that she comes down to each of the babies at night making sure they are okay and in good health. 

One thing I have learned from Shepherd’s is that one woman with a vision CAN make a significant difference.  As mentioned with Philisandi, the place that is Shepherd’s Keep, started by Cheryl Pratley, has completely changed the entire direction of his life.  During the most CRUCIAL time of human existence, Shepherd’s Keep comes into an abandoned baby’s life to nurture in every sense of the word: physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.  Each infant is given the best of formula and food, coddled whenever it starts crying, and is prayed for on a daily basis.  The entire staff and volunteers love on these children, and make sure to keep a positive, healthy atmosphere for these new lives. 


Being out in the townships, some of the poorest and most dangerous areas of SA, on a weekly basis in the crèches, I can say with 100% certainty, that the babies at Shepherd’s Keep were saved.  Each week a crèche owner will pull me over to see a small child with some kind of ailment, either burns, rashes, sores or internal infection that stems from lack of proper care from their parent or caregiver.  Normally the child with the infection is tied to a parent that is rarely home, or an alcoholic, or didn’t plan for or want the child.  Cheryl Pratley saw that babies were being discarded in the most awful of ways, in trash bags or long drops, because they were unwanted. She knew these innocent new born lives weren't ever even given a chance. After seeing this need, and having a desire to make things right for these babies, she created a place where they were not only wanted, but even more so they were so wanted that a new family would come out to look for them. 

Working on the pincer grasp

Cheryl is a real life inspiration and example to me.  She is someone I truly look up to, and can mimic a few of my future steps after.  This year I have honed in on what areas of child development I would like to work, and Cheryl has shown me how to make it happen, and how difficult the work can be, yet rewarding it is.  I feel fortunate to have worked alongside her, to learn from her, and care for the babies.  It has been a real honor.