L to R. Mighty Mildo, Snuggles Santos, and Amazing Armando. OUR 3 MUSKETEERS: IF YOU SEE 1, THE OTHER 2 ARE NOT FAR BEHIND ‘MIGHTY’ MILDO, 3 years old, is the ringleader for 3 of our youngest boys living in the foster home called “The Lion House”. Mildo’s mother passed away shortly after his birth, and his father had long abandoned them. That left baby Mildo in
ROLLIN’, ROLLIN’, ROLLIN’. KEEP THOSE TRUCKS A’ ROLLIN’ That‘s our “theme song” for the 4 weeks of September, as we attempted to feed each orphan with not only 1 hand out this month, but 2! Why? It is national election time for Mozambique in mid-October, meaning all distributions must be done in September. DOUBLE DUTY THIS MONTH, for it takes 2 weeks to distribute to all the orphans
ZITO FINALLY IMPROVING AFTER JESUS STEPPED IN LAST WEEK I told you about Zito’s enormous left thigh swelling which began on Thursday. I was very concerned by Friday, calling in the doctor, who feared the infection had restarted and his sutures might burst under the increased pressure. The Balama doctor said a consult with a surgeon was not possible until Monday, so my staff and I
ZITO OUT OF HOSPITAL, BUT BATTLES RAGES ON After 3 weeks of 4 very strong antibiotics, Zito’s doctor released him with prescriptions to cover the next 14 days with strong oral antibiotics. After arriving home Tuesday night, (3 days post closure of his knee incision), Zito spiked a high fever, and his leg began to swell near his knee where the worst of the infection was located.
B ZITO IS HEALING! DR. EXPECTS TO RELEASE HIM TUESDAY Thanks to your faithful prayers, ZITO’S “bad spot” on his lower left femur bone SUDDENLY BEGAN TO HEAL THIS WEEK. After 14 days of 4 intense antibiotics with little response, there is no doubt that Jesus touched Zito with a miracle. The change was overnight! X‑rays show the bone hardening where it was soft on surgery day,
ZITO SHOWING IMPROVEMENT IN DIFFICULT BATTLE Beating osteomyelitis (bone infection) is like trying to kill a room full of fleas with a stick, but Zito is a mighty warrior who KNOWS that JESUS HEALS WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS. I just spoke to Zito by phone, and he is in good spirits, for his leg is no longer painful. Left: Our Children’s Director Pastor Fred with Zito
OPTIMISTIC ALTHOUGH THE BATTLE RAGES AS I WRITE When the Orthopedic Dr. opened Zito’s hip on Saturday, he was surprised to not find a simple fistula which all 3 previous Doctors had expected. Instead, he had to open Zito’s leg almost to his knee. The infection had worked its way completely down the bone from the head of the femur in his hip to just above his knee. NINETY
ZITO’S DOCTOR VISIT DELAYED At 3am Monday, Capena, Pastor Fred, and Zito left in our “long distance” Land Cruiser for Nampula, planning to get him a medical consult on his infected hip at 3pm that day. At 7am, Capena called to report his truck’s clutch was making a horrible noise when pressed, so he needed help. Manuel, our mechanic/driver took off immediately in my pick-up with all
ZITO SURGERY UPDATE Two different Drs. consulted over Zito’s situation yesterday afternoon and agreed surgery is needed to locate and clear up his hip infection. He meets with anesthesia today and will have his surgery on Friday, August 2nd. Remember, we are 7 hours ahead of you in the US, so please remember him in your prayers this evening and through the night for you night owls. The
BIG SNAKE CAUSES BBC MOTORBIKE TO HIT THE DITCH! On Friday, one of our BBC motorbike teams was approaching a bridge just 4 miles (7 km) from our base when the lead bike spotted a long, dark colored snake stretched c‑o‑m-p-l-e-t-e‑l‑y across the road. The driver told us he could not see its head nor its tail, meaning it was over 3 meters (10 ft.) long.