|
Written by Mike Haninger
|
Dear Friends,
Usually the news stories told from Congo are very tragic, filled with all too real accounts of extreme suffering through violence, hunger, disease, rape, oppression, and poverty. These stories are absolutely true, and each day as missionaries serving in Congo we come face to face with all of these difficult issues. There are many days when we feel completely at a loss when called upon to provide desperately needed answers and solutions to the many serious problems that confront the Congolese individually and collectively. However, deep in our hearts and minds exists a profound, abiding awareness and confidence that God is always here with all of us, guiding and directing our united course and actions. Our role is to be attentive to and respectful of this divine guidance, which in our experience, has always resulted in wonderful outcomes.
Kenda and baby Ntumba busy at work.
So, today we want to share with you one story of hope, love, and very “happy endings.” It’s one example where we feel we have been divinely led to serve with our dear Congolese partners in directions that far exceeded our small and limited human plans. It’s an example of God seeing the need, and responding with great love in order to ease the suffering of the oppressed and vulnerable. That response resulted in the opening of the single moms’ sewing school.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Mike Haninger
|
Dear Friends,
We want to share with you an experience that happened last week. This past month, Mike has operated 12 ladies with obstetric fistula. To date, all are doing will with successful repairs. The ladies undergoing these surgeries must have catheter drainage of their bladders for at least two weeks after the repair and, so, we do get to know one another and the ladies develop quite a sisterhood in their ward room. One day, a Monday, it was planned to remove the catheter from a lady who was 14 days out from surgery with no leak. After testing to insure that the fistula was definitely closed, Mike removed the catheter and after our patient got down from the exam table she danced back to the ward room where all of the ladies were singing with her, celebrating together. That Wednesday, it was planned to remove another catheter so Mike brought our digital camera with video capability and filmed the ladies celebration when he returned to the room. This is the spontaneous thank you from these ladies to you for making it possible for them to return to a life without shame and to be reunited with their families and friends as a whole person. Without your gifts, this would never be possible.
The ladies thank you and we thank you,
Mike and Nancy
|
|
|
Written by Mike Haninger
|
Dear Friends,
The image to the left shows Kimbila Kimbila, who almost starved to death in the hospital after giving birth because she was abandoned by her husband. Gifts from donors saved her life and the life of her newborn.
We want to share with you a couple of wonderful stories that you are making possible. The first is of Kimbila Kimbila. Last month, when we arrived back at Good Shepherd Hospital following our trip to the United States, Mike made rounds and was introduced to Kimbila. After delivering her baby by Caesarean section, she stayed in the hospital because she could not urinate.
Kimbila rapidly became very ill with temperatures of 104° and extreme weakness. She had barely eaten since her surgery, losing significant weight and becoming weaker and weaker. Her husband had abandoned her and the baby in the hospital and was providing no support. In Congo, patients’ families must provide them with food. She had had none. Her baby was also quite malnourished, as Kimbila could no longer produce breast milk. The child’s weight had declined from seven pounds at birth to less than four pounds.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
