Roman and Matilda

Roman and Matilda

The stories of our children are the most interesting that I could
write about. Right now it is very quiet here in the village since
over half of the children are visiting extended families during this
holiday month.

Roman was looking forward to going to visit his grandmother and
grandfather. When Kamau took the children to the social welfare
office to meet the relatives, no one was there for Roman. He was very
disappointed. The next day Kamau received permission from the social
welfare office to take Roman directly to the Village where his
grandparents live. When they arrived, they found out that the
grandfather had gone the week before to the wrong office, was given
misinformation, and waited all day but no one came. So in fact they
wanted Roman to visit. Roman went with his Bible. He said he was
going to preach to the people. He also said he was going to teach
them about what he has learned about "farming God's way." Kamau said
that before he left the grandparent's village, Roman was already
gathering the twigs and sticks needed to start making compost manure!

We have very exciting news about Matilda. For those who have never
been to our Village of Hope, Matilda had spinal TB at about the age of
5. Before that she was a normal, active child. The TB caused damage
to her spine and spinal column and she has been unable to walk
unassisted since the age of about 5. She is 10 years old now,
although very small. (Her mother is also a very small person.)

Kayla Cook is a surgical recovery nurse and was just here in June for
her second visit to our Village.
Although she couldn't believe the positive change in Matilda, she
felt concern wondering if there is more that can be done medically for
her. So she talked to the orthopedic surgeon and to the hospital.
The doctor, after looking at Matilda's xrays from Cure Hospital in
Lusaka, felt that there was help he could offer her. So he has put
together a team of doctors who will provide their services free, the
hospital has agreed to provide it's services free, and the company
that would manufacture any spinal hardware needed in case of surgery
has been approached about providing their equipment free. So Matilda
is coming to the states!

Kamau will be working on all the Zambian documentation that is needed.
Once that is done, I will get her a medical visa to come to our
country. Hopefully all this will be done so that we can bring her to
the US in November when Sena and I come.

I have told Matilda and Mama Anna and everyone I speak to feels that
it is God at work on behalf of this sweet girl. Matilda is the person
here in Zambia that I have known the longest. She has been through a
lot and the fact that she is alive is a miracle. Due to our
intervention she got the medicine for the TB or else she would already
be dead. So join us in praying for a miracle of healing through the
hands of the doctors who will be evaluating and working with her.