JESUINO SUFFERS FEBRILE CONVULSIONS On Monday at lunchtime, our executive staff was meeting outside under a cashew nut tree, also known as our 2nd office. I was facing our entrance road when I saw our Foster Father, Nuro, running towards us with a child in his arms. Capena and I ran to meet him with Capena carrying the convulsing Jesuino to the nearby table under the cashew nut tree. Anna, Children’s Director, and I raced into my house to grab a large basin and a bucket of water. Outside, Capena was stripping Jesuino’s clothes off him. Putting him into the basin, we began pouring the cool water over his body. His fever was high, as the water turned warm within 1 minute, but his convulsions stopped as the water cooled his body. Praise the Lord, for high fever is a sign of rapid onset Malaria. Jesuino, age 4, happy at home after his febrile seizure. Wrapped in a cotton “Caplana” (wrap around skirt), we rushed him to the Balama Hospital where a Dr. and Sister Ligia met us at the emergency room. An IV was started, and life-saving medications and fluids were given. A Rapid Malaria Test turned positive immediately, proving what we all suspected—a strong case of malaria. Jesuino’s Malaria Rapid Test turned positive immediately. Jesuino was admitted for 24-hour observation. He slept until 8pm when he thankfully awoke hungry, and fully aware of everyone around him. The next morning he was released with the normal oral medication that kills the malaria larvae, and had no further problems. Malaria has attacked many children this year in Balama, and not all had such a quick recovery as our Jesuino. OUR STAFF’S QUICK RESPONSE AND THEIR PRAYERS AS WE WORKED TO STOP THE CONVULSIONS, were key in Jesuino’s fast recovery from this killer disease. We are very grateful to the Lord Jesus for answering our prayers for this little boy. BALAMA’S LOCAL LEADERS VISIT OUR CHILDREN The Balama Chief of this Administration Post (a powerful position), as well as the Primary and Secondary School’s Directors requested to visit all 7 of our children’s homes this week. They said they were impressed after reading our 1st quarterly report, and desired to meet all of us. They were truly impressed by all they saw and those they talked with. The Chief said she was very happy to assist Helder, who has completed teacher’s college, to be placed in a job near our mission. Helder is currenly working to tutor our primary school children with their lessons. Capena, far left, speaking to our 4 visitors on Thursday this week. With many compliments and encouraging words, they left after spending 2 hours talking with the children and their foster mothers. It was great that this influential group now truly knows us and our children, for they have a heart to help them excel. PERSEVERANCE AND PERSISTENCE IN ACTION GRANNY MINIAH (Mee-nii-ah) lost her right leg many years ago during the Mozambican civil war. Instead of sitting at home waiting for a handout, she began to work her farming field sitting down. We met her over 10 years ago, as she was raising her 2 orphaned grandsons in a village about 5km/3 miles from our base. Since she struggled to grow enough food for the 3 of them, we immediately placed her into our weekly food program. We expected her to send a friend to pick up the food, but she actually WALKED the 3 MILES to our give-out on her crutches! Her friend came with to carry the food. NOW THAT IS BEYOND AWESOME, AND SHOWS A TRUE HEART OF LOVE FOR HER GRANDSONS! We soon organized an improved mud hut near our mission station, (mud brick walls with concrete floor and tin roof), to ease her burden, and assist her with the 2 boys who were nearing school age. HER FORTITUDE, AND DOING WHAT SHE COULD TO PROVIDE FOR HERSELF AND OTHERS, DEFINES PERSISTENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. Persistence and Perseverance are this widow’s motto. BE GRATEFUL TO JESUS, and do what you can with what you have. When she came to live with us, she immediately asked for a farming field. I took this photo on Wednesday this week as she walked home from her farming field with a tub of bean leaves on her head that she had just harvested from that very same field. It is an honor to assist such a strong woman of God, as is our Miniah. YOUR PRAYERS AND LOVE GIFTS MAKE ALL THIS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US AT ORPHANS UNLIMITED. BLESSINGS, BUSH BUNNY BRENDA LANGE AND THE BALAMA STAFF |