From: “Brenda Lange”
Date: November 20, 2011 4:57:50 AM CST
Subject: Blog, Nov. 20, 2011
FIRST LADY OF MOZAMBIQUE ENDORSES ORPHAN PROGRAM
With weeks of preparation, the first lady arrived in a cloud of 20 “off road” trucks.
Meluco is quite remote, and one must purpose to go there as it sits between 2 game reserves.
Rough dirt roads are the norm.
At our base, we built a grass covered veranda where the widows and orphans could sit in the shade as temperatures were 100 F (39C) in the shade.
Excelencia Dr. Maria Da Luz Guebuza was quite surprised at the number of orphans we assist (546 in Meluco county) and the amount of food they receive.
Our display included bags of corn meal flour (ground at our own Meluco mill), rice, salt, beans, soap, baby formula with bottles, and cooking oil.
The children were all wearing new clothes that were fabricated at our Balama sewing center, so everyone looked really sharp.
Many of the children had grown so much this year, that I almost didn’t recognize them!
Dr. Maria’s visit lasted about 25 minutes where she distributed food items she brought to donate to the children and ended with a short speech.
She sincerely thanked us for doing a work that she knows is not easy.
She asked us to continue helping these children and the widows who care for them.
Her final words were directed to the children: “STUDY, STUDY, STUDY and break the poverty cycle that surrounds the children of that district.”
She then visited our corn/bean warehouse and was impressed at our food supply.
It is quite impressive when you walk between rows of 110 lb (50kg) food sacks stacked 12 ft. (3 meters) high.
This event was covered by 3 radio stations and one TV station.
After her departure, I was quickly interviewed by these 4 groups, making it a whirlwind experience to say the least.
Photos of the event will be included in our 2011 ministry film.
Eric’s working hard on getting this ready so that all of you can see what has been accomplished this year.
Thank You to all of you for your prayers for favor with this visit.
The First Lady is a very cordial woman, and was sincerely touched by what we are doing.
Thanks to YOUR HELP, these children have a bright future, since your gifts make it possible for them to go to school.
The poverty cycle can only be broken through education.
Our work has proven, through the students in Balama who have graduated, that our work IS making a difference.
Several of the Meluco children will enter high school this year, as this was a very young group when we started the project in 2006.
Raising children takes time, as you well know, and the results of God’s love has been very positive with this group.
Again, THANK YOU for helping us to make a difference in the lives of over 500 orphans in this district.
DIXON DOING WELL after one week in the hospital on a special malnutrition formula.
Capena did a food drop to the 4 children staying in the village with a neighbor, and all is well there also.
I’m looking forward to seeing that “little fighter” healthy and energetic very soon.
Blessings,
Bush Bunny Brenda