| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: OCTOBER 8, 2022 HELDER NOW A TEACHER IN BALAMA! Our first orphan to complete higher education, is now gainfully employed by the Balama School District. He will be teaching math, natural science, and art design to 7th graders in a village about 6 miles/9 km from Balama.  A very happy Helder with new bike as transportation to his new teaching job. Helder is now living with a relative on the other side of Balama town, and is traveling to this village with the bicycle that we purchased to meet his transportion need as there is no housing available in this village. This all came about this week, with Helder leaving our school children for this new job. Teacher Pedro had nothing but high praise for how well Helder interned under him. It is very hard to see Helder go, as he has been a great contributor to our dorm for over 7 years, and to our staff since February. We wish him well and made sure he had all that was needed to get a good start in life on his own. He will receive food from us for the next 2 months as his first paycheck will be delayed. He also received pots and pans, bedding, and other kitchen items. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING HELDER’S DREAM A REALITY! BBC CROWDS ARE GROWING! This week, the word is out that the fun times are back with our BBC teams! The motorbike teams saw their crowds DOUBLE to over 800 children per day. Praise and worship starts each BBC program. https://youtu.be/BrlV6PyASN0 The photos tell the story as our teams play games to attract the children, then teach them about Jesus under the nearest shade tree.  Teaching a new game to the Bawana village children.  Bible stores help the children vizualize what the Youth Leader is explaining. MILK PROGRAM EXPANDING AS MORE TWINS ARE NEEDING HELP Josina and her 3 week old twins, Victor and Victoria, are the latest to be admitted into our INFANT MILK FORMULA PROGRAM. This program serves mostly orphaned infants that would perish if not for our help. We also assist mothers who are malnourished and therefore have no breast milk. The 3rd category assisted are mothers with twins who are approaching 30 days of age. It is rare to find a mother in our District with enough breast milk to satisfy 2 fast growing infants. With our help, the twins are able to flourish and maintain a constant growth rate.  Mother Josina learns how to mix infant formula from Assistant Children’s Director, Fatima. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE. TOGETHER, WE ARE SAVING LIVES, 1 CHILD AT A TIME. BLESSINGS FROM BALAMA, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
Author Archives: Kim Hartman
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: OCTOBER 1, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: OCTOBER 1, 2022 BBC BRINGING MULTITUDES TO CHRIST This week the BBC motorbike team and bicycle teams visited a new set of villages leading over 250 children to Christ.  10 Children accepted Jesus in Maco village this week.  Over 70 came to Jesus in Mariri village on Thursday this week. On September 30th, I met with our 16 Village Pastors who eagerly restarted their BBC programs earlier this month. They reported 47 new children’s salvations after ministering to 963 children in 30 villages. Many of the 963 children they ministered too had already received Jesus before the Covid outbreak stopped our program. Now the teaching begins of how to walk daily with Jesus. Jesus is moving in a powerful way among the Balama youth, and it is AWESOME to watch. Tug-of-war Teaching tug-of-war to the little ones. https://youtu.be/oeENO54I_LI Taking Balama for Jesus is our goal! For the children are the “good ground”, willing to listen and open their hearts to the One who sent their little spirits into this world. SUNDAY SALVATION REPORTS FROM VILLAGE CHURCHES  Village Pastors receive their quarterly food allotment donated by a very generous man of God. VILLAGE CHURCHES SUNDAY SALVATIONS CHILDREN: 416 (Sunday School Classes) TEENAGERS: 55 ADULTS: 38 DAVE DEBOER RETURNS TO THE USA Dave was a great help and inspiration to both me and the children during his 20-day visit.  Dave gave out balloons this last Sunday to all the Sunday School attendees making 50+ plus children very happy! His gift is HELPS and he does it with gusto!  Dave Deboer was a great hit with the village widows during the food give outs. It was hard to keep him busy as he completed any task given in record time. Flying out on Wednesday night to land in Atlanta, Georgia, put his plane right in the path of Hurricane Ian. We are grateful to the Lord for guiding those pilots to bring the plane in safely just before the storm crossed their flight path. Dave is now safely at home in Michigan getting much needed rest after 43.5 hours of travel. WORDS TO LIVE BY: Keep your eyes continuously on Jesus, for He is coming soon! BLESSINGS FROM BALAMA, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: SEPTEMBER 24, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 1000’S OF CHILDREN NOW HEARING GOD’S WORD Thanks to generous partners that assisted with motorbike fuel, the 4 man/2 motorbike BBC team ministered to 4,390 children in 14 remote villages over the last 2 weeks. Teaching from the Children’s Evangelistic Fellowship (CEF) LARGE PICTURE BOOKS, the teams taught each of the village groups from Genesis on Creation. In October, we hope to have 4 motorbikes in service, so that these children can hear the Word of God weekly vs. twice a month.  BBC team teaching Adam and Eve story using large picture books. BBC BICYCLE TEAMS got started on Sept. 15th and were able to teach Creation to 2,597 children in 12 villages in 6 days. CLARIFICATION: The bicycle teams visit the villages close to Balama town, while the motorbike teams teach in the villages more than 10km/6 miles from our base. As you can see in the videos the children dearly love the competitive games and listen intently to the Bible Stories. In one village, a child was ill, so the Pastors led the children in a healing prayer for the sick child. BBC teaching the children to pray for the sick. Learning by doing. https://youtu.be/sSHGhid6Eck THE LORD IS MOVING IN A MIGHTY WAY AMONG THE CHILDREN. SEPTEMBER FOOD GIVE OUTS COMPLETED THIS WEEK Praise songs are a favorite way to begin devotions before each food give out. https://youtube.com/shorts/J9O6r2QughI Our Food Give Out Teams assisted the last 9 villages on our list in the BALAMA DISTRICT this week. They served 461 orphans and widows by gifting them with 8.5 TONS of Corn, and 1 TON of dried Beans plus soap and salt. These kids have grown up fast and are very mature for their ages. You will note in the photos that ALL the school age children are assisting their grandmothers with carrying the food to their mud huts.  Every ophan helps granny carrying part of their corn gift to their mud hut.  Two orphan brothers dividing their corn before walking home. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND LOVE GIFTS THAT MAKES ALL THIS POSSIBLE. BLESSINGS FROM BALAMA, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 BBC TEAMS UP AND RUNNING! We received permission to return to normal church activities including our Bush Biker for Christ (BBC) Teams using both bicycles and motorbikes. The lack of fuel is still a challenge for the motorbike team, but we managed to buy enough stock for 1 month for 2 bikes, and hope to expand that to 4 bikes in the near future. At present the 2 motorbikes with a 4 man team will visit each village they previously went to over a 2 week period versus a 1 week period. ALL TEAMS were met with GREAT JUBILATION as the village children have been begging them to come play games, and tell the Bible stories for several months now. And the games are on! The children love the competition. https://youtu.be/tBpm0ChxaEQ  Bible story time attracts all ages in large numbers! This was their first week in the field, but the children responded well with more than a 100 per village hearing God’s Word at the devotion time that follows the Bawana Team Games. As word spreads that “THEY ARE BACK”, the groups will grow. Before 2020, our teams had a following of over 21,000 children per week! Keep these teams in your prayers, as they are the FRONT LINES in bringing children and teens to Christ. DAVE DEBOER IS BACK IN TIME FOR FIRST FOOD HANDOUTS OF 2022 Our Food Distribution Team targeted 4 major villages this week, handing out 14.46 TONS of corn and beans, along with 15 cases of bar soap, and 12 sacks (240kg/109lbs.) of salt. A total of 776 orphans and widows were served this week. Dave Deboer handed out 1 portion of soap for each family member that we serve, so he got to meet a lot of orphans and grannies.  Dave Deboer handing out soap to the widows who care for village Orphans. The give outs will continue next week as we visit the final 2 locations where 469 widows and orphans from multiple villages come to receive a helping hand from all of you who truly love them.  Older Orphans help granny to carry their food gift back to their mud hut. DAVE DEBOER is an Orphans Unlimited Board Member who has now been here 7 DIFFERENT YEARS to assist me in either food buying or food give out. His ministry gift is HELPS, and that is surely valued around here! Dave will stay until September 28th, when he must return to the USA. I GREATLY APPRECIATE HIS DEVOTION TO THE LORD AND TO ORPHANS UNLIMITED! A SAD FAREWELL TO SISTER LIGUA, AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE! Catholic Sister Ligua (Lisha) has been a precious friend to me, and a helping hand to our children for the last 8 years. No matter what time of night we called her, she was always willing to get out of bed to assist us. Ligua has many talents, and is excellent with starting IV’s in critically ill super small infants. That is a gift that has saved many a baby’s life here in Balama. We love her lots, but she has been transferred back to Ecuador, her home country, for the next 2 years. At that time, God willing, we hope she will be able to return to Balama as she desires to do so.  Sister Ligua, an Angel in disguise! God’s Blessings upon her as she is flying this entire weekend (5 separate flights) in order to return to Ecuador at midnight on Sunday. Please keep her in your prayers for travel mercies. BABY FRANCIANO IS HOME! BABY FRANCIANO was released from the hospital on Monday, and is eating and gaining weight, PTL! Thank you for your prayers for him.  Foster Mother Estivania and a perky Franciano happy to be home! BLESSINGS FROM BALAMA, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 FRANCIANO GOES BACK TO HOSPITAL ON MONDAY Franciano awoke Monday with a fever and trouble taking his bottle due to an upper respiratory infection. I was called immediately by the Head Mother at House #7, so our staff wasted no time getting him to the hospital. He is much improved, but is still on IV antibiotics till possibly Friday.  Foster Mother Estefania and Franciano must continue their stay as of Wednesday. BABY ANCHA is his “roomy” in the open 10 bed Pediatric Ward at the Balama Hospital. Ancha has completed her 5 day malaria treatment, but her lab tests revealed to the Doctors that she also had a blood infection which extended her stay until Wednesday this week. We are very happy to have her at home now.  Foster Mother Cecelia and Ancha were released from hospital on Wednesday. PTL! HIGH RISK BABIES who are super malnourished have little immunity. Franciano and Ancha are in this group, as they remain very fragile and pick up sicknesses very easily. Even with isolation from the other infants at our 2 “infant” homes, these little ones still manage to get sick, no matter how many precautions we take. Keep them in prayer, as both of them are doing better, but need the immunity that only God can provide. VEGGIES FOR EVERYONE! Two weeks ago, I had a meeting with the District Administrator and so did a man named Richard, who is the owner of RW Machambas (farming fields) in Montepuez. Richard and I hit it off, and he dropped by to see our program that very day. Richard of Zimbabwe and his wife, Caroline, along with 2 Americans (Tots and Dan), have developed a vegetable and fruit outlet that includes frozen chickens and eggs! All are Christians, and love helping out the missionaries living in Balama and Montepuez.  The Christian Team that made the veggies possible. L. to R. Tots, Dan, BBB, Richard, and Caroline. We purchased our first order of goodies from them on Sept. 3rd and the children were delighted to get ALL ORGANIC veggies and fruits to eat! A friend of mine in Balama has allowed me to put the ministry’s small chest freezer at his place, so that the children can get frozen chickens also! This will be a once a month treat at this time, and we are all very grateful for it. God always makes a way. It was just a month ago that I asked the Lord how we could get vegetables and fruits all year round for our children. Fresh fruits and veggies are only available a few months of the year in Balama.  7 boxes of fresh fruit and veggies arrive for our 7 children’s homes. Meeting Richard was most certainly the answer to that prayer! ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE! GOD ALWAYS AMAZES ME AT HOW HE PROVIDES. BLESSINGS FROM BALAMA, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: SEPTEMBER 3, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 ANCHA AND FRANCIANO IN HOSPITAL Wednesday morning is food distribution day for our 7 orphan homes, but we were met with an early morning surprise when 6 month old Baby Ancha wouldn’t stop crying, and Baby Franciano was looking weak. Both were rushed to the hospital, and as suspected, Ancha’s malaria had rebounded. Since she is just under 5kg/11 lbs, she was unable to take the follow up medications after her first malaria case. This made her vulnerable for a 2nd case after 2 weeks time. An infant MUST BE over 5kg to take an oral malaria medication or it will damage their liver. Franciano was dehydrated as he had sores in his mouth, and had a diarrhea stool at the hospital. IV’s were started on both and appropriate medicines given. Ancha must stay at least 5 days for IV medications since that is the required stay for this malaria treatment. Thankfully, Franciano’s lab tests returned negative for any infection, so he was rehydrated with an IV solution and released later that afternoon. Both are recuperating well, and we THANK YOU for continuing to hold them up in prayer. Both these little ones are still in the “danger” zone as they are very underweight for their age.  Ancha looking bright eyed after 2 days of malaria treatments  Franciano home from the hospital MORE INFANTS NEEDING FORMULA We have admitted 1 single birth and a set of twins into the Infant Formula Program this week. Our Infant Formula Program has 34 malnourished village infants at this time, so the local Doctor in charge of the Balama Nutritional Program came to see them at our mission this Thursday. Three were taken to the hospital by the Dr. for further medications, as they were sick, but NONE needed hospitalization. The remainder were deemed in improving condition and allowed to go back to their village homes. PTL! Please keep all these precious little ones in your prayers.  Children’s Director teaching new mother with no breast milk how to bottle feed EVANGELISTIC TEAMS CAN RESUME TEACHING VILLAGE CHILDREN! JUMPING FOR JOY!, the VILLAGE PASTORS AND THE BBC BICYCLE TEAMS will begin circulating in the villages next week if all goes as planned.  Happy Pastors as they can now continue their bawana games Bible teaching to 100’s of village children BBC MOTORBIKE TEAMS will make a slower start as NO GASOLINE is available in the Balama pumps. The price has jumped to $5.90 per gallon due to the shortage. The BBC’s normal daily consumption is 4 liters/bike/day. Using 4 bikes over a 5 day program = 80 liters or 20 gallons/week. Know that we are praying for a solution as the pumps in the next town over (Montepuez) have a limited supply of gasoline. Many pump owners are not allowing customers to buy in bulk. It is a 60 mile/120 km round trip drive to Montepuez. GOD CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, so join with us in finding someone who will SPONSOR THE PRICE OF THE FUEL, AND FOR A FUEL STATION THAT WILL ALLOW US TO FILL AT LEAST EIGHT, 5 GALLON CONTAINERS at one time. (2 weeks fuel for the team). The PERFECT SOLUTION would be if our Balama fuel station received fuel, but as of now, there is no fuel at the Nacala Port where the fuel is off loaded. UGH! THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO BY KEEPING OUR CHILDREN AND PASTORS IN YOUR PRAYERS! BLESSINGS FROM BALAMA, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: AUGUST 20, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: AUGUST 20, 2022 BABY ANCHA RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL  Baby Anch now with her Foster Mother, Ceclia, at House #7. FINALLY, 5 month old BABY ANCHA enters her new home and meets her new foster mother, Cecelia. ANCHA is still very tiny (4 kg) and fragile, but is gaining weight with frequent feedings. Taken by Social Services from a mentally ill mother who wasn’t feeding her, Ancha has suffered tremendously in the first 5.5 months of her life. She was removed 2 weeks ago from her home when she presented at our milk program with a HIGH FEVER because she had Malaria which caused severe Anemia (Hbg of 6.6), AND she was in serious respiratory distress. We plan to start her on rice cereal in a few days, hoping to advance her to the super fortified Hypo Cereal in the next 2 weeks. The Hypo Cereal is vitamin and protein fortified, and formulated especially for malnourished infants and children in Africa. Ancha must be watched closely, for ANY infection could send her plummeting back into a life threatening situation. This is what I mean when I say that we care for HIGH RISK BABIES that no one else wants to care for. Since she is way behind the normal weight for a 5 month old baby, she has a lot of catching up to do. PLEASE KEEP BABY ANCHA IN YOUR PRAYERS. TODDLER MOVES UP Fatima, now 2 years old, has graduated to a “Junior Bed” and sleeps in a room with 2 Foster Mothers caring for older babies Gilda and Juma.  L to R. Fatima, Gilda, and Juma. BABY ELSA BACK IN THE HOSPITAL WITH MALARIA  Baby Elsa in hospital with Foster Mother Lucinda. This little one presented on Wednesday this week with a high fever, respiratory distress, and diarrhea. She is in stable condition with IV medications being given for malaria and her respiratory infection. PLEASE KEEP HER IN PRAYER, AS SHE NEEDED A BLOOD TRANSFUSION, due to the malaria dropping her blood count to 7.6. She looks better today, but has a ways to go to be back on top of all these illnesses. BABY SUZANNA NOW WALKING Susanna shows us how well she walks. https://youtube.com/shorts/1aH3UixuyrU SUZANNA is the last of the original 13 critical infants we received in February and March, 2021. Suzanna has now joined the official Dirty Dozen who are all walking, making it a Baker’s Dozen (13). Our toddlers with their new found freedom keeps them playing in the sandboxes as well as the dirt! Next year several of them will be old enough to join our Little Disciples learning program for 3 to 5 year olds. How time flies for these little ones are growing up quickly. BUNNY IS OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA FOR 3 DAYS NEXT WEEK NO BLOG will be posted next week as I will fly to RSA on Wednesday and return Friday, arriving in Balama only on Saturday. It’s time to fetch a new supply of the precious HYPO CEREAL which we are almost out of. With many, many malnourished babies in our program since last November (when our supply truck delivered the Hypo), we are unable to continue distributing this wonderful life saving high protein cereal unless I go fetch more. Babies lives literally depend on it. It will be a fast trip, but there is much to do in Balama with food distributions beginning in September, and de Bunny can’t be gone for long. With only 2 flights/week, (Wednesday and Friday), I don’t have an option but do it all in one day! JOY! BLESSINGS FROM BALAMA, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: AUGUST 13, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: AUGUST 13, 2022 CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION RECEIVED  Certificate of Recognition given by Balama Administrator to our church The Balama Administrator honored us with a Certificate of Recognition for all that our program (Igreja Aguas Vivas/Living Waters Church) has contributed to assist Balama’s children and widows over the last 21 years. It is a great honor to receive such recognition as it is not given lightly. NONE OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED would have been possible without our “behind the scenes” partners (you)! It is an honor to serve the Lord in helping youngsters have hope of a better life when they have lost all that really matters to them, their parents. BABY ANCHA NEEDS PRAYER  Baby Ancha This little 5 month old girl has had a tough start in life, as her mother’s mental illness kept her from being properly cared for. Only 3.6kg/8 lbs when we received her last week, Ancha has fought off malaria, diarrhea, and an upper respiratory infection. But in her fight to survive, her first transfusion made no improvement in her blood count when her 2nd set of lab tests were received. A SECOND TRANSFUSION was given on Tuesday of this week with better results (Hbg 8). On Friday, Ancha once again had a fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. The hospital had only a small amount of a very strong antibiotic that she needed, so our Pastor/Driver Manuel left at 4 a.m. this morning to pick up more of that medicine from a pharmacy in Pemba. PTL that they had it in stock! UPDATE: Ancha is showing improvement after two doses of strong antibiotics PLEASE PRAY FOR BABY ANCHA’S FULL RECOVERY. SHE NEEDS A MIRACLE TO PULL HER OUT OF THIS. TODDLER CHABANY DEVISES A CAR…  Chevany’s new car From an old cooking pan of all things! This just goes to show us that when a boy wants a car, he will make a plan! Love his ingenuity! BLESSINGS FROM BALAMA, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: NOVEMBER 4, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2022 2 REVERENDS RETURN TO BALAMA Reverends Gito and Ramadan returned to Balama late Monday afternoon after an adventurous trip to Tete City, then on to Malawi for their ordination. The trip was successful, but not without challenges.  L. to R. Reverend Gito, Bishop Zalira, and Reverend Ramadan. A Cholera outbreak made crossing the border a bit challenging due to restrictions that helps prevent the disease from spreading. We are very proud of both our men, as they are hard working evangelist/church planters with lots more work to do for the Lord. More on the work ahead of them after I debrief them this weekend, and we set up a plan of evangelistic action. BOTH MOTHERS CAME THROUGH SURGERY WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS Thanks to your prayers, both Foster Mothers Bertina and Felecina had no complications from their surgeries.   Foster Mother Bertina Granny Felicina Bertina’s challenging tumor turned out to be a SIMPLE TUMOR, without complications. PRAYERS ANSWERED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! She has been released to her home, and will return in 7 days for suture removal. Felecina is still in hospital, as her hip tumor was quite large and involved. I don’t have many details on that, but will update once I know more. TINY 2 DAY OLD NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS  Tiny 2 day old baby girl Esperanca needs your prayers. Two day old Esperanca (HOPE) was brought to us on Monday by her Aunt Ernestina for milk assistance. A neighbor had suckled the child from birth, as the mother died shortly after Esperanca was born. Esperanca never received the mother’s colostrum milk, so her immunity is compromised. Our staff was THRILLED to see Esperanca at our Thursday infant formula weigh in. She had gained 50 gms since Monday, and was looking more active. Please prayer for her immune system to strengthen rapidly. MOVING 40 TONS OF CORN IS A BIG JOB  Moving 40 tons of corn to keep it cooler. With 20 strong men, who made it look easy to lift 132 lb./60kg bags of corn, we did our yearly shifting to get the corn lower to the ground, thus keeping it cooler. The 4 stacks of corn were reduced from 15 rows to 10 rows in height, with the extra corn being stacked in the free area available after 2 months of food distributions. The front stacks are easy, as the men removed the top sacks and made a new stack next to it. The 2 back stacks required some juggling to keep the men safe while tossing the sacks from the back stack to the front stacks for easier transport. The photo shows the men moving sacks from one stack to another. It was a relief when it was all done, as no stack shifted or fell, nor was anyone injured. That’s a great day in my book! WE ARE MARCHING ON FOR JESUS BECAUSE YOU CARE. BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |
BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG: NOVEMBER 4, 2022
| FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA“ DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2022 2 REVERENDS RETURN TO BALAMA Reverends Gito and Ramadan returned to Balama late Monday afternoon after an adventurous trip to Tete City, then on to Malawi for their ordination. The trip was successful, but not without challenges. L. to R. Reverend Gito, Bishop Zalira, and Reverend Ramadan. A Cholera outbreak made crossing the border a bit challenging due to restrictions that helps prevent the disease from spreading. We are very proud of both our men, as they are hard-working evangelist/church planters with lots more work to do for the Lord. More on the work ahead of them after I debrief them this weekend, and we set up a plan of evangelistic action. BOTH MOTHERS CAME THROUGH SURGERY WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS Thanks to your prayers, both Foster Mothers Bertina and Felecina had no complications from their surgeries. Foster Mother Bertina Granny Felicina Bertina’s challenging tumor turned out to be a SIMPLE TUMOR, without complications. PRAYERS ANSWERED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! She has been released to her home, and will return in 7 days for suture removal. Felecina is still in hospital, as her hip tumor was quite large and involved. I don’t have many details on that, but will update once I know more. TINY 2‑DAY-OLD NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS Tiny 2‑day-old baby girl Esperanca needs your prayers. Two-day-old Esperanca (HOPE) was brought to us on Monday by her Aunt Ernestina for milk assistance. A neighbor had suckled the child from birth, as the mother died shortly after Esperanca was born. Esperanca never received the mother’s colostrum milk, so her immunity is compromised. Our staff was THRILLED to see Esperanca at our Thursday infant formula weigh in. She had gained 50 gms since Monday, and was looking more active. Please prayer for her immune system to strengthen rapidly. MOVING 40 TONS OF CORN IS A BIG JOB With 20 strong men, who made it look easy to lift 132 lb./60kg bags of corn, we did our yearly shifting to get the corn lower to the ground, thus keeping it cooler. The 4 stacks of corn were reduced from 15 rows to 10 rows in height, with the extra corn being stacked in the free area available after 2 months of food distributions. Moving 40 tons of corn to keep it cooler. The front stacks are easy, as the men removed the top sacks and made a new stack next to it. The 2 back stacks required some juggling to keep the men safe while tossing the sacks from the back stack to the front stacks for easier transport. The photo shows the men moving sacks from one stack to another. It was a relief when it was all done, as no stack shifted or fell, nor was anyone injured. That’s a great day in my book! WE ARE MARCHING ON FOR JESUS BECAUSE YOU CARE. BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |