| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 PREPARING FOR MAJOR FOOD CHANGE On September 28th our teams will distribute a bag of rice to each Granny or Aunt who hosts orphans and receives their food at our Balama Mission base. Our 3 months of corn supply is now finished. We were unable to store corn for the entire year due to a lack of availability of the preservative that is necessary for long-term storage.  50 lb or 25 kg sacks of corn flour for our 7 orphan homes Nothing changes for our 7 children’s homes, as the resident orphans will still receive corn flour weekly. This corn flour is being bought in a town 30 miles/60 km away that has a professional mill for bagging corn flour for sale to the local stores. We are very grateful that this mill exists so that our 55 resident orphans and the widows who care for them, will be able to continue using the menus that encourage maximum growth for our children. CHANGE IS NECESSARY FOR ALL OF US, AS WE MARCH TOWARDS OUR LORD’S RETURN. BEHIND THE SCENES OF OUR VILLAGE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS Our food distribution teams give out 24+ TONS of food in each food give-out location in the “time of hunger”. The orphans and widows from 22 villages meet in 6 different locations in the Balama County/District to receive our assistance. The time of hunger extends from August to November each year. In the past I have shown you many distribution photos, so now I will share with you what it takes to make those distributions happen. THE DAY BEFORE THE DISTRIBUTION, OUR TEAMS LOAD THE TRUCKS with 4 to 5 tons of food supplies needed to feed whichever group of orphans that will receive it the next day. This year we are serving 1,145 orphans and widows in Balama. They are divided into 6 location groups throughout Balama County/District.  Loading the trucks is the first step in food give out preparation ONCE LOADED, the trucks are tarped and parked in the shade at our office for safe keeping until the next day. That afternoon at 2 pm, my guard buys the team freshly baked bread rolls, leaving them with me to prepare the next a.m. ON EACH DISTRIBUTION DAY my work begins at 2:30 a.m. (Bush Bunnies must be early birds!) At 2:30 a.m. I make fresh peanut butter sandwiches for our distribution teams who leave at 4 a.m. with the loaded trucks. There is no food in these remote locations. The teams are usually out until 10 a.m. each distribution day, so a hearty breakfast is a must! Once the teams pull out at 4 a.m., I only have 30 minutes to prepare for the construction team’s arrival at 4:30 a.m. With the whole team out of town for the distribution, all other work falls to me, and 2 other staff who stay behind to help out. FYI: Sun up is 5:15 a.m., so we do all our preparation work in the dark with flashlights/torches, or the headlights of the vehicles.  Granny and orphaned grandson working together to get their food to the other orphans living with them  God’s little ones, happy to have food to eat  Those smiles make all the work worth it  That little smile says it all IT IS HARD WORK, BUT WELL WORTH IT WHEN YOU SEE THE CHILDREN’S FACES AT THE DISTRIBUTION! TOGETHER WE ARE TRULY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THESE 1,145 CHILDREN AND THE WIDOWS WHO CARE FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL LOVE FOR THEM! BLESSINGS, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
Monthly Archives: September 2023
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: SEPTEMBER 16, 2023
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 RICE AND BEANS, A GREAT TREAT! This week found our food distribution team in 3 different village areas giving out TONS of dried rice and beans, along with soap, and salt to the many orphans we serve. Rice cannot be grown in many parts of our District, so it is a real treat for these children. The photos will give you a better insight into what happens, than I can describe in words.  Devotions with orphans before the food give-out  Orphans waiting with their Aunt to receive their beans and rice  Orphans helping their Granny who lost her fingers from Leprosy  A super strong Granny as that sack of rice weighs 50 kg or 110 lbs. Glad she didn’t live too far away! The food give-outs continue next week, as we complete our September “helping hand” to the orphans and widows living in remote areas. Our objective is to assist them to grow their own food with the seeds that our team will give out in November which is the beginning of our rainy/food growing season. RESCUING BABIES IN CRITICAL NEED Infants in severe need of help are not always orphans. The infant shown in the photo was sent to our milk formula program because the mother is ill and has no breastmilk. This tiny little boy is 2 months old and very emaciated. The mother’s illness had the mother bedridden, and sadly the family delayed getting him the care he so desperately needed.  A really hungry 2‑month-old baby boy who is very underweight (2.7 kg‑6 lb), but has a ravishing appetite When Children’s Director Anna gave him his first bottle, he literally inhaled it, and wouldn’t let go of the bottle when it was empty! I’ve never seen a 2‑month-old grasp something so hard! Starving infants are a sad sight that breaks my heart, but this is a big part of the reason Jesus sent us to this area. Helping the helpless find the love of Jesus! HANGING OUT IN THE AFTERNOON SHADE When the days washing and cleaning is done, the Foster Mothers enjoy some time to relax in the hot afternoons and play with the toddlers. Sitting under the massive Mango Tree at House #7 is a great way to cool off!  Foster Mothers and toddlers relaxing under the big Mango Tree at House # 7 I love visiting in the mid-afternoon, as it helps me to get to know the mothers a bit better than when they are super busy in the mornings. The toddlers are always up to something new and are a joy to play with.  7‑month-old Orlencia in front with 6‑month-old Madelina behind her BLESSINGS, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: SEPTEMBER 9, 2023
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 PUZZLES AND ENGLISH, A GREAT MIX! This world map puzzle fascinated our school age girls, grades 4 to 7. Not only does it help to increase their abstract thinking, but when the girls finished it, our teacher, Sergio, used it to teach the English names of the animals on the puzzle.  Saturday class mixes it up with boys playing Rummikub and girls putting a puzzle together The boys were more interested in using their Math time to have fun playing Rummikub. This Saturday program is meant to make math and English fun, and Sergio was amazed at how much fun they all had. Now on to more difficult puzzles in the next round!  Teacher Sergio and class after puzzle is finished GOING THE EXTRA MILE Rescuing abandoned babies always sparks a search for the family. This little girl was abandoned after her Wednesday night birth. A hospital nurse alerted Social Services to the abandonment, and we were asked to receive her the next morning when she was less than a day old. In the meanwhile, the investigation went on in earnest to find a family member.  Dulce, Social Services, with tiny infant girl we hosted for 5 days At 1.8 kg/4 lbs. this little one was slightly premature and very fragile, but could she eat! She consumed only an ounce (30 ml) at a time, but did it every 2 to 3 hours. It was great to see her with such a good appetite. Keeping her body temperature at normal was a bit more challenging, but by wrapping her in a warm flannel blanket and doing frequent temperature checks over the first 3 days, she finally stabilized. Within 1 day, a tip was given that led Social Services to the grandmother, who lives in a city 60km/30 miles away. The Grandmother eagerly traveled to Balama to claim the baby. With paperwork delays, it was Monday morning before the Grandmother and her 5‑day-old grandchild could leave our facility for the Grandmother’s home. FYI, the Grandmother lives near the Regional Hospital in this city. This makes me very happy, as it means the needed medical care is on hand if she gets ill. Serving as an emergency rescue center is part of what God wants us to do. It was a lot of hard work to stabilize this little one, but thanks to my NICU knowledge from the USA, we managed with what we had on hand to use. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSTANT PRAYERS THAT KEEP US COVERED WHEN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE. THE ROOF IS COMPLETE!  3‑bedroom Toddler house with roof completed After 3 days of hard work and 150 tin sheets later, the roof for the 3 bedroom toddler house is now complete. There is much cement work still to be done, plus making and mounting the many windows and 3 doors. Know that our brick team is going at it at top speed. BLESSINGS, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: SEPTEMBER 2, 2023
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 REPAIRING WATER WELLS KEEPS VILLAGES HEALTHY Yes, we are still repairing/maintaining water wells in the villages of Balama and Meluco Districts as needed. We have never stopped doing this project, as no clean water means death to many and thus more orphans. Due to limited space in my blog, I haven’t reported each time we repaired a well. I will do a better job in the future, as Water Well Maintenance will always be an integral part of our program as long as we have the parts needed. Manel and his team repaired the water well at the Mango Tree church on Friday after the main pump parts wore out over the last 2 years use.  The children living near the Mango Tree Church are thrilled that they have clean water again https://youtube.com/shorts/3eT1eKFZrPU CRECENCIO FINDS HIS BALANCE! Crecencio, 20 months old, is finally walking independently after several setbacks caused by a heavy infestation of intestinal worms and hidden malaria. This little man has struggled to catch up with his larger twin sister, Crecencia, who runs and plays effortlessly with the other toddlers. Thank you for your prayers for Crecencio.  Crecencio walking independently after several setbacks https://youtube.com/shorts/SDxmcbirLG0 My respect has deepened for the Foster Mothers as they spent many an hour doing physical therapy exercises with Crecencio to help him gain leg strength. His intestinal worms blocked him from absorbing the high protein meals we provided for him. He had been dewormed when he came to live with us, but it seems the one treatment wasn’t enough. Our Doctor of Nutrition at the hospital ordered a 2nd dose given, which cleared up his problem. Once he overcame that and the hidden malaria, he began to gain weight and strength. We are all very proud of his progress, and PTL that he is finally healthy! ROOFING 50% COMPLETED, WITH TIN SHEETS GOING ON NEXT WEEK A building that is 22 feet wide x 65 feet (7 meters X 20 meters) long makes for a BIG ROOF! Our 6‑man carpentry group teamed up with our brick layers this week to put in the 5 concrete pillars that anchor the 6‑foot veranda roof against high winds. The tin sheets will be nailed on this coming Monday and Tuesday, leaving only the final brick work to be done.  Carpenters and Brick Layers team up to put in 5 concrete pillars to anchor the roof I am very pleased at how fast our team have been able to construct this 3‑bedroom home for our toddlers. Our goal of moving in by November, looks more and more like a reality for sure! All 25 of our infants and toddlers are growing fast, making this new home a very welcomed extension to our 2‑bedroom Ostrich House. THE SEPTEMBER HEAT IS HERE That is the only time our weather matches that of the northern Hemisphere. So this month we will “sweat it out” with our USA friends who have been suffering super-hot weather for the last 3 months. BLESSINGS, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |