BUSH BUNNY BRENDA BLOG
DATE: MARCH 2, 2019
FLOOD CRISIS TAKES OUT 3 BRIDGES NEAR MELUCO ORPHANAGE
Capena drove to Meluco last Monday for his annual meeting with staff and government officials in Meluco District (county). Your Love Gifts assist 515 orphans and widows with food, clothing, school materials, and building simple mud hut housing in very critical situations.
All went well on Monday until a massive rain storm hit just as Capena finished his meetings. I told him to stay the night as the storm would cause slippery roads and dangerous travel.
Little did we know that this very storm would wash away THREE BRIDGES that link Meluco town with the main highway 33 miles (55 km) away. Expecting him home by noon on Tuesday, I was SHOCKED when I got an early morning photo from Capena showing the 1st missing bridge at the edge of town.
Nothing remains of the main bridge leading into Meluco town.
The good news is that the 1 lane game reserve road going out the other side of town was open to small 4 wheel drive trucks. It was a rough 9 hour drive with “BEWARE OF ELEPHANTS” signs posted where they love to cross the road.
Capena said they did not spot any elephants, (PTL!) but that they saw many Baboons with some standing up to 5 ft. (1.5m) tall.
That reserve does like to grow them big! A 5 foot baboon can reveal his 3 to 4 inch “canine teeth”. Deadly to anything it attacks. They are also known to have 3 times the strength of a STRONG full grown man.
FYI: You do not want to meet an elephant on a 1 lane MUDDY road, for you have no avenue of escape. Elephants are famous for flipping cars with their tusks, or sitting on the hood, killing your engine.
We are truly grateful that the Lord Jesus brought Capena and assistant driver, Mario “Big”, home safely.
Balama’s main road just after a heavy rain. Slip sliding away!
The only damage to the truck was a lost license plate on the front. He said they had to dive through 4 deep mud/water holes that covered the road. He thinks it was ripped off as they crossed one of those holes.
NEVER A DULL MOMENT WHEN JESUS GIVES YOU A BUSH MINISTRY!
9 OF OUR 10 NEW FAMILY MEMBERS NOW BLESSED WITH SPONSORS
The last to need a sponsor is Momade Alberto. He’s in 2nd grade at 9 years of age. We all call him Alberto to avoid confusion, for we have another boy named Momade in the same house.
These 2 boys are great friends now, and I see them helping each other carry water from our nearby water well to their home. If the Lord places “Alberto” on your heart, we would all be most grateful. He’s a great kid with a beautiful smile.
Momade Alberto and his beautiful smile.
NEW SHIRTS DONATED TO OUR 13 YOUNGEST BOYS
Peter, my friend at the Graphite Mine, has returned for another year of work at the mine which is just down the road from our mission.
Alex, Leanne, and Peter are avid supporters of our children. They do their best to send clothing and shoes from Australia each time Peter travels back to Balama for his job.
Leanne just blessed our boys with fancy new shirts. Alex sent long sleeved shirts for the colder weather which begins in April. We are most grateful for these much needed gifts, and for Peter’s willingness to bring them to us.
13 happy boys with new polo shirts for 1st time in their life.
THANKS ALEX and LEANNE, for your recent gifts put big smiles on 13 beautiful faces!
Blessings,
Bush Bunny Brenda Lange
And the Balama Staff