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During the long process of applying for the application to have our rescue center, I received a call from a Doctor from our church and she said, “Mma Moruti, a baby was found dumped in a pit latrine, can you please come.” They knew of our heart for these precious ones and that our team would be able to provide some support to the hospital staff. When we arrived, we were told, “the baby didn’t survive the night”. My head dropped, the tears started to flow and when I turned around, I heard God’s voice say to me, “JANA, I count the stars and I call each one by name (Psalms 147:4) and this baby has a name and you will bury this baby.” We named him Naledi, which means “star” in Setswana, the local language of Botswana where I live.
We just celebrated the Official Opening for the Lorato House, a rescue center for abandoned babies. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing with you the story that is behind this amazing program that rescues children. To start off, I want to share this poem was written so lovingly for “Baby Naledi” who lived only a few hours after being found in a pit latrine. This poem was written for the funeral by Kate Nicholls of the Lion Camp, Mother, Biologist, poet, author, actress and most of all, my friend.
“I do not blame the young woman who dropped her baby down a long drop
but feel unimaginable hurt that a young girl should have felt such despair she lost her empathy.
What must have happened to her? And where is she now?
She needs so badly to be looked after
Women bear a hard burden.
I have seen lions walk away from their cubs and been saddened
But the females were sick or had lost contact with other females in the pride
It takes more than one to bring up young
For a young girl maybe HIV positive, or abused, or pregnant because of rape or briefly crazed by the wild
hormonal swings that affect some women
to have to endure such pain alone is more than the heart can bear.
If women can be offered help without judgment
then one by one they will come forward
and be given the strength to bring up their babies or hand them over
to those that can – with a light heart.”
Jana Lackey 
I was watching Joel Osteen and he talked about the Lackeys. I googled it and came across this story “Burying Baby Naledi”…a sad story that shows the depth of despair and hopelessness. My prayers go out to such people as well as those that God has planted (such as the Lackeys) to show his love even more.
Thank you for sharing this heartbreaking story. How I pray that moms can find hope for caring for their babies and find Christ to bring abundant life for them, as well!
This happens so much in my society and it gets more sorrowful as it happen. This poem has a hint to the solutions. Jana you have a bigger heart than a dozen of us do. Continue the good work its one of its kind.
Thanks dear friend! I won’t rest till the law is changed to accommodate the “safe Haven” concept, whereby it is legal for a woman to leave her baby in a safe place. Its a child’s right to be protected when circumstances make it impossible to care for her baby. We need Batswana women to speak up on this. Who will do this? Who will be that voice?
It made my heart very sad to read about this – and I’m sure there have been other cases- especially when I would take and love a baby like that. There is enough love – no baby should be deprived the opportunity to experience it.