Latest News

A local young lady has given birth to premature triplets and is at present being looked after at the

hospital in Kabompo, some thirtyfour miles from the Home.  Miriam is monitoring their progress as well as supplying the baby-milk powder that is required to supplement their mother’s milk. When the babies are able to leave the hospital the family will come and live close to the Children’s Home in order that Miriam will be able to carry on supporting them for as long as is required.

 

John Mingoshi has finished his studies in animal husbandry and is now putting his expertise to good use. Reports are coming in that there are now piglets in the Home’s piggery, the turkeys are laying well producing an ever increasing number of turkey chicks. In order to obtain goats milk a he-goat of a milking breed has been purchased with the knowledge that the cross-bred females will be able to be milked. It is hoped that some of the milking breed will be able to be obtained but finding ones for sale is proving difficult. As part of his studies John has to complete a practical project. He is setting up a small chicken unit to provide meat and eggs  for use at the Home.

 

A young man called Kenny Tito has been employed as the pastoral worker for the children at the Home. The  children now receive regular Bible teaching during the week as well learning new choruses. Kenny is both a gifted singer and guitar player. The children also have someone that they can go to when Miriam and Simon are otherwise engaged. Please pray for Kenny that God will use him mightily.

 

Kasweca is part way though her teaching training and is at present back at Kabulamema for her teaching practice, sharing her time with the state school and the 5-6 year old class at the Home. Luke (the original baby) and his son Martin are benefiting from her expertise as they teach the young ones at the home.

 

Sadly sometimes we receive sad news, baby Karran a seven month old baby girl has died of malaria. Her mother has severe epilepsy and is hospitalised. Karran had been looked after by her grandmother until she was six months old and then because of her condition brought to Miriam for help. Sadly the malaria that Karran had was drug resistant and she lost her fight for life. This occurrence really highlights that problems that have to be faced in Zambia in the 21st century

 

 

 

 

 

 

   20 July.         Ken, Pat and their friend Paula have just returned from a visit to Kabulamema.

   Official visitors:-   The  Minister of Agriculture and his deputy came to the Children’s Home on the 10th June for an official visit. They looked at the projects and the area surrounding the Home before going inside. They were overwhelmed at what they saw. They were impressed by Simon, Miriam, Lisa,Eunice and all the other grownup children of the Home that were carrying on the work. When the children sang they became very emotional  and said “We’ve been to many make-shift orphanages where people are only interested in making money but here we have found the real thing - a real home for the children”. The Minister then said that he would endeavour to return in six weeks for a day or two.

    During our visit, on Sunday 24th June, Mr. Kenneth Chipungo the Deputy Minister for Child Development and the M.P. for the N.W. Province briefly visited the Home. He spoke to Simon and Miriam and later greeted the children in the main lounge. The children sang to him ”God be with you ‘till we meet again” in their own language, he responded with words of encouragement and presented Simon with a cheque for K3000000 to help with the work. This event was filmed by a professional cameraman. Is it possible that we  were on Zambian TV at a later date?   

5th October.    Simon has reported that diesel is in extremely short supply, and is selling on the ‘black market’ for three times the correct price. This situation causes the Children’s Home severe difficulties financially as they try to obtain supplies of fuel for their generators and essential transport needs.The Zambian Society Trust newsletter carries a report from  Reuters that Zambia’s Indeni Oil Refinery was closed in September due to shortages of crude oil, this closure however has allowed time for essential maintenance.

 A four month old baby boy arrived at the Home from Zambesi in September, his mother having passed away as a result of birth complications. Please pray for Chiyama as he joins the family.

  One of the three year old twins - Peter- was taken to hospital in Kabompo after being tripped-up by Mercy. Xray results showed a broken femur and he is now in traction before being plastered.

 Abel one of the teenaged boys rescued his friend after he was caught by a crocodile by ramming a sharp stick down the croc’s throat. Fortunately the young man was released and is now receiving medical help on a badly damaged leg.

 Miriam’s last text tells us of the need to provide proper shelters for their pigs and goats. They have 21 piglets with four more sows yet to give birth. One of the pregnant sows was stolen, this was a great loss and a wire fence enclosure will greatly increase the security and safety of the Homes animals.

 

25  May.       A new 2 month old baby has just arrived, his mother died when he, Luka, was one month. Granny had been buying milk for him but her money had run out and so he has been brought from Zambesi to Miriam so that he may have a chance in life.