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Sharing our Blessings
Another Day in Z
Paying School Fees
More than Darfur
Thanks from Nat
Home
A Girl with No Feet
Bad Getting Worse
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| Another day in Zimbabwe |
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| by Nat |
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This morning I set off for a visit to St
Joseph's Mission. This amazing place includes a clinic, nursery school and
primary school. It is the start of a new term so the AIDS orphans school
fees need to be paid and I had a delivery to make for the clinic and nursery
school.
Whilst on the road I drove past a father walking with his child, this young
boy looked terribly sick and collapsed as I drove past them. I stopped the
car and went to offer my help. We carried him to the car very gently as this
10 year old seemed to consist of no more than skin and bones. The father
told me that his son, George, had had diarrhea for about a week and the
family could not afford the bus fare to travel to the clinic. They live an
hours drive from the clinic. It was heart wrenching to hear his sad story.
When we reached the clinic there was a queue of people waiting to be
examined but when the staff saw how ill George was he was immediately taken
into the examination room. I left George and his father in the clinic whilst
I continued on my errands.
The nursery school is just 10 meters from the clinic. All the children ran
out to see who this white visitor was and were so happy to see that I had
brought paper and crayons for the term. The teacher was delighted with the
desk and chair I had brought for her as she has been working without one
until now.
I then walked the 15 meters to the primary school and met with the
headmaster. He sat on a very lop-sided chair behind his desk. After we had
sorted out the orphans school fees he proceeded to tell me about the
disaster the school has experienced. Just before school reopened the boys
multi-compartment, blair toilets had collapsed. The cost to rebuild them is
vast the ministry of health is threatening to close the school if they are
not rebuilt quickly. That would be catastrophic. This school not only
educates these students it also provides a much needed meal.
Back in the clinic, the nurses told me that George was suffering from
malnutrition. They had given his father vitamins and a box full of food.
They told George's father that he can come back once a week and they will
continue to give him a food parcel. Amazing! The problem is, how does he get
there. He will have to walk all day but he says he can manage if he does not
have to carry his son. I gave George a sucker that I had in my handbag as I
thought that the sugar might be good for him. He tried and tried to suck the
sweet but his mouth was full of thrush and it was too painful for him to eat
a sucker. I gave George and his father a lift to the bus stop and drove off
crying and praying for the pain of these poor, poor people and how
unbelievably blessed we all are.
St Josephs is such a blessing to all who enter it. No child will be turned
away from either of the schools. The primary school has approximately 840
children that they teach and feed. Each child gets a bowl of porridge or a
bottle of Mahewu (a protein drink) every single day. For some of these
children the school gives them their only daily meal.
St Joseph's helps hundreds of people every day. If you could help in any way
or can think of someone who would be able to give any assistance |
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To share the blessings bestowed upon you and
yours, mail your contribution to:
Nat's Orphan Relief
Hilary Lofink
11729
Flemish Mill Court
Oakton,
VA 22124
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