Greetings from Zimbabwe,
Ralph and I stayed overnight in town after putting Todd on the plane for his flight home. The following day we drove up to Howard Hospital with Priscilla and Claudio Penny. We had wanted to see Paul Thistle that has been the Dr. at that hospital for 15 years. It had been a number of years since we had visited with him. This hospital serves an area of about 250,000 people. There were people everywhere waiting to see Dr. Thistle. Paul operates the hospital with only three student Drs. who come for two or three year missions. One of the student Drs. was leaving the next day to go to a Mission Hospital near Mashvingo for a two year stay. This was going to leave Paul very short handed. Paul says a normal day usually ends at about 7:00 pm. unless an emergency comes in. It is a seven day a week job. Burn out must be a problem. He is looking forward to a sabbatical.
On our tour of the hospital we saw a set of twins that had just been born. The picture that has stuck in my mind is of this child with its legs in traction. I don’t know what had happened. We also saw a baby that had fallen butt first into a bucket of boiling water. The burn on the buttocks was third degree. The baby whimpered non-stop. My heart aches for all of the little ones who were suffering. A lasting impression is the masses of people waiting to be seen by Dr. Thistle.
Last Saturday, September 11, there was a surprise Birthday Party for Ralph’s 81st Birthday. It was attended by teachers, HCOC Executive Committee members, HCOC staff and some community members. What Fun! Ralph was so surprised that he was speechless. They went all out with a meal, birthday cake complete with candles, pop corn and even a gift. They gave Ralph a new suitcase. They are afraid that his suitcase is worn out and that he might not come back. There was singing and Shona dancing. Even the children got involved. I would love to send pictures but all I had with me was my video camera and I didn’t think to take snaps.
Jeff arrived Wednesday at about noon. He was fine but tired after an extremely long trip. After lunch we picked up groceries and headed back to school. Jeff was definitely ready for a good night’s rest. The next day he was immersed into many activities including the celebration at Inyagui.
Inyagui had planned a celebration to show off the improvements that had taken place at their school in recent years. Parents, teachers, the Member of Parliament and dignitaries from the Department of Education were in attendance as well as district officials. They showcased the kitchen where food is prepared for the orphans, the administration building as well as the recently completed new two-classroom building. The highlight was the new well that was recently completed. I can’t begin to tell you how happy they are. Their smiles say it all.
Ralph and I are truly blessed to have many supportive friends. We have been enabled to pay school fees for several bright and deserving students attending Boarding Schools. Funds have been provided for irrigation at the new Moringa plot. The same donor has sent money so that Albert may begin a small poultry project to generate income for HCOC. And now we have been blessed with a sizeable donation from another donor that will allow Ralph to repair numerous wells in the community. Community wells are really not our responsibility and yet they are essential for the health of the community. Our orphans live in the community and have to use the wells as their source of water. We are working hard to get families in the community to contribute to the repair of the wells. It is not an easy concept for them to accept when they are so accustomed to having donor involvement. The Councilor for Ward 1 is holding a meeting with Village Headman on Monday. Hopefully something positive will come from that meeting.
Last section finally in place
Today, we are in Harare picking up a large order of repair parts for the wells. The money sent to us has made it possible for Ralph to make these purchases. Mr. Bondeponde followed us in town with the ton and a half truck. The truck was full when Ralph completed the purchases. Work will begin tomorrow. Ralph will be supervising a group of villagers and showing them how to repair their wells.
Job complete, water at last
Our time is coming to a close and as always there is still much to be completed. Three major wells have been repaired. Today, Ralph and Jeff and their crew are attempting to retrieve objects that dropped into a well sometime ago. I hope they are successful. They have a couple of young men who are willing to work and listen to instructions. Ralph has been impressed with them. He is hopeful that they can maintain the wells after we leave.
Mr. Scott has been diagnosed with cancer. The Dr. at Parirenyatwa Hospital is booked up with surgeries until September 29. The family took Mr. Scott to Karanda Hospital, a mission hospital, in the North Eastern part of Zimbabwe. The family was sent back to Harare to get a hemoglobin test done before they would schedule surgery. He has now been admitted to Karanda Hospital and we are told that he is failing. He is terribly missed here by everyone, including the children. Please pray for a successful surgery and healing. Also please pray for his family at this critical time. Our Lord is a powerful God. He can do anything if it is His Will.
In His Service, Ralph and Roberta