Autumn 2005
The HHI 'Bible Readathon'
was held on
Sunday, 20th November, 2005
at various venues across the country.
The aim was to raise money for Pastor Sam to buy new premises for the destitute women of the Trrpadaam area. See 'Jesus Loves Even Me', below.
One venue was Newport, United Reform Church,
Hill Street, Newport
The BBC 'Songs of Praise' team were on hand to record excerpts from the Readathon but it was not part of the broadcast in February, 2006.Thank the LORD for a good witness to the power of God in Zambia, India, and the UK.
October 2005
The long awaited container has finally arrived; (see the story below).
staff were absolutely amazed at how much was packed into it.
September 2005
Zambia Bound
Container
On Friday, 15th July, about 40 supporters, friends of supporters and scouts gathered at the Newport URC Church. They were to help load the 20 foot container that had arrived, bound for Zambia. Over the past few years many people have responded to our needs and donated items and equipment for our work but the high cost of airfreight had prohibited us from despatching these immediately. Instead they had been stored at various locations until there was sufficient to fill a container, which could be sent by road and sea.
Thanks go to Brunel Shipping and Liner Services in Bristol, who made all the transport arrangements, for their co-operation and generosity. After many days of assembling, preparing and packing, the 33 cubic metre container was finally packed in under 3 hours. It was so full we could scarcely close the door, and, even better news, we managed to fit in all the items you gave us and which were so desperately needed in Zambia.
So our heartfelt thanks go to all who gave medical supplies, audiometry equipment, wheelchairs, walking frames, spectacles, wool, cloth, upholstery fabric, sewing accessories, paper, printing equipment, tools, gardening tools, tents, music keyboards, woollen jumpers, metal shelving, bicycles, bedding and much, much more.
Hopefully by the time Ron and his party arrive in Zambia on 6th September, the container will have arrived. Meanwhile, the storage space is already beginning to fill up in readiness for the next consignment.
. . . JESUS LOVES . . . EVEN ME
Chinnamma is one of the destitute and mentally disabled women living in the little hospice being run by Pastor Sam in Trivandrum, South India. She was living rough in the city, begging from nearby houses and washing in a pond. Pastor Sam brought her to his home to stay with he and his wife Valsala and two teenage daughters. She believes she is still living in Bangalore and sees Sam and his family as her relatives. (She calls Tom "Daddy".)
It is obvious she is from a Christian family and went to Sunday School for she loves to entertain visitors by singing Christian songs, her favourite being
"I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me"
and she has it right, for although shunned by society, Jesus loves even such as she.
During her rational periods, Sam has discovered that when her mental problems developed, her husband left her and relatives turned her out. Travelling by train and bus without any tickets she travelled from place to place and eventually was thrown out at Trivandrum by the ticket inspector.
Chinnamma has an engaging personality and is helpful in the kitchen and around the hospice but she is concerned about food and things being on time - if a meal is late her character changes and she may rush out and inform the neighbourhood that they are not getting food at the hospice!
She is one of the 20 mentally disabled destitutes now being lovingly cared for by Sam and his family but living conditions are very poor. The hospice (for that is what it is) consists of two rooms about 15 foot square, divided by a small yard which houses the wash rooms and where a few chickens are cooped up.
This is the current home
The residents all share one of the rooms whilst the other serves as a work room where craft work is undertaken by low caste people enabling them to earn a few rupees and as an extra curriculum centre for low caste children to help their education. A corner of this room is divided by a curtain for the family's living quarters.
In 1995, half way between Nedumangad and Trivandrum, Tom Sutherland, the Australian who for 27 years has given his life to helping the poor and low caste people of India, found a girl in a filthy state, sitting by the road. He took her to the Trppaadam hospice, but there was no room for her there, and so he thought that Pastor Sam could look after her for a day or two until another place could be found. But he and Valsala, his wife, welcomed her as a daughter.
Sivakami is epileptic and a little mentally disturbed. She belongs to the stone breaking community and probably her family abandoned her to a mental hospital. From there she was taken to Mother Teresa's home in Trivandrum and from there, because of a swollen stomach to the General Hospital from where she ran away.
For some 5 years she was the only extra member of Sam's family. She would dance and sing and attend the phone. After 5 years she had a very severe epileptic fit and was taken to the hospital where other problems were discovered. For many weeks since then Valsala has stayed with her in different hospitals and she has received all possible treatment. Dr. Annette from England, 21 months ago gave her 3 months to live, but through the care and prayers of the family she is still alive, but in a serious condition. She is in especial need of our prayers.
Geetha was sitting on the pavement at the Market Junction, dirty, lice infected and skeletal. Again Trppaadam was filled to overflowing and she was taken to Pastor Sam's where she was welcomed. For a year she lay curled up on her mat, refusing to go to toilet, or do anything but eat. She would scream in anger at any approach.
But slowly through the care of the family and much prayer she came back to life. Now she is neat and clean, smiles, helps around the place, and goes down the street on messages. She says little of her past - only that her father died and her mother married again, and Geetha married and her husband left her.
Balamma is deaf and dumb, but is perhaps the most communicative one in Pastor Sam's extended family. She has mimed how her father beat her with a stick and sent her off. Having met with an accident - her face and side were grazed and bleeding - she was found weeping outside the Medical College Hospital.
Now she is well and happy and very affectionate. She works and prays and claps very enthusiastically. She is a bright spirit in the community.
Ramachandran
Ramachandran is the one man among twenty women. His father died, his mother married again and his father-in-law, in order to get the land and be free of him, beat him and sent him away. Ramachandran is a gentle, quiet man. He is a little mentally retarded, and he will speak to himself. He enjoys singing and he sings well - often he entertains the rest of the family. He sits at the door and acts as security. Perhaps in the past he has been deprived of food for his eyes are always on the kitchen and when asked if he'd like to go home he says "Yes, but after the next meal".
There were two other members of this extended family. Pastor Sam and his wife and children are sad that they are no longer with them. In June Jubaida died from a sudden illness of two days. Shini and Salini, Sam's daughters, found her nearby. She was a paraplegic and could only move on her hands in a sitting position. She would not answer any questions as to her past so nothing was known about her except that she was of the Muslim faith. She was very quiet and peaceful and would sit alone. When she died all the colony came to pay their respects to her and to Pastor Sam and his wife for what they were doing. The police also came and made known their appreciation.
Then there is Molly, a Bengali woman, who was found wandering along the road, her hair and body and clothing all filthy. She was very upset by any violence and it is suspected that family violence was the cause of her situation. She was quiet and peaceful, but was addicted to various substances. To get these, she left, after being here for 8 months. Eight times she left and was found - Pastor Sam going with a daughter on his motor scooter along all possible roads. But finally she could not be found and the family felt as though they had lost another daughter. They still hope she may be found.
These are the stories of a few of these vulnerable people who are now being given security and love, financed by Health Help International, but there is a great need to re-house this hospice in better accommodation and so that other needy ones whom Jesus also loves can be cared for in dignity.
The vision is to purchase an acre of land with a suitable house, outside the city, where the residents can grow vegetables, bananas and coconuts, to help maintain themselves. To finance this, we are seeking 200 churches to take part in a Bible Readathon on Sunday, 20th November, when the whole Bible will be read. Each church participating would read 6 chapters of around 150 verses, which if sponsored at £1 a verse, could mean each church would raise in the region of £150 towards the total of around £31,000. There are that number of verses in the Bible! £12,500 is required to purchase the land and the house, and another £12,500 would be invested @ 7.25% in India with the interest being used to help with running costs year on year.
There are 66 churches which at present support our work, so if all these agree to help with this scheme, we have an excellent start, and one or two individuals have already donated several hundred pounds to get the fund going.
The 6 chapters could either be read as part of the normal Church Service or after the Service, perhaps during a special lunch and it could provide an ideal opportunity to invite sponsors who are not members of your congregation to join for that Service.
If you feel your church would like to be involved, then please contact us.
KUMFI AND KOSI
Two friends, Kumfi, a lion cub, and Kosi, a tiger cub, have a number of adventures with their other animal friends and these are recorded in a series of booklets. The story is related by an adult using plenty of expression and then re-enacted by the children using animal puppets lent for the purpose. Each adventure involves the two cubs and their friends doing something to help someone in trouble. For example in the adventure 'Many Paws Make Light Work' they help to rebuild the house of Mrs. Scrofa, a wild boar, whose house had been unintentionally sat on by the large elephant, Mr. Temba.
This is then followed up by the children working to raise money to do as Kumfi and Kosi did which in this case is to rebuild the mud-walled and thatch-roofed house of someone in Zambia whose house has been destroyed by fire or through age.
Pilot runs have taken place to much acclaim, and the first house has already been rebuilt as a result. Things are now being put in place to make this a really enjoyable way for Sunday School children to be involved and it could also be used in School Assemblies.
Churches and Day School Teachers who would like to book the puppets for their use need only contact the HHI office with some suggested dates. All will be fully explained and the puppets, books, etc will be sent to them.
The project really needs the formation of a small group of people who would be prepared to organise it and for those willing to volunteer, please contact us.
DAYABHAVAN ORPHANAGE
Sorry - no picture available
The House of Loving Kindness
It was in February, 2004, that Ron was asked to speak to Pastor Bovas's little church at Veliyanoor near Trivandrum, South India.
He sat one evening, in the sweltering heat of a little mud hut, and told the assembled company, of about 12 adults and 12 children, of his first visit to India 10 years previously.
He had been staying, one night in a very nice hotel in Madras, and, looking out onto the street below he had seen many boys settling down on the pavement for the night, and having to pay for the privilege.
He told how he had been so touched by what he saw that he had poured out his heart to God and asked to be shown what to do. He quoted verse 19 in Lamentations chapter 2: "Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the LORD. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who faint from hunger at the head of every street".
The following day Ron was taken ill and had to spend 4 days in an Indian hospital. On his return home, this led to him receiving the All Bran box containing the anonymous £12,025 which he firmly believes was God's answer to his prayer that night in Madras, and which ultimately led to the formation of HHI.
When he returned to India in February 2005, he was again asked to meet with Pastor Bovas. Ron was amazed to discover that the Pastor and his wife had been so inspired by the verse from Lamentations that they decided they must do something to help the destitute children in their own town. They had formed the 'House of Loving Kindness' which at that time had 8 children, and now has 12.
When he got back to Newport he told a few people about this new orphanage. Within a very few weeks 13 people had offered to sponsor the orphanage at £10 per month, and so the viability is now secured and these children are being educated, and, more importantly, loved.
A most interesting follow on from this has been the sending of the Bible Exploration Papers prepared by the Newport and District Education Council to Pastor Bovas earlier this year to see if they would be of any help to him in his work.
The great news then came back that in May he had held a 5 day Holiday Bible School using the papers, at which 42 children attended. Quoting from his letter, he writes: "This created among the children a new revival and many neighbouring children who heard about the Bible School are enquiring and asking us to teach them those stories. It was a real blessing to all the children who attended the classes. Also we intend to arrange Christian education for children in this manner in the future".
Surely a modern miracle.
TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND
8 months on since the wave struck, many people in Indonesia are still struggling and traumatised. However, thankfully, the millions of pounds of relief money which was initially very slow in getting through now seems to be making a difference.
You will be pleased to learn that HHI's money was being used within a few weeks of being donated.
Total donated £13,299.62 of which the following has been used:
£1,000 for cooking pots and Ladies underwear
£294 for a Refrigerator and Sewing Machines
£491.50 for Food Aid
£545 for Counselling and Medical Examination of affected people
£545 for setting up the Day Centre at Colachel
£160 for 2 months running of the Colachel Day Centre which is on-going
£130 for School Books
£1,027 for setting up a Craft Workshop to employ a number of women in Colachel
£625 for setting up a Small Business to dry, pack and distribute rice which will employ 5 ladies
£75 for an operation and callipers for two injured elderly people
£336 for daily treatment for a man who has contracted a problem after being buried in sand
£109 for Usha's medical expenses
This leaves a balance of £7,962.12 out of which we shall continue to finance the Day Centre, and other on-going medical needs, such as the dialysis treatment. It will continue to give us the means to respond to other tsunami relief as it becomes requested. It is important to realise that this relief will be required for many years to come. Thanks to all who donated.
Our Work with the Deaf in Zambia
HHI is involved in 4 projects with the deaf in Zambia: Southern Hope School for the Deaf, St. Patrick's Deaf Unit, The HHI Deaf Teenagers' Club and the most recent project, the Setting up of an Audiology Unit for testing hearing.
Hope School, our first project has 17 children who receive breakfasts and tuition in sign language as well as normal academic subjects. They are now being taught by a qualified Zambian teacher of the deaf, Mr. Goodson Mooka and an assistant. However, the education authorities are considering moving the school to a new unit for deaf children as part of a hearing school so that they will be integrated more into society. Information on this is awaited.
Mr. Peter Mphande is the young qualified teacher at St. Patrick's deaf unit, which was set up right from the beginning, as part of a hearing school.
He has done an excellent, loving and caring work with the 18 children he teaches.
Things have not been easy for the school, as torrential rains last year caused much damage to buildings, and as the school is situated in the Gwembe Valley, a considerable distance away from Monze, over tortuous mountain passes, communication has not been easy.
The Deaf Teenager's Club which has been funded for the first year by the International Deaf Children's Society started up in January and is training 20 youngsters in life skills, such as carpentry, tailoring and weaving as well as academic subjects.
Goodson is also running this club which is also aiming at improving the profile of the deaf in that area.
Due to the high rate of hearing impairment in the area of Monze, we have been encouraged to set up an Audiology Clinic in the offices using the audiometers and other equipment that a generous supporter donated.
To this effect, the only qualified audiologist in Zambia has for three weeks in July been running a training scheme in the offices with 8 people including our teachers and interested people from the local hospital.
Subjects covered have included: Pathology and Anatomy of the Ear, Problems of Hearing Losses, Operating the equipment, Screening and Testing and Interpretation of Audiograms, Cleaning of Ears and Removal of Wax, Fitting of Aids, Ear Mould Making, Repairing of Hearing Aids, Hearing Rehabilitation, etc.
All of which means that the HHI Audiology Unit will be only the second unit in the whole of Zambia and will surely be a most useful work.
Please also see the Audiology Course Report.
Thanks, as always, go to all those who sponsor this work, and if you have any Hearing Aids that are not being used, we shall be pleased to send them to Monze.
The River Kafue Flats
About 45 kms from Monze town, in Zambia, the river Kafue spreads into a wide lagoon, so that when standing on one bank you cannot see the other side. This lagoon is scattered with a number of islands, on which many families survive by fishing. Health facilities are a problem as there is no clinic or health care available - except, of course, for the monthly visit of the HHI Mobile Clinic.
The last week of every month is usually taken up by the team of a Clinical Officer, Maternity Nurse, Dentist and Eye Nurse, visiting for the whole week. They spend the time going from island to island in a hired banana boat, similar to that shown, and living in home-made shelters.
One of the nurses said she would never go again, as she was petrified as the boat was only barely above the water, which has many hippo's and crocodiles. That situation is soon to be remedied, for money has been sent, and a larger boat is being made in Zambia, complete with a powerful engine. Some kind supporters have purchased and donated two large tents, which are on the way in the container.
This is surely a very worthwhile project, especially as one patient was discovered to have leprosy. However, the most common ailments are: Infections e.g. Scabies; Diarrhoea; Malaria; RTI (non-pneumonia); Sexually Transmitted Infections; Communicable Diseases e.g. Chicken Pox, Mumps; ENT Infections; Wounds.
Organiser Wanted
Would you like to Help HHI in a practical way? If so you may like to become the organiser of our Craft Trade Division. What we need is someone with e-mail who could source, purchase and control the distribution of what is becoming a useful source of income for our work.
It will not be too demanding and, as with all our work, is purely voluntary.
Fuller details from HHI.
Some Sad News
It is sad to report that news has come through from one of the surgeons on The Mercy Ship, Anastasis, whom we had hoped might be able to help Solomon and Connet. Part of his message reads as follows:
"Neuorfibromatosis is a benign condition which can affect nerve tissue anywhere in the body, and can be horrendously deforming, as these images sadly demonstrate. Even in the developed world, an ideal solution is not available, and even more so in the developing world. At this point, all that is available is periodic surgery to de-bulk the tumour to try and minimize the deformity. When surgery has not been available at all, the deformity becomes grotesque, and surgery can only offer moderate improvement at best. As well, as I mentioned above, it is usually not possible to completely remove the tumour. This means it slowly re-grows, requiring multiple repeat surgeries over the person's lifetime.
Besides the terrible deformity which can occur, the tumour can gradually extend into vital areas causing debilitating symptoms, or death. As well, occasionally the tumour can transform from benign to malignant, which of course is life threatening.
So what does this mean for Solomon and Connet. First, apart from divine intervention, obtaining a completely normal appearance with surgery is usually not possible. So the patient's expectations, as well as those of family and concerned friends, must be adjusted to this reality. Sadly, everyone must prepare to be disappointed, because the surgical results will almost certainly fall short of expectation.
As well, multiple operations will normally be required over many years. Also, blood loss from de-bulking of massive neurofibroma lesions can be very significant, so having a good source of well screened blood (i.e. Tested negative for HIV and Hepatitis) is essential.
You probably were not looking for this long explanation, but thought I would include it in case it would be helpful background information for the family, and mission folk."
In view of this it is felt that at present we can do little else for these two young men except to make both as comfortable as possible while they are alive. Possibly setting up Connet in a little business and finding out what is best for Solomon regarding education, etc.
But please continue to pray for both as divine intervention can work miracles and we will revisit our plans as necessary. The other sad news is that Owen, the young man who fell under the train last year losing most of his limbs and whose hospital treatment and wheelchair we funded, has died. His wife is grateful that we made his last months more bearable for him.
The HHI Information Communication Technology School
The IT School was set up by Russell Davies last Autumn and has now settled down into a regular routine. It has been registered with TAVETA, the Zambian Further Education Scheme, which sets the syllabus and the standards.
Able-bodied students pay a tuition fee which makes the scheme self-financing and contributes some money to the overall HHI Zambian health projects. Disabled people have free tuition of which there are only three students as due to the lack of help for disabled people, they generally do not have the necessary educational qualifications.
Additionally, eight blind children attended a week's course in Computer Studies, to be able to use our new Braille Printer.
We are grateful to Russell for his continued support of this school and for arranging finance to bring to the UK, at an appropriate time, one of the tutors for further training.
The following is the latest information received from Zambia:
January 2005 Intake
There are thirteen students, nine are fully registered with Examination Council of Zambia and are ready for the Nov/Dec 2005 examinations.
Four students did not submit their school certificate to E.C.Z. and therefore cannot sit for the exams in Nov/Dec 2005, but their names are included on the registration letter and are due to write the exams next year in April 2006.
Right now all morning classes students are writing the end of term two exams.
Afternoon Class Session
There are six students who attend lessons in the afternoon class everyday for short courses. At the end of the course the students are examined and progress report is given to them. A lot of assignment tests are given to students to keep them very busy including class work. June 2005 intake
There are eight students who attend the class lessons session in the morning and the course is running very well with all students participating.
All the sessions are thoroughly controlled and with a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The students shall sit the E.C.Z. exams next year in April 2006.
In brief we have two morning class sessions running everyday.
A Word of Thanks
It is so easy to miss thanking someone for helping our work, so we generally refrain from mentioning names in the newsletter, but this does not mean we do not appreciate all the help that is so willingly given. Instead, we want YOU to take this little notice as a sincere 'thank you' for all you and the other supporters do to make our work possible and effective. Without your support it would not happen.
Our last Supporters' Evening
was held on
Monday, 24th October, 2005
at the invitation of
Trinity Methodist Church,
Glasllwch Lane, Newport
A great time was had by all, as Ron, Jute, and Sian gave us up to date news from their recent trip to Zambia.
Newsletter Quantities
We have always taken a guess at how many newsletters, etc. to send to you and generally we have got it right. However, if you would like more, or less, please let us know and we will adjust as necessary.
Thank you.
AUDIOLOGICAL WORKSHOP
18TH JULY - 5TH AUGUST 2005
The workshop was organized by HHI(Z) and was very successful.
So much so that eight participants were equipped with much knowledge and are now ready to assist the people in their communities.
The participants were:
Mr. Winfred Khondowe, HHI Medical Manager
Mr. Metric Syamalolo, HHI Printer
Mr. Patrick Mphande, Teacher of hard of hearing
Mr. Goodson Mooka, Special Education teacher
Mr. Elijah Lungu, Clinical Officer, Chikuni Hospital
Mrs. Mudenda, Registered Nurse, Monze Mission Hospital
Mr. Fostina Mulinga, Clinical Officer, Monze Urban Clinic
Mrs. Mukonka, Nurse/midwife, Manungu Clinic
The chief facilitator was Mr. Morris Mwangala from The University Teaching Hospital Speech and Hearing Centre, who was very conversant and knowledgeable and all the participants were delighted and well equipped.
This was the first training and now all the participants are ready to:
·Treat ear infections
·Identify the degree of hearing loss
·Identify how they can be assisted
·Use an Audiometric machine
·Put results on the audiogram
·Interpret results and refer
·Know about hearing aids and their benefits and correct simple faults
·Offer Hearing aid counselling
The next step is to put up a sound proof room and also provide a simple sound proof for outreach activities and where the participants can come for practical sessions. The benefits of this training will be enormous as there are a lot of people in our communities who have hearing loss or impairment and at the moment in Zambia this facility is only at UTH in Lusaka. And HHI will be the second to have such an important facility. We are expected to cater for the whole Southern Province and even nation-wide especially when people come to learn about it. HHI will be so busy and the Zambian people will be helped very much.
At the moment the Government of Zambia has paid little attention to disabled people in regard to hearing impairment and HHI will be able to screen and diagnose, and then offer assistance accordingly. This will benefit not only the community of Monze but Zambia as a whole.
On behalf of the communities and on my own behalf I would like to thank HHI – UK for coming to the aid of the vulnerable. God bless you.
Mr. Winfred Khondowe
