FROM “BUSH BUNNY BRENDA” DATE: MARCH 8, 2014
ZITO GIFTED WITH A BIG WHEELS TRICYCLE!
Social Services donated a new tricycle to Zito to allow him to be independent in getting to school. The wheelchair we organized worked well for short distances, but the school is 300 yards away. The rough dirt path was impossible for him to negotiate alone, and at this time of the year it is pure mud.
Zito proudly shows off his BIG WHEELS TRIKE to Papa Eric who snapped the photo, before heading off to his 2nd Grade Classroom.
TOTAL DOUBTERS CAN FIND CHRIST
JONAL, a Muslim living in Namara village, totally doubted all the stories he’d heard his friends tell of praying to Jesus and receiving miracle healings. Then his wife, Amacina (Ah-mah-seen-ah) went into labor. On her 2nd day of labor and still no progress, Jonal called for the Balama ambulance, but it was in another part of the District. He told me that he tried every prayer he knew to Allah, and even begged the Catholic priest to pray to the Saints for his baby to be born soon. Nothing happened and the sun came up on day 3 of her labor. Then Jonal remembered about Jesus, and cried out for Him to help his wife and baby.
Within 15 minutes baby LOUIS was born, and the man knew Jesus was real! Since this family lives a bit to the north of Namara, no one from the Namara church knew of this great miracle until the family showed up in church last Sunday morning!
After telling his story, Jonal and Amacina both confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
On Thursday night March 6th, Pastor Ramadan in Namara called to ask if we could send a truck to fetch Amacina for a medical consult. She was not well and couldn’t sit on a bicycle for the 14 km (8.4 mile) ride to the Balama hospital. (After 3 days in labor, I’d guess not!) Good thing they brought the whole family, as the Doctor needed to treat all 4 of them for different illnesses including severe anemia. They have a 1 year old little boy as well as baby Louis. Our truck took them back at noon, loaded with gifts from us which included vitamins, baby clothes, as well as a 132 lbs (60kg) sack of corn (mealies) and 66 lbs. (30kg) of beans to keep them well fed. Our driver, Manel, is a Pastor as is Ramadan. Both did some serious spiritual counselling and praying with this couple after they arrived back in Namara. After Louise was born, they had taken him to the witch doctor, not knowing any better. Pastor Ramadan will continue daily counselling to help this family “learn how to walk with Jesus”.
BABIES SUFFER WHEN ADULTS DON’T KNOW THE TRUTH
This little one has suffered tremendously .….….
because the mother (before her death) took her repeatedly to a witchdoctor who did cuttings all over her body to “drain the sickness”. This baby is still in the Balama hospital with severe malnutrition, anemia, and respiratory problems. Lesions on her tongue make it impossible for her to suck a bottle, so a feeding tube now helps her receive the nutrition her body so badly needs. This is why we do intense counselling with new families that come to us for help. We teach John 10:10 as it opens their eyes to the truth. (The devil comes but to steal, kill, and destroy, but JESUS brings life abundantly.)
ELZABE VISITS BALAMA
Eric’s long-time friend, Elzabe Barnhart, from South Africa is a retired Executive Assistant from a large corporation in South Africa. She is truly gifted in organizing and offering fresh ideas on how to better organize storerooms. In her first 2 days she identified several ways to help ease my work load. Elzabe and I are both “doers” and very “efficiency minded”, so we hit it off right away. She is a super blessing, bringing the much needed help that I have prayed for.
The rains continue, and our roads are mushy, but we continue to take the gospel to the villages via bicycles, motorbikes, and our trucks. THANK YOU for your Love Gifts that make our work possible.
Blessings, Bush Bunny Brenda Lange Eric Dry Elzabe Barnhart Balama Staff