Footprints Galore

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