Well Christmas was certainly different his year – I spent Christmas eve helping to deliver a dead baby so we could save the mother. The baby was in breech position and the whole body was delivered but the head was stuck fast. The mother lives deep in the bush and no one knew what to do. They brought her by bicycle to our local clinic but the male nurse there didn’t know what to do either so I was the next step. She’d been like that for 12 hours!! I knew what could be done but wasn’t game to do it so it meant another trip to the hospital on a dark rainy night. However the nurses at the hospital had the baby out in 10 minutes and so were able to save the mother. The people in the bush had pulled and pulled at the baby so that its neck was 3 inches long and its jaw was broken!!! The baby was fully formed so it died needlessly. I felt very sad and couldn’t get the baby’s face out of my mind yet I was so happy that once again our car was able to save a life. I took the young leaders with me to visit Jackson, the Headman to report this health incident because our local nurse is incompetent. I have been encouraging Jackson to take action and I wanted to encourage and train the young ones too that when you see a problem don’t just gossip about it but take it to your Headman. He also encouraged them in that and said to me ,”unfortunately when we try to do good the people here try to undermine us.” Which I too have experienced.
Then on Christmas morning my dear old friend Bibiana, a stroke victim I have been visiting, died. Boxing day I drove 40 kms to buy her a coffin – cheap pinex costing about $40. I also bought mealie meal for the gathering, then back to the village where I was honoured to help tuck Bibiana into her coffin for her journey into the earth. A brand new experience for me!! The women wail very loudly here I was okay until I noticed that they put the baby feeding cup I bought for her in pride of place on the coffin, then my tears fell…. Pastor Laston reminded the family that Bibiana was at peace and with Jesus. The family have responded to our caring by coming back to Church. Amen.
I went straight from the funeral to another very sick person but because I had not enough petrol I gave his family money to put him on a truck and take him to hospital and again later that day another person came running to ask for help for her sick cousin. Sick visiting or a trained district nurse is definitely what is needed at present.
Because of the funeral we didn’t have a community Christmas party – Maybe we will celebrate in the new year. We had bought a goat to eat so now I have to work out how to keep it alive and not let it run away. The eagles have been diving down to eat my chickens so now we only have 7.
I am in Ndola city to beg immigration to let me stay another few months and to get a passport for Rebecca to go to Bosnia. I have these two delightful young women who we sponsor to school with me - Rebecca and Catherine who came to live with me a month ago. Her family of 10 sleep in a room as big as a bathroom and the roof leaks!! Her mother told her, ”I wish you hadn’t come home from school because I don’t have enough food for you.” Of course I invited her to stay with me in our guest house. She is a very bright 18 year old who has never before slept on a mattress or even owned a blanket. Her family sleep on the mud floor on an old sack with a flimsy wrap skirt over them and believe me it gets cold here at night.
I have to admit its certainly a challenge living here though I love the people dearly and I do enjoy being able to serve. The latest crisis was mine -this morning a huge hole appeared in the floor of my pit latrine. I nearly fell in … gruesome thought, so top priority is to get a new one dug.
I have to say that your prayers and encouragement – they make a huge difference and I could not stay here without that. Thank you too to those who have donated to the work – I wish you could see the face s of the people that your money blesses. Many times I’ve wanted to come home but your prayers and emails have kept me steadfast, that and my trust in God and in His plan TO BLESS ALL FAMILIES OF THE WORLD. So each one of you are partners in this work. Thank you with all my heart.
I love you
Durelle
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