Blood and Gore

Hi everyone,

This week has been all about mercy trips to hospital. First a man was brought to me on a bicycle. All one side of his face was covered in monstrous blisters and his eyes were swollen shut. I thought someone had burned him but when we rushed him to the clinic they said it was shingles, the worst case I have ever seen. They referred him to hospital 80 kms away. We raced off in the car and he was admitted immediately. He is 76 years of age and was scared of being in the hospital but he is progressing well.

Next we went to visit the headman in a village close by and he said, "My son is sick" (actually he said My daughter because they get English mixed up) "Can I see him," I asked. So off we set up a little bush track. The boy's foot was incredibly swollen, and pus was dripping out of it. I knew we had to get him to the clinic ASAP. His father said we could wait until tomorrow, but I knew better. Off we raced but when we got there the clinic was closed, but I knew it was important so I drove another 40 kms to the next one. There they saw the boy straight away and the nurse got a knife and slashed a hole in the foot - the boy screamed and I sobbed. We had to hold the boy down - no anaesthetics here. Gallons of pus spurted out onto the floor - not much hygiene here either. No hand washing, no swabbing of the skin. And they didn't have the right medicine or any paracetamol even.

They put swabs and a bandage on the foot and I took him home and promised to get him to a clinic for a dressing of the wound. Next day we took him to our regular clinic and Reagan, my favourite nurse, said "this is serious." We lay the boy, Nelson, on a bed and Reagan proceeded to cut and peel away all the skin off the top of his foot then more squeezing of pus. The smell was atrocious and the sight made me almost vomit, but it was the best way to save the foot. The flesh was already rotting. They had the correct antibiotic and chlorhexidine antiseptic this time.

"When shall I bring him back for the would dressing," I asked.
"No need," said Reagan," you just change the dressing, and squeeze the pus out for the next three days and he'll be fine."
"Me?"
"Yes, you", said Reagan. He gave me dressings, gloves, medicine and a sweet smile and off we went.

Yesterday before church I collected Nelson from his home and began to change the dressing as instructed. I heaved and cried a few times, but I did it. I was preaching on Mercy at church so I had a great story to tell.

Our junior teacher has resigned and a new teacher, more experienced has arrived. Mrs Maureen Ngosa is her name, she is very friendly and is happy to chat in English - what bliss to have a friend living next door. I have taken over the management of the school, and already have made some improvements. Its more responsibility, but god is good. I cant actually believe all the positive things happening here. One person can make a huge difference with God's help.

We are excited about our coming seminar - already registrations are coming in. We expect about 80. I am providing lunch for these people for three days. HELP. I went to the Chief's palace to invite him to come and encourage his people. He lives about 50 kms away and said the petrol for travel would be difficult, so I promptly said,"Would you like to come and stay in my house?" He gave me a huge smile and said "yes." So I am being very honoured, and I have also given myself more work because its like having the queen come to stay!

The seminar stresses the community response to vulnerable people especially those with HIV . Already one man has come to say, "Grandmum, now my maize is harvested I am going to visit the community and bring all the sick people to you." Bless him.

I now have a fence around our village houses, complete with gates to keep the goats out but also for security. It makes me feel good and I don't mind opening the gate every time I drive through.

How many people can fit in a Toyota Hilux? - my second best football team won a game so I bought them uniforms, and went to watch them play on Sunday afternoon. They lost, but they are such amazing young men. 15 of them piled into my 'bus' and they wound the windows down and sang with gusto all the way home. I love them.

That's about it today. Its good to be at the internet again. I've missed out lately with all the patients coming to hospital.

Much love to you all. Thank you for your prayers and support, I can't do this work without you. I miss you all so much at times, and long for hugs and laughter.

Durelle

Miracles and Mayhem

School Kids with
Frank the teacher

Hi Everyone,

What a change this week has been Its been major answers to prayers and miracles even. I am sitting here in the jungle knowing why God sent me.

Firstly 23 parents actually came to the PTA meeting and we were able to discuss what was wrong, what we could do and what was the way forward. We agreed that parents would come and clean the school grounds where snakes were lurking in the long grass and on Sat they came by the dozens. I was so happy to see them. In the meeting I held up a baby and said this baby girl may be President one day but only if we educate her. She looked up at me with big eyes and screamed! When we talked about the high rate of absenteeism the teacher read out the names and the daughters of both the Chairman and the Headman were on the list. Oops But they agreed to make sure it stops.

Rabi

Half way through the meeting Rabi appeared, now this was a real answer to prayer as I was becoming overwhelmed by what needed to be done. He has been away for 4 months, but he was his charming self and endorsed what some parents had said that this school is an asset to the community for our children and their future. And so we elected a new committee who pledged to work hard and I do believe the barriers are broken and we are on the way forward.

I invited Pastor Richard Musoyo from Ndola to come and visit me to see what we are doing. He is with the Evangelical Church of Zambia (ECZ) and he arrived this Friday. I had a school meeting in the morning, a crisis with the girls at Lamba College at noon, and then had to rush to get two patients to the HIV clinic and pick Pastor Richard up. On Sat I introduced him to the parents working at the school and then had a time of prayer and counselling with the girls before we took them back to College.

On the way home I plucked up courage to take him to meet Fred, an elder from ECZ here - I say courage because Fred and I have had a falling out. But he received us both and was happy to meet Richard . I left them to chat in their own language. They discovered they were related, an important thing to Zambians and Fred asked him to preach on Sunday. I was overjoyed because that was my dream.

On the Sunday Richard preached about forgiveness and feeding your enemies! Wow. Some of you will remember that Rabi and I also are still in the early stages of forgiveness. I invited Rabi and his wife Grace to the service, and indeed his whole family were there. I asked Rabi to sit beside me to translate the sermon, so it was a touching time for us both as well it was a witness to the whole church that we are working as a team again. Later that day Fred came to ask my forgiveness. To me the whole day was a miracle, something I have been praying for but not knowing how on earth it could happen. And the Church people said to Fred, "where did you get this great preacher from," and he said, "my sister Durelle brought him here." So there was healing on many levels.

On Sunday afternoon I took Richard to watch my football team play and they won. I love them, their faithfulness in practise and the entertainment they provide to the community and today he has gone home. It was a busy weekend and somewhere in all that I managed to cook for us and do my housework.

It has become glaringly obvious that we need strong pastoral leadership in Mupitanshi and I am making a strong plea. Is anyone interested in sponsoring a pastors wages so that Pastor Richard could come and be here permanently? If you are please email me directly.

Thank you for all your prayers and emails that encourage me. I am so happy that I have wonderful friends and family who care for me even when I am far away. I am feeling homesick today and long to see you but thank you for your encouragement.

Durelle