Dear friends
Time has run out to write to you all individually, so please this comes with my love and thanks and prayers for you, a big thank you for letters and c.cards, and all your encouragements
GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS O GOD OUR FATHER
NEW EVERY MORNING IS HIS COMPASSION AND ALL WE NEED FOR EACH DAY
This morning read COLOSSIANS CH.1 v.29- and it struck me anew- it says – Labouring with all HIS ENERGY, WHICH SO POWERFULLY WORKS IN ME - just what I needed to be reminded - not my energy and strength alone but His is also available for me –when I ask.. isn’t that great.as here it’s the hot humid strength - sapping season - I find this so true, and want to thank you all so much for your prayers, and support in so many ways –materially.
The last 2 months have been so busy with many other happenings besides the medical work, so in the end, managed to escape for a few days, and drove down with John on Tues 29th Sept to bring the Smarts down to get the plane back to UK they have been with us for 3 weeks,- time flew, as they also came with their 10 yr. old granddaughter- Gabrielle, who became good friends with Jessie( John’s youngest and her friends. to school with them and other activities. Chris always works closely with John, fixed the solar water system, and the turbine when it broke down again and some bolts needed welding, and other adjustments to help us have better lights etc. Lesley keeps busy giving more training to our Pre- school teacher, teaching sewing at the school and to our women, and all of them a big help with all the unpacking of all the boxes that had just arrived.
We had to delay fetching them all, as at last OUR CONTAINER at last arrived, on 10th;Sept. brought up on Steve Studd’s truck full of MMN boxes, drugs and diesel, we were all ready to unload and then watch as the container was pulled of- and our smashed Nissan pickup, pushed on from the top of an ant hill, to be taken to town to be fixed
The container donated by MMN has been waiting in Chingola since February for transport. We enjoyed some biscuits sent in Feb 2008 and best by jul ’08 but still very crisp and delicious, some how got mislaid on the way. but fortunately all the drugs and main food stuff are fine.. Also on the container was an OXYGEN Concentrator, a marvellous invention - just plug in and it extracts oxygen from the air, save us trying to buy cylinders.. and will save many lives, plus many of the antibiotic syrups that we had run out of; lots of soaps, clothes, food, toiletries,toys , shoes, bedding; kitchen utensils great to be able to give out to many we owe clothes for food and work and to the needy.
12th Sept.- Neil Rabey also arrived , with his new bride- Tendai at the end of their honey moon travels visiting friends on the African Continent - we were all thrilled for them both, We organised a quick party; for them all on the 14th as they left on 15th we had another newly married couple too Godfrey and Gift- he had lived at sach for years and been a big help with the youth and trained as a teacher – married another teacher in Kabompo and also arrived the same weekend-, great- on the Sat 19th we had another big -miniature wedding reception here for them as most folk hadn’t been to the wedding it was great fun, with cakes, all dressed up etc and we gave our gifts-to show our love for them; the reliable L.R was used to transport all their things from kabompo here and then onto their school along with goats ;chickens and other normal wedding gifts..
August 8th. Watson’s daughter- Demetria (nurse in Lusaka) got married; here- so a big occasion- all our houses full- we just got to the reception for a while, as we had 2 difficult deliveries at theH.C and called to one on the way in at the end.. plus a v. sick child arrived, with no blood at all- Hb- only 1.5% P.T.L we got her to Boma, was given blood and came back; but still ill..All these visitors have kept Naomi and her helpers busy, all the washing, preparing and cleaning the Guest Houses , other visitors have been :- 15 of Health Team when they needed somewhere quiet to do their budgeting, for a week. A team of Chinese prospectors are renting my empty staff house; they are here for the G’ment to investigate minerals for mining in the surrounding areas- quite a challenge to communicates only 2 speak English-It’s all income Generating for the H.C..
About 1000 or more men gathered here from all over Zambia and Congo for a 4 day First – ever-men’s conference ; when Ken Suckling came from the UK to minister to them ;I arranged so all my men staff could attend, and great to see the response of many to the call of the Lord to full hearted commitment to the Lord, also special to have all the Sucklings here, as his two sisters came up with him from the copperbelt.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS have also had lots on during the hols-:- 15 our young teen- girls went to the Zambezi Rapids Kalene Girls camp, about 10 of them came back to the Lord, and greatly blessed mixing with others
2nd.- 5th. Sept - our general S.S. camp here with about 10 S.S. represented, over 400 children, and teachers; Charles Kafweta came to speak- he is great with kids, we had all felt the at God wanted us to share the love of God for them and to know they are loved and accepted by God their Father, just as they are and not for anything we can do, it was thrilling their response and how they also grasped this and how to show His love.
29th I went with Sybil and others from Nyangombe to visit the S.S at Kamapanda- a horrendous 2 hour journey- through thick sand- or big ravines in the road- Sybil drove bravely though it all, worth it to encourage the teachers and and over 400 children there
26th Sept we took Lesley and Gabrielle to a village S.S. of about 100 kids, for their prize giving, - in all the above activities, the children were so good with their memory verses, singing and sketches, and sports. They were all blessed too with many prizes and gifts from all we had, toys, stationary ,balls soaps etc all eagerly and gratefully accepted. Sue is gifted and involved in all our S.S.’ s., training and arranging the program
HEALTH CENTRE
each day never know who or what will come in.. sick kids, adults, and by all means of transport- bikes ; Honda’s stretchers etc; lately had many accidents, as people cut down trees for cultivating, broken limbs and some head injuries.. also bad burns. lots of high fevers, coughs and bad gastric upsets...
MMN BOXES USED AS BEDS IN THE OVERFLOW CHILDREN’S CLINIC WHEN WE RUNOUT OF BEDS, THEY ARE HAPPY TO HAVE SOMEWHERE WARM AND DRY AND NEAR TO HELP. BEATRICE IN middle was an orphan and crippled with TB in arm and legs,after 2 years of treatment, operations and care - now able to walk,got married and hold her baby tho arm is still stiff. now has 3 children
One night at 10pm I was at HC treating sick babies, heard a commotion – a crowd of youths, with their mum, so asked to go out and wait asked their mum the problem, and she pulled her cloth back- and her whole abdominal wall had gone just raw flesh- been caught by a croc when fishing, but she held onto a branch and other women pulled her free, then walked 15 km in to here – didn’t even seem in shock.. cleaned her up well, as all bits stuck in- and next day took her to Kalene now back, all healed except for a small bit- how we thanked God.
2 months ago again about 10pm- at the house a man turned up from Congo with his sick toddler when asked what’s wrong, he pulled the carrying cloth of and there was this poor toddler with only half an arm all raw flesh- the other half had fallen of on the way from gangrene- it arrived later with the mum together with a new baby screaming as mum had no breast mil, so also helped clean treat the child and them make milk for the baby ;again next day transported to Hosp;-healing well
This toddler with lost arm, next day.
All these are evidences of how your many gifts save life, to buy fuel buy spare parts so that John and team can keep vehicles on the road .Also provide the food, dressings, and all we need to care for these folk. Staff are frequently being called away to workshops, so difficult to plan, but managed to visit some village clinics; the new lab is increasingly busy, with all the donors for the T.B. and HIV programmes, demanding more information and forms to complete.. many people helped by the lab, helping us in diagnosis.
ORPHANS AND WIDOWS.
This year we have had 4 men die locally, leaving a total 9 widows and over 40 children between them; about 25 still young..Thanks to all the parcels of clothing, bedding we have been able to help them all, plus often basic kitchen ware- as often the relatives take some of the things. 3 of them urgently need a house, so also helping build them a simple place, before the rains come, the others are staying with relatives till they decide ,where to go. sadly they don’t often stay in their home, but are sent back to their relatives.
During the school hols many of the orphans come for work, some come and stay at the HC so we help them with food and extra lessons ; and when they went back to school help them with clothes school stationary and fees food etc.
Sat. 19th Sept, Lesley and Gabrielle enjoyed helping give all the school going orphans school ; pencils, books, pens etc and soaps, toothpaste and brushes, towels, etc to each family- now the container is in great to have plenty to share.
We value your prayers as still the staff uncertainties, wages late, and how much longer and still very little funding to run the H.C. so what a Marvellous God we serve who cares and supplies often miraculously daily,
below some of happy orphans with new uniforms,
We’ve just returned from Ndola, shopping and resting at peaceful Lifesprings. Funny yest when in shops, the Indian lady there was smiling at me and when I asked her- was told they were discussing how old I was- I got them to tell me what they thought- all of them thought between 70-80 because of the grey hair and small body so when I told them my correct age and still working hard, etc suggested they gave us something too, so got a bag of sweets for the kids.. in 2 other shops too got some discount- because I looked old – their gran.- and even held my hand when asked to go to the loo, across the road.. need a new look.. but feel young at heart and keep busier than lots younger. although some of my Grandchildren taller than me now, and oldest Roy just started work after finishing an I.T. course.
It's now Monday 5th Oct, got back Sat- to work Sunday had 3 accidents – kids fell of back of truck, L.R left to take our elders to a funeral of one of Gordon’s contemporaries, L.R. broke down on way, so John had to go out today , tow in back from about 150km away,-gear box.. at least they got to funeral, so never a dull day, more expense and now no ambulance..
So all for now as hope to get this posted.
Thanks
Ruth