I got a flood of email asking questions after that last post, I figure if that many people asked about mingi than its likely that more of you have the same questions.
There are three types of ways that a child can be deemed mingi. The first and most common is the top teeth coming in before the bottom, that can be the first set of teeth or the adult teeth. The second is called girl mingi, and is when a child is born to a mother and father who are not married. The third is called woman mingi, and happens when a child is born to a mother and father who are married but did not announce to the tribes that they were planning to get pregnant before they became pregnant. Any of these three happening will make a child mingi and thus by tribal law must be killed.
The other question that is coming up a lot is if these children are available for adoption. The answer is complicated. Yes there are some children who came to us who are mingi and were abandoned and have no chance of ever going back with their families, others do have families that love them and we are trying to do everything we can to figure out how they could possibly be reunited. Its not clear exactly how this is going to happen but we know that its a worthy cause to strive for and that eventually mingi will stop. The decision as to weather or not a child is adoptable comes down the the laws in this country about what deems a child an orphan.
Right now we are working with Wide Horizons, an international adoption agency for the few children we do have that are adoptable and need homes. We do have a list of families who have signed up with Wide Horizons already but we are encouraging everyone who is interested in adoption to call them and get started, there are more kids who need homes than you can imagine. If you think you might want to adopt from Africa than drop me an email at levi(at)Drawnfromwater(dot)org and I will give you the contact info for the agency and they will get you started. I know there is a child out there that will be forever grateful that you stepped out and did what was right.
Levi
Andrea Thiele
February 20th, 2010
Okay, you know me. I just read the post about Lale and the tribes and was reading out loud to Bryan in tears of course. Our God is so good. God delivered far more than we asked or imagined…He is like that. Oh, I wish we were there with you to celebrate and praise God. I actually do miss it there.
Also, call me insane, but my mind darted for a moment to a baby from Africa…that would make an even 10. HA!!!! Maybe someday, but if the Lord so leads again, we know who we will be calling that is for sure.
Thank you for your faithful posts…we are praying for you guys and miss you a lot. Say hello to every one for us.
Blessings
trishadev
February 20th, 2010
So, how does one go about becoming one of your monthly donors? We’d love to help.
Levi
February 21st, 2010
Trishadev, Thanks for asking! We have a little donate button on the top of the page where you can sign up to become a monthly sponsor of the orphanage. We even have a non profit status so your donation is tax deductible!
Drawn From Water « Sarah Underhill
February 22nd, 2010
[...] You can click on “The Story” on their site to read more, but in short there is a large tribe in Africa that labels children “mingi”. Mingi = untouchable/cursed. There are many things that can cause a child to be labeled mingi – their initial experience was with a child whose top teeth had grown in before her bottom teeth – meant to signal “mingi”. There was a recent post that explained other labels of mingi. Here’s an excerpt from this post: [...]