Hi everyone,
Footprints firm and sure are being left here in Zambia. I am enjoying this new year greatly and thank God for His keeping me strong and healthy so I can keep working.
With Gods help I have diagnosed my first case of Leprosy and the nurse confirmed it. The disease is active and the woman is not keen to take medicine because the Dr told her she shouldn't drink with it. Drink is more important to her at this stage.... this woman is a widow who keeps having other men's babies.... I'm not sure how Leprosy is spread but I do know it is contagious so we have to figure a way to deal with this.
Having the car means I can treat more people and offer transport to the clinic or hospital. Lack of transport means many people are ill without treatment. We found a man in an acute condition from malaria and the nurse said he was close to death. Yesterday I attended a District health meeting and found a woman at the clinic who was being treated but her baby wasn't. The baby is 4 months old and her arms are only the thickness of my finger.... Something is seriously wrong with this baby. I took them to the hospital 40 kms away and the nurse explained that Mother was told to take it to Solwezi general Hospital but of course she didn't because she had no money. But God is good the very next day doctors were coming from Solwezi on a visit to St. Dorothy's so the baby will be seen by a doctor and given a diagnosis. Perhaps its life can be saved.
From this meeting I have found a way to promote my training of health workers. There is so much ignorance of simple child care, no idea of how to treat malaria or even first aid procedures . When I was in Australia I attended a course about training women to help others so it looks like I have the way forward for this. I know that this idea will promote a healthy community spirit as well
I have been asked to preach this Sunday and last week I managed the Sunday school lessons. Its good to be part of a Church that is alive. It still amazes me that so many people here go to Church and yet believe in witchcraft. Last week I witnessed first hand the family of a woman running around with the dead body in a coffin looking for the person who 'killed her' with spells!!! Then they beat the poor man (probably innocent) and wrecked his home. It looked demonic and quite stupid. It is against the law to do it but who sees here in the isolated rural area. And yesterday at a health meeting the locals were convinced that the nurses house was witched because the new nurse ran away. But what actually happened was that the two incumbent workers were so mean to her that she ran away. Even the Chief was willing to donate money to call the witchdoctor... Mature men and women, some well educated, men and women who believe they are Christians, still believe that witchcraft can harm them. I spoke strongly against this belief and slowly some others followed me. It was a victory for God and we decided to transfer the two trouble makers and ask for registered nurses who can care for our people.
Owen had a bad fall and hurt his mouth so we went to rescue him and take him to a dentist. He is slowly recovering. All the students are in their schools by now and beginning to study hard. It was a busy time getting them all enrolled and settled. Our own little school got a coat of paint inside and out over the holidays and the children are back at school.
I am looking forward to visiting Australia next month - wow its only weeks away. I am looking forward to seeing everyone but the people here get afraid when I go away for they think I wont come back.
A big thank you to those who pray for me and send me gifts and to those who encourage me with emails. I truly appreciate your support. I cant do the work I do without you. I miss you more than words can say and look forward to contacting up with some of you.
Blessings galore
Durelle
January 28, 2011
January 14, 2011
Winning Footprints
Hi Everyone
What a brilliant start to the New year. We had a grand party to celebrate – Sydney arrived at 6am to kill two goats and we fed about 120 people, nshima and goat stew. The young ones did all the cooking and dishing up as part of their young leadership training. We played volley ball and danced and ate. The Headman blessed our meal with a beautiful prayer. I introduced my young leaders to the community and Mrs Mangongo danced before them as an honouring. I joined her which caused much laughter and cheering. Thank you God for a very successful day - I loved every minute of it.
The next day after Church the young men had a soccer match with the group up the road. Our boys lost 3 nil but it was a great game. It was so good to see many parents and brothers and sisters on the sideline in support of their sons. It was a great boost to building community spirit and these young men have agreed to train every week. This is a wonderful outcome because there is so little for these young men to do.
Later that week Freddy resigned which has been a blow- so I am driving myself. Proudly I can now pass the huge mining trucks without sucking in my breath in the hope that it will make us smaller…and my hands don’t tremble. My first task was to go and buy a coffin – but when I got to the car the tyre was flat… I had no idea what to do but Owen said, ”Don’t worry Grandma I’ll get someone to help.” Next morning Owen arrived and within minutes there were 6 angels working on the car and within the hour we were off down the road to buy the coffin. We waited while it was made and then drove it to the grieving family. Such is life here.
The next day was dedicated to getting the 8 sponsored students to school. Some needed new uniforms, they all needed this or that so after a shopping spree we set off to the local college with the car loaded to the hilt, only the steering was wobbly and we couldn’t go over 45kms… now what. I pulled over and prayed, “What do we do Lord?” Finally I worked it out that the four wheel drive was engaged but I didn’t know how to stop it… I can hear men laughing… I asked a couple of fellows walking on the road, “Do you know how to get this out of 4 wheel drive?” No of course they didn’t they’ve never even driven a car… I remembered a young man saying he had a driving licence so we walked to his house and sure enough he knew what to do. Off we set again and safely delivered our precious students to school. I cried when I left them. Catherine has been living with me and she is such a sweetheart. I’ll miss her.
On Sunday Pastor Laston came to chat with me and we were joined by Lewis a church elder who has been invited to study theology in UK. So for the first time there we were- three servants (I was going to write saints) of God in my house. I said, “Wow this is amazing lets pray together.” And we did. Some in English, some in Lunda, all with passion. It was a precious moment.
I am in Ndola after surviving yet another puncture in the middle of nowhere and the spare that we had mended was flat… . Oh the joys of driving. Today we took Michael and Owen to Chiwala school here. I spoke to teachers about extra tuition for Owen who really needs it. I’ll miss him too. The road to Chiwala is a rough dirt road and with all the rain it was just mud – but I was too scared to use 4 wheel drive after the other experience – but hey we got there safe and sound….the worst that happened was a big truck went swooshing by and sprayed us with mud so I couldn’t see out the windscreen and as my window was down my white hair was covered in red mud!! Then it was off to Immigration to help Lewis get his passport – red tape everywhere.
What a great start to the year -wonderful opportunities to help people, to fill them with hope, to be their friend, to pray with them, to nurse the sick, to encourage the young. I thank God for this opportunity and for the courage He gives me to do the impossible.
Your prayers and encouragement mean the world to me. I couldn’t do this work without your support so you too are part of it. I wish you could all meet the people here. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment and continued good health for me. I live on those prayers.
Love and blessings
Durelle
What a brilliant start to the New year. We had a grand party to celebrate – Sydney arrived at 6am to kill two goats and we fed about 120 people, nshima and goat stew. The young ones did all the cooking and dishing up as part of their young leadership training. We played volley ball and danced and ate. The Headman blessed our meal with a beautiful prayer. I introduced my young leaders to the community and Mrs Mangongo danced before them as an honouring. I joined her which caused much laughter and cheering. Thank you God for a very successful day - I loved every minute of it.
The next day after Church the young men had a soccer match with the group up the road. Our boys lost 3 nil but it was a great game. It was so good to see many parents and brothers and sisters on the sideline in support of their sons. It was a great boost to building community spirit and these young men have agreed to train every week. This is a wonderful outcome because there is so little for these young men to do.
Later that week Freddy resigned which has been a blow- so I am driving myself. Proudly I can now pass the huge mining trucks without sucking in my breath in the hope that it will make us smaller…and my hands don’t tremble. My first task was to go and buy a coffin – but when I got to the car the tyre was flat… I had no idea what to do but Owen said, ”Don’t worry Grandma I’ll get someone to help.” Next morning Owen arrived and within minutes there were 6 angels working on the car and within the hour we were off down the road to buy the coffin. We waited while it was made and then drove it to the grieving family. Such is life here.
The next day was dedicated to getting the 8 sponsored students to school. Some needed new uniforms, they all needed this or that so after a shopping spree we set off to the local college with the car loaded to the hilt, only the steering was wobbly and we couldn’t go over 45kms… now what. I pulled over and prayed, “What do we do Lord?” Finally I worked it out that the four wheel drive was engaged but I didn’t know how to stop it… I can hear men laughing… I asked a couple of fellows walking on the road, “Do you know how to get this out of 4 wheel drive?” No of course they didn’t they’ve never even driven a car… I remembered a young man saying he had a driving licence so we walked to his house and sure enough he knew what to do. Off we set again and safely delivered our precious students to school. I cried when I left them. Catherine has been living with me and she is such a sweetheart. I’ll miss her.
On Sunday Pastor Laston came to chat with me and we were joined by Lewis a church elder who has been invited to study theology in UK. So for the first time there we were- three servants (I was going to write saints) of God in my house. I said, “Wow this is amazing lets pray together.” And we did. Some in English, some in Lunda, all with passion. It was a precious moment.
I am in Ndola after surviving yet another puncture in the middle of nowhere and the spare that we had mended was flat… . Oh the joys of driving. Today we took Michael and Owen to Chiwala school here. I spoke to teachers about extra tuition for Owen who really needs it. I’ll miss him too. The road to Chiwala is a rough dirt road and with all the rain it was just mud – but I was too scared to use 4 wheel drive after the other experience – but hey we got there safe and sound….the worst that happened was a big truck went swooshing by and sprayed us with mud so I couldn’t see out the windscreen and as my window was down my white hair was covered in red mud!! Then it was off to Immigration to help Lewis get his passport – red tape everywhere.
What a great start to the year -wonderful opportunities to help people, to fill them with hope, to be their friend, to pray with them, to nurse the sick, to encourage the young. I thank God for this opportunity and for the courage He gives me to do the impossible.
Your prayers and encouragement mean the world to me. I couldn’t do this work without your support so you too are part of it. I wish you could all meet the people here. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment and continued good health for me. I live on those prayers.
Love and blessings
Durelle
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