Ntsoareleng

Can you believe those dark brown eyes?!

Ntsoareleng is staying with us at the safe-home because she was extremely malnourished....she still is, I suppose.

Although, you'd never know it from the smiles and laughter that now emanates from her.

Many children, like Ntsoareleng, who experience food insecurity at some point in their lives develop interesting habits and relationships with food that persist long after they routinely have enough to eat.

When Ntsoareleng first arrived at the safe-home last week, she would take half of each bite of bread out of her mouth and hide it under her skirt.

She wouldn't eat her whole meal even though it was clear she was still hungry...it was as if she was trying to save it for later.

When you're not sure when your next meal will be, it's understandable that you would try to keep the food in front of you around as long as possible.

This is not just an African phenomenon.

Sadly, I saw this pattern in many abused and neglected children I worked with in the United States.

...

Below are a few photos of Ntsoareleng on the day she came to us.

While we take "before" photos of all of our children to gauge their progress, part of me feels reluctant to share them because I don't want the fact that there is a beautiful, whole child inside these bodies to be lost in what can be heartbreaking images.

But I share these pictures of Ntsoareleng so that you too can revel in the resiliency of this child.

Just one week of steady meals has allowed her beautiful spirit to overflow.

From that to this...

This transformation is no miracle.

Just a few meals and a little medicine.

And the indomitable spirit of one little girl.