Door of Hope had only been open a few weeks when baby Nathan was found abandoned in a field now many years later, he writes them to thank them for saving him.

Nathanael Stahler, aka Nate, was found at just 8-weeks-old in a field of long grass severely sunburnt, dehydrated and extremely traumatised.


Door of Hope had only been open a couple of weeks and Nate was the 4th baby that had been taken in by the home. It was the 23rd of August 1999.

Now, 19 years later, Nate decided to write a letter to the women that saved his life all those years ago. Nate spent 28 months living at the Door of Hope home before he was adopted by an American couple who took him home to the United States.

Nate and his brother Thomas were both adopted from the home and joined the family of 8 in America. He was surrounded by a loving group of people that all wanted to make sure he got the best life he could have.

You can read his letter below but the end of it really got us choked up. He said,

“God has brought me where I am today, and He used the grannies at the Door of Hope House to help me. I will never forget Door of Hope, and the love I received there. Grannies at Door of Hope Baby House make a big difference. I was an abandoned baby – and now I am a graduate. To God be the glory!”


Nate has already been back to South Africa to visit the home but he plans on returning as soon as he can. His life was saved and completely changed there and it is a place that will always near and dear to his heart.

His story and his letter have moved people to tears, including us. It is one of hope and faith. It shows how successful organisations like the Door of Hope can be at changing lives and why it is so important these places stay open.

We are so glad to see that Nate is thriving in life.

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