It was a warm, dusty Tuesday afternoon. The breeze blew softly, and the big blue sky was dotted with white, fluffy clouds as we drove to the Rescue Center. I was back in Kenya again!

Seipei, an eighth grader at the Rescue Center, had become pregnant while home on break. On September 29, her son, Samwel "Sammy" Sarini, was born in a little hospital near the Rescue Center, and Seipei's mother was called to take him home. Seipei is a Maasai girl; the Maasai tribe still practices female genital mutilation. Because she was rescued at a young age, she had not been circumcised; being pregnant and unmarried put a "taboo" on her family. Seipei must not return home before reaching adulthood, or she will be beaten severely and then circumcised.

My daughter and I came to the Rescue Center that day because Seipei's mother was unable to care for Sammy, and she was bringing him to us to place in the care of Sicily, a lay pastor's wife. Seipei stays in Sicily's home during school breaks and learns how to be a mother.

We walked to the Rescue Center matron's bedroom; Seipei's mother sat on the couch, her face showing no emotion with eyes unwilling to meet ours. On the couch lay a bundle of blankets tightly fitted together. I unrolled the blankets one at a time. The last blanket worried me; there was no movement or sound coming from it. I carefully opened it, and there lay one of the most perfect little babies I had ever seen. There was no sign of life, though. I took Sammy's hand, and gently moved it. There was no response. Then, slowly, his eyes opened and closed. We gently changed Sammy and wrapped him in clean blankets.

Seipei came in; I tried to hand Sammy to her, but she refused. There were no tears; there appeared to be no emotion at all. The sun was slipping away behind the horizon, and we needed to get home before dark.

For the next couple days I bathed, fed, comforted, changed diapers and rocked Sammy to sleep. Friday came, and we packed for the trip to his new home. We arrived late Friday afternoon. I wrapped Sammy in his blanket and placed him in Sicily's loving arms. Words cannot describe how my heart felt. I knew I was doing the right thing, but in just those few days my heart bonded to his. As I lay in my tent that night, my eyes filled with tears; my heart ached with loneliness. I knew, though, that God had given me a small glimpse of the love that He has for each of us. How His heart aches when we are away from Him; how He yearns to hold us close and keep us safe. I pray for baby Sammy every morning; I know he will grow up to be a great Maasai warrior for Christ!

Kim DeWitt of Owosso, Michigan, is director of sponsorships for Maasai Development Project, an ASI-member organization. For additional information, readers may contact Kim at letmeshine4him@yahoo.com.