I wish I knew what to do! Conditions are now reaching the stage where the decision has to be made- who to let die and who to help live! That is a decision I believe only God should have to make! I’m hearing in the jails that many are dying on the one small meal a day of only a cup of vegetables over a long period of time, and the hospitals are ever fuller.
For the emergencies we bring in we’ve tried to provide just a little food once a day, maybe no more than one slice of bread and a cup of Mahewu or a boiled egg. Every day the number increases. No doubt you read Margo of no fuel to take the dead bodies from the jails so they are tossed in one cell!
NGO’s are complaining about the ever more restrictive regulations and saying it is now more difficult to operate than when there was a ban.
I’ve spent 5Q (quadrillion) in 2 days and it isn’t even going to begin to help those within our community. I had hoped that the thousand small bags of Mahewu I bought could last till the rainy season and people have a little food, but it isn’t going to make it, and I need to double the amount at the minimum.
I believe more will be making their way to the diamond fields, from desperation and may get killed like this 16 year old orphan that only wanted to provide food for himself and his little sister! We’ve increased the village health workers to 3, and her first week of reports, more than 30, indicated only 2 families had any food at all in their home. I’ve insisted they not only ask the family but visually check.
Most schools are still closed but we are hoping they will open soon. I think the teachers are going to get somewhat of a raise in pay, as last month it wasn’t enough for the trip to town and return, in order to cash their checks!
I realize that this is really a doom and gloom message but that is because I’m reporting it like it is! We are keeping on keeping on and praying for some major miracles. Our children are always a joy that cheers. Livie is here with me now. I didn’t have time until last evening, but I sat with him while he read a 90 page book, the Cliffhanger. He tried to help me with some of the payroll, but he didn’t understand about where the decimal points should be and so I had to redo a good bit. It is confusing even for an adult when the pay is in billions and trillions.
This was just for the last week’s leaves people, which fortunately was only 120 this week. Some of the children aren’t coming because some of the schools in the area are receiving porridge, so the children go to school for that, and with no teachers they play all day and wander around, but it is some food for their little tummies!
It’s after 5:00 a.m. and the electricity will be going off momentarily so will close. Love, Paula
End of quote. The “leaves people” she refers to are people who are destitute and to whom she’s given the job of bringing bags of leaves to replenish the poor soil in that area in her fields. They get paid every ten days and it’s not very much. They’re paid per kilogram and it takes a lot of leaves to make up much weight.
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.
