TRAVELING FAMILY FINDS OUTPOURING OF GENEROSITY IN CAPE

Lowrell Royal Anderson knows that miracles really do happen. He has the proof: A newborn daughter and gifts from a generous community.

Anderson and his family were traveling from St. Paul, Minn., to Marianna, Ark., on a holiday trip last week when they were forced to stop in Cape Girardeau because Sheyte Kidane went into labor about three weeks early.

Kidane began feeling labor pains early Sunday morning, but the contractions came closer together that afternoon just as the family neared Cape Girardeau.

A trooper for the Missouri Highway Patrol escorted the family to the city where daughter Safeya Shardya was born Sunday evening at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She is the first child for Sheyte and the sixth for Lowrell.

Two of his sons, Lowrell Jr., 13, and Nokey, 7, also were along for the trip. Anderson had intended to show his children where he was born and how their grandfather lived.

The family never made it to their destination, but has been blessed with generosity during their journey, Anderson said.

"The people in this city are angels on Earth," Lowrell said. "We've been overwhelmed with miracles."

Because Sheyte wasn't expected to deliver until late December, the family had no diapers, clothes and blankets for the newborn. Nor was there enough money to both pay for the hospital bill and get some necessary car repairs.

When people at the hospital learned of the family's hardship, they helped out. Lisa Winter, a social worker at the hospital, connected the family with an auto mechanic who fixed the car and then led them to the Helping Hands ministry of First Baptist Church.

"I couldn't have done it without the community resources," she said "If I was stranded with my family I really hope someone would be there."

The hospital gave the family a car seat for the baby and enough diapers and formula to get them home. The family also got meal tickets and stayed at the hospital's guest house until Sheyte and Safeya were discharged.

"They were so appreciative, and that makes my job worth it," Winter said.

Members of the First Baptist congregation also offered the family new clothes, blankets and diapers for the baby as well as some extra money for the trip back home.

The church also offered them rooms in the Helping Hands House at 229 N. Pacific St. An upstairs apartment in the rental property, adjacent to the church, is available to the church for families in need of a place to stay temporarily whether that is while they are traveling through town or visiting relatives at area hospitals.

Anderson and his family were the first to stay at the Helping Hands House, which was renovated by church members and volunteers this summer.

Most of the people who come to the house won't likely become members of the church, said the Rev. Kevin Morgan, minister of education at First Baptist Church. "But it's a way we can share the love of Christ. They can take that with them wherever they go."

For the Andersons, it was a way to help the family during a hard time, Morgan said. "We don't benefit financially, but we feel like it's something that should be done."

The Andersons left Cape Girardeau early Wednesday morning with more than just some clothes and diapers for the baby.

"This has inspired me," Anderson said. "It's like God has been saying it will be OK."