Albert and I have always thought that at some stage of our lives, when we were really wealthy or when the kids had left the house or when they were at least all teenagers, or when we were in an easy phase of life.. that we would perhaps look at fostering a child.

My heart has always particularly gone out to the children at Botshabelo as I have witnessed the desperate need for these children to be in families. I have prayed that families would open their homes to these children and have been aware that if I was praying this for other families I should be prepared to do this myself. Of course I would be - once all the above-mentioned conditions were in place. And so life for the Browns continued as usual.

At the beginning of 2006 my domestic worker left me after 8 years. We parted on good terms and we kept in touch with one another. After our move in November, I had some things that I wanted to give her to sell as I knew that she was unemployed. Albert phoned to drop off the things but she was away that weekend and he made an arrangement to drop off the stuff the following weekend. Albert arrived on the Sunday and she was too sick to get out of bed. Her sister invited Albert into her home and Albert returned home visibly upset. He said that she was so sick that he didn’t think she would live for another 3 days. She died that night.

This lady left behind Nathan - a 6 year old boy who we knew about because he was born while she was still working for me. His father had died when he was two. Albert and I had spoken in passing about what would happen to Nathan if his mom ever died. We phoned his uncle and we discovered that Nathan was living with him but that his uncle already had 5 children of his own and was supporting them and his wife in a small room in Orange Grove.

Albert and I agonized for a few days over what we should do. I was so scared to take on the responsibility of another child. Bear in mind I already have 3 children of my own. I was not sure of whether I would cope with having my life turned upside down. I was afraid of the consequences for Nathan, I was scared of what it would do to my own children. The list of fears I had just went on and on. We spoke to Eldred and his response was that unless we felt a definite “NO” in our spirits the answer to this situation would always be “YES”. I was aware that the Word of God is clear on taking care of the poor and orphans, I knew what Jesus would do in this situation but I was still really, really scared.

In the end both Albert and I felt that this was a situation where we really had no choice. This little boy needed a home and a family and we had both to give him.

Nathan moved in at the beginning of December. So far all I can say is that I over thought, over agonized and over stressed about this situation.  Having Nathan in our home has not turned my life upside down; in fact life has gone on pretty much as normal. I am just aware that God’s grace has been there to allow me to supernaturally do what I could in no way do naturally. I have chosen to allow God to go before us as a family and smooth the way for us and Nathan. I am not going to worry about the future - in fact, I’m not going to worry about tomorrow. Today Nathan lives in our home as a son and a brother and I have no doubt that in the future Albert and I will look back and wonder at the incredible gift that God chose to give us.

P.S. Nathan means “Gift from God”.