Just a quick note to tell you that things are not getting better! This last Wednesday when I went out to the orphanage to take help to one sick lady that is caring for 15 orphans. Another granny had walked 24 kilometers to ask for food for her and her orphaned grand-children (she is 89 years old, and I don’t know how she did it). Our workers had forgotten twice to give her the food I asked them to give once a week so I had to go down this terrible non-road and almost got stuck twice, but managed to give her food and some money (in case my workers forget again) .
When I got to the orphanage there was another little, bent over, elderly, skinny granny, walking with a stick. I checked her ID and she is also 89 years old, but she has 15 grand-children to care for, all orphaned and what was truly amazing was that she had walked 27 kilometers, and has very poor eyesight to add to all her other problems. Even though emergencies were waiting to be taken to the hospital I decided I had to drive her home, and I clocked the mileage. Her hut has half the thatching missing, so when it rains she and the children will get very wet. The door is falling to pieces and has no lock! I’d love to find a sponsor for her and her grand-children.
I had fully intended to see other desperately needed families, but there were two serious emergencies waiting at the local rural hospital for transport to Mutare to the provincial hospital, and it often goes this way. Just a week ago tomorrow when I was out there, we got an urgent message from the local rural hospital. A guy had been shot and they had removed the bullet but he was bleeding profusely so I had to drop everything and dash him to the hospital.
The worst tragedy I’ve heard of in the last couple of days in our area is an elderly man that was shot! He was killed because his son had stolen a goat from someone. When the irate owners came looking for the son the old man said he would make it right and give them a goat, but they refused and killed him! The son had of course run away. I think this world is going a bit crazy and the Lord can’t come too soon!
To end on a sweet note, the last little granny asked me (thru a translator) “Have you come from heaven” (she was so delighted to get the food she had been praying for). I had to tell her “No, I haven’t gotten to heaven yet, but I’m hoping”!
See you before too long.
Paula
To donate, go to www.active.com/donate/zimbabweappeal for the Agathos Foundation Emergency Fund Drive for medical supplies, food and farming supplies for Paula’s ministry.
