Footprints are Forever

Dear Friends
It has been such a long time since I wrote to you all. Since coming back to Australia in October last year I have had a double hip replacement and have been recuperating from that. It has meant no African stories to tell, I’m called Hippy but I am not chasing hippos! I am happy to say though that I have new lease of life since the surgery. I can walk without pain and stand straight without a walking stick. Driving the car was hairy at first – I had to use one hand to lift my leg across to the brake and friends avoided me on the road. … However, this week I know I am well enough to return to Africa and I fly out on September 25th. I am very excited about seeing my Zambian family again

AND the work in Africa continues. Footprints in Africa now has a webpage, courtesy of my son Michael (aka Jayarava) in England . Do check it out. We are also on Facebook. With generous gifts from my friends, the mission will be buying a vehicle – so no more hitchhiking in Zambia for me. I have hired an assistant to be designated driver and to help me generally with all the new plans. Freddy Mwale is a young African man who is engaged to Kezia. They long to get married but he doesn’t have enough money for the bride price - yet.

Having undertaken four study courses while recuperating I feel better equipped to work in Africa and stronger in my faith. Our aim is to encourage the villagers of Mupitanshi to lift their standard of living so that the people have enough food to eat plus money for other purchases like sending their children to school. At the moment they are living at survival level, their death rate is high, unemployment is rife, education is almost non-existent, they are living in inadequate housing, and medical services are meagre.

We are now in touch with Landcare Africa, based in Kenya , an organisation that teaches the people how to increase crop yields and to take good care of the land. We plan to facilitate forming Landcare Zambia and Joseph Tanui from Kenya has promised to help. So it will be Africans teaching Africans and its likely that we will create a model farm to teach with.

Loans for the women will soon be available. The micro-enterprise loan bank Footprint Finance has come into existence by receiving its first deposit this week. I’ve been reading of the growing number of success stories in Zambia achieved through small loans. We guarantee that you will change lives when you invest with us.

Two Footprint Guest Houses are being built ready for my return. We cordially invite you to come and stay with us. Just email me and book in advance. Mupitanshi village is fast becoming a large dot on the map - a school, a bank, small businesses, a model farm, a guest house, a taxi service and a local Councillor. God is truly blessing the work there and I am so happy to serve Him.


So bring on the mud hut and let me dance to those drums!!!
May you be truly blessed today
Durelle