August 2, 2013

  • It's Been Awhile.......

    Dear Family, Friends and Supporters,

    Please don’t ever think that just because we haven’t written, there is nothing happening….the reason I haven’t written is probably because there is SO MUCH happening!  For example…June and July have been a whirlwind!

    First a team of 6 visitors from North Carolina and three overnight conferences…one for 6th and 7th grade girls on Purity, one for all 60 men of SoT on Spiritual Leadership and one for all 60 ladies of SoT on Spiritual Gifts.  Pictures and descriptions can be found in the August newsletter.  God showed up in each conference touching people and changing lives. It was an awesome time of ministry for each respective group! It was the first ever men’s conference or meeting for the SoT men and the impact has been significant! They are still talking about it and sharing testimonies of what God did and they are hungry for more.

    Following the NC team, there were 25 visitors on a team from Connecticut that came for two weeks, or at least I thought there were 25 until a couple days into it when I realized we were one short.  I came to find out that one member of the group failed to come, making the table setting in the dining room three tables for 26 (including Sal and I).  The group of teens were absolutely wonderful as were their chaperones and despite my anxiety over cooking the right amount of food every night, we managed to survive nicely. They worked and played at the preschools and school and helped dig holes in anticipation for more albida trees come July. We had a lunchtime fellowship in Mubuyu that we hiked to and from.  It was a fun time and something that I think I will continue.  Holding it that early in the day was a good idea.  Everyone could see…no need for torches; everyone was awake…not falling asleep waiting on food; and everyone could help, talk or play with the children. The ladies of the village, as well as some of the men who jumped in, performed a march with singing that was very well received. Even I jumped in!! (lol) 

    Payroll and medical statistics for both the month of June and the second quarter followed on the heel of the group’s departure on the 4th and Pastor Jerry’s departure on the 6th.  Saturday night after Pastor Jerry left, we heard a vehicle and voices outside the house as we watched TV only to discover two white hunters from Kenya and a Zambian Wildlife official.  They came to report the lion that had escaped back in April was still on the loose and had been reported in our area. They were going to be looking for him this night on the property (because lions come out to hunt and eat at night)!! Well, needless to say, the lion remains on the loose leaving livestock attacks in the way…the neighbors horses were attacked, a goat and a cow attacked at Kasiya etc.  Here our guys just found the footprints out by Simaubi and John 1 and 2. 

    We then had Greenpop for a day of tree planting on the 10th and fed approx 120 people a typical Zambian meal. They not only worked out past the gate planting orange, nache and albida trees, but they planted the beginning of a “food forest” at the back of the main house. 

    Early in the morning on Friday the 12th, we had a group of American pastors from Lusaka that came and stayed in the conference center until Sunday to do a seminar at the church.  I did not know them and had not expected anyone, so it was a surprise requiring Linah to learn American food and a little bit of cooking with Advent.  Thankfully I still had a bit of American food leftover from the large group of visitors earlier in the month. 

    The pastors left on the 14th and we started to get things back in order.  I spent two days in the clinic apartment cleaning and sorting boxes of equipment and supplies still leftover from the SAVE container stocking the new shelves that Godfrey had made and putting things in order for an inspection with the Province and District Ministries of Health, as well as CDC!! We were the only clinic in the entire Kazungula District that had been selected for inspection by the CDC (Center for Disease Control). The inspection was to review our HIV care for adults, pediatrics , PMTCT (Prevent Mother to Child Transmission), and counseling and testing, as well as our computerized Smart Care system and Quality Assurance program.  The inspection occurred on Tuesday the 16th with a tour of the facilities and review of all books and programs.  Interviews with Sal, Janet and myself took place while a doctor from the Province helped Sal by seeing patients so he could be available for those conducting the interviews etc.  Linah and Advent provided tea, scones and butternut bread for the visitors. We are very happy to report that we scored exceptionally well making the District very happy! Out of a possible 3.0 in each of the six categories, we scored 2.82, 2.8, 2.8, 2.64, 2.58, and 2.33!

    With Alexander’s help, we then proceeded to have a farm giveaway on Friday the 19th with all the clothes and shoes and things people had left behind.  Also 13 volunteers from Greenpop returned on that same Friday just for a few hours to work more on the food forest and are coming back at least one more time with all the Greenpop volunteers on Wednesday for another tree planting day with lunch. So far we have albida, orange and nache out front past the main gate and the food forest at the house has one lime, one lemon, one nache, one mango, one custard apple, one Mexican custard apple, one cashew and one avocado. They are talking about mulberry and banana next.  

    After the food forest group, we had 15 Zambian pastors stay at the conference center for the District meeting this weekend and now it is Sunday and I have a couple minutes before Church to write a few short paragraphs.

    In between all of this, we had an outbreak of bilharzia at the school involving 140 children reporting blood in their urine, a wife beating on the farm, a husband and wife who lost a set of twins at 28 weeks… the younger one after three days of life and possible hope, and a wife caught in bed with another man. Even as our family here grows and makes strides forward not only in business and maturity but also in their walk with God, we do have our setbacks and times of discouragement.  I have to continue to remember “There is no one righteous, no not one.”  I have to remember that it was God’s plan for this place and our part in it. Our job is to just do what He puts in front of us and sometimes frankly it seems daunting and tiring and overwhelming.  Your prayers are what holds us up….When we are weak, God is strong. 

    Thank you all for your support, love and prayers.  Please don’t forget this “teenage ministry.” We may not need the fish anymore, but we certainly need help in the learning how to fish. We still need the poles, the line, the reels and the bait and strong fishermen to come beside us and help us fish.  Heck, someday we will even need the boat!  (lol )  Don’t give up on us or think we don’t need support…..we do. No man is an island…we are all the Body of Christ. Each one has his part.

    P.S. By the way, there were 44 babies delivered in June and so far 32 in July……The maternity center continues to be a pressing need!

    Thank you from all of us at SoT Zambia!

     

October 27, 2012

  • Class

     

    Surprises

    October 24, 2012

     

    This walk with God is truly amazing! One “coincidence” (I am laughing as I facetiously write that) after another…..uninvited, unplanned and totally unexpected! I have already shared in my last update the story of the 300 fruit trees for the new orchard and the 500 albeta trees for the 5 hectors of maize fields. A true God story that still has me smiling and I hope lets you see the unquestionable working power of God here at Sons of Thunder. I pray that as you read these updates you not only see the hand of God on this incredible ministry, but you are inspired to seek Him right where you are for He is no respecter of persons.  He is in the business of being our ALL in ALL!  If the story ended there, it would be considered an awesome story……but my friends the story does not end there.  In fact, each day brings additional surprises. Let me continue to wow you…..When the people from Greenpop returned to South Africa, they left behind not only the planted 800 trees, but also a nursery of 30 albeta trees to be used as replacements if needed and additional seeds to be planted.  Along with the albeta, they left approximately 200 seedlings of moringa trees as well as a bag of 1000 moringa seeds. Now during their meetings with us, no one ever spoke about the moringa tree, but I had heard of it back in 2009 from the woman I accompanied to Swaziland in order to attend her workshop on Community Health Evangelism.  She told me very briefly the benefits of the moringa tree and how she was hoping to be a part of encouraging its use in Zambia. As I think back on it, she is the very first person who mentioned Farming God’s Way to me also! Go figure how God uses people! Well anyway, the moringa tree is nicknamed among others: “the Miracle Tree,”  “the Tree of Life,” and “the Blessed Tree” because it provides nutrition….basically everything one needs to supplement a protein deficient diet and it is a great source of antioxidants.  The leaves themselves can be used as a side dish or they can be pounded into a powder, easy to be packaged and transported.  (see Benefits of Moringa attached).The daily dose needed for nutritional value is one spoon (sorry..Right off hand I can’t remember if it’s a teaspoon or tablespoon).  So Greenpop left us with both seeds and seedlings and told us they would email us instructions. Six weeks later following germination of the seedlings, we emailed them for the instructions, but they did not have any written information to send us. Instead they sent two young men from South Africa who had started a business with moringa and were very knowledgeable on the subject. We thought they came to teach us about the planting and care of the moringa which indeed they did….but they also talked with us about their desire for us to be suppliers of moringa for them in South Africa!!!! We were excited!!! Throughout the week, we prepared the land and planted 2850 trees, mostly seeds.  We did have about 200 of seedlings already germinated also.  The two men (Ricky and Graham), met with the farmers and had both classroom and practical sessions. When they left, they gave instructions for continued planting and told us they would be returning in December. Mesha from Greenpop also visited during that week to check on the albeta and told us we were their best site!! They will also be returning in December with the moringa guys for another visit. He told us he was looking for orange trees for us for next July. He also said that behind the house was a perfect landscape for a “food forest”!!!!  I don’t know what that is, but it sounded like something we should have here in order to carry out our commission to “Feed Africa!” :)

     

    “What a whirlwind!!!!” That’s what I thought when we put them on a plane for SA on a Sunday afternoon.  As my mind was still spinning from the possibilities God was presenting to us here at Sons of Thunder, Alexander received a phone call on Monday from another nonprofit organization here in Livingstone to ask us if we would like some banana trees!! We invited them to visit Monday afternoon and they proceeded to tell us they had 2000 banana trees that needed transplanted from an area in town due to improper soil and growing conditions.  Did we want them and could we get them and transplant them here????  Oh my….everyone likes bananas and how could we pass up such an offer!!!  So we are busy clearing the old orchard and making room for banana trees!!!  I don’t know if we will take 2000, but we are going to take whatever fits in the area we can quickly clear!!

    So…..lemon, mango, papaya, moringa, albeta and now banana…..and possible orange trees next year with a food forest!!!! I wish we had a work team here right now for all this digging, planting, transplanting, making fence posts etc!!!! 

    I have never asked for a donation for anything in particular before, but we could use some funds for seed and fertilizer for the 5 hectors of maize fields that have the new albeta trees and money for new irrigation pipes and sprinklers and even a large scale drip system. We also need money to properly fence all the areas to keep out oxen, elephants and now bush pigs!! So if you see God moving as I do, please let the Holy Spirit be your guide and give generously!!  Thanking you in advance and will keep you posted!!

     

    Conference Center is open and holding community workshops for CARE International, Abson’s working hard on chickens (on his second batch since September), Godfrey using his new tools and building furniture…he’s also building a house for someone in Zimba, Eunice sewing dolls and aprons and uniforms for school and the clinic and the conference center workers, Graham just harvested his dried maize and he and Alexander joined the local co-op, Alexander and Tyson planting their commercial garden now that Alex is back from FGW in South Africa, Chrispine’s dairy is up and running with two cows, and Collin and Janet are starting a piggery!!  Preschool had their first field trip to the airport to see planes!!  We are working on grant-aided status for the school so that the Ministry of Education will pay the teachers. Probably will have to move forward with legal action to get the Makoli well completed….but it will be done! Guys killed a black mamba the other day. Clinic never stops….babies and HIV…..looking for funds for a new maternity center, all in God’s time. Terry is trying hard to keep everything with a motor running well, but again limited by funds.  Everyone is getting ready for rainy season and maize planting.

    I will end here, but know that things here are FULL OF HOPE!!

     

November 14, 2010

  • Sons of Thunder, birthed in 1996, is a Christian mission organization based out of Damascus, Maryland, USA.  Currently, it is situated in the Senkobo area on 10,000 acres of land.  There are seven villages totaling over 60 Zambian families all living and working on the farm.  Each one of the villages has its own headman and all of the headmen meet as a board twice a month with Alexander Mubanga as senior headman.  Alexander is also head farmer.  All of the families have gardens year round and maize fields during rainy season.  Eight of our residents feel called to entrepreneurship, starting businesses in partnership with SoT …….sewing center, furniture building, farming produce, dried maize, chickens, mechanic shop and groceries.  The goal is to be self-sustaining and raise the standard.  The current farming method adopted by Sons of Thunder and promoted is Farming God’s Way.  A man from South Africa, Patrick Cairns, has been here at Sons of Thunder about four times over the past two years and has taught FGW to all the SoT farmers. He is feeling called to come, assist and continue to give encouragement in the FGW method of farming, making SoT a training center and a beacon of hope.  Currently, SoT has 3 ministry gardens, a very large commercial garden and a maize field all FGW.   Other individual farmers (though not all) have also committed to FGW principles and method. 

    FGW Maize

    Maize Field Preparation Oct 2010

     

     Sons of Thunder Primary School was initiated back in 1999 with the building of one classroom per year.  The school currently has four classrooms and an office and offers grades one through seven. Almost  400 students are provided a free education in the rural community where there is no other alternative.  Four qualified Zambian teachers are paid by Sons of Thunder to provide quality education to the rural community. We have been given the status of ‘private school ‘ and have applied as a grade seven testing center.

    In January of 2010, we opened a preschool for the Sons of Thunder residents offering both preschool classes and Bible classes to children ages 3-6 years of age.  About 35 children attend the classes and families are happy their children will be better prepared for first grade.

     

    Although missionaries and mission teams from all denominations have been involved with Sons of Thunder, we have a Pilgrim Wesleyan Church on the ground here with a Zambian pastor.  Pastor George Malumani is a graduate of Jembo Bible College and has been the pastor here since 2006. He was ordained this year and is now an official Reverand.  The newly constructed church building was officially dedicated in January 2010.  Sons of Thunder also has five church plants all making up their own zone.  Camp meetings are held annually in August and the Zone Youth meeting will be here in December.  This coming year 2011 Sons of Thunder will host the District Youth Meeting.  Two of our pastors, Pastor Julius who was the full time chaplain at the clinic and Pastor Peter of Musokotwane church plant went to Jembo Bible College this past September in answer to God’s call.  They will be there for three years and our hope is they come back to serve in our Zone.

    Jembo Guys


    Julius and Peter’s Send Off Celebration August 2010       Pastors Julius, George and Peter

     

    Sons of Thunder Medical Ministries began in 2005 with one room.  It quickly spread to two rooms, then three and now it is a whole building with plans for expansion.  The medical clinic includes an outside waiting area on a covered back porch, a large inside reception area with sign in registration and indoor waiting, two exam rooms, a full laboratory, Labor and Delivery, a male ward, a female ward, pharmacy, storage, and male and female bathrooms, each with toilets, sinks, showers and a bathtub.  There are laundry facilities, kitchen area and a sluice room.  Sons of Thunder is a full service clinic seeing over 1200 outpatients each month including Under Five, Antenatal, TB and HIV care. Sons of Thunder Clinic is an ART Center for HIV patients under the Kazungula District Ministry of Health and we are a referral center for the other rural health centers on this side of Kazungula.  We have initiated 632 patients on ARTs to date and currently have 534 on medicine with 200 waiting to qualify.  We also admit patients and have an inpatient bed capacity of eight beds currently. Our inpatients get three meals a day; well balanced meals including nshima, eggs, kapenta, vegetables and even chicken on occasion.  All the fresh vegetables are supplied from our Farming God’s Way Clinic garden.  Because our ART numbers were so large, we decided to provide mobile ART services even before they were promoted by the Ministry of Health.  We travel to four different sites on Fridays to provide ART services within the communities of Kabuyu, Katapazi, Sinde and Siakasipa, all within the Kazungula District: Kabuyu the first Friday, Katapazi the second, Sinde the third and Siakasipa the fourth.  We also provided full services to Kasiya in the Livingstone District until they established and staffed a full clinic there.  Now we provide full services twice a month to Siandazya and Natebe alike in the Livingsone District .  Just recently we began outreach services to Makoli, also twice a month in the Kazungula District.

     While Sal is busy providing care at the clinic and outreach areas, my biggest role has been with our HIV Community Care Program(Sons of Thunder and Kabuyu, Katapazi, Sinde and Siakasipa).We sent seven people living positively with HIV to a workshop in town in 2008 to become treatment supporters under a program sponsored by AIDS Alliance.  We also established a group of people from among Sons of Thunder residents to form a Home-Based Care group.  Since January 2009, after coming back from furlough, and following my trip to Swaziland to learn Community Health Evangelism or CHE, I began weekly classes with both groups together.  We started with team building and proceeded to cover the CHE classes targeting just HIV and all its ramifications.  HIV positive and negative people found working together to minister to our group of HIV clients now over 500. During those classes, we covered topics such as What is HIV, Transmission, Prevention and Treatment, Consequences of Sex Outside Marriage, God’s Plan for Marriage, Requirements of Marriage Partners, Emotions such as Denial, Fear, Worry, Guilt, Anger, Bitterness, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, Counseling, Compassion, and Caring for the Whole Person.  We spent weeks discussing tradition, customs, culture and contrasting what it says in God’s Word.  From whatever God had us discussing over the month, the group would develop a drama to perform at each outreach site for that month. Always included with the drama would be corresponding scripture.  In the group, we have three pastors; two of which always go to the outreach areas with us.  So class would be on Thursday mornings and Friday the group would travel with Sal to the outreach site where Sal would see HIV clients receiving ARVs.   They perform the drama and bring forth God’s Word before Sal begins seeing patients.  While Sal sees the patients, the treatment supporters’ talk with individuals about adherence to medications, answer questions concerning living with HIV, teach lessons on perhaps nutrition or some other relevant subject and counsel and pray with individuals. The treatment supporters along with the home based care group visit homes in the areas that have been designated as needing a visit…perhaps a patient is too sick to make it to the clinic or perhaps there is a defaulter who for whatever reason is refusing to come to get help.

    The treatment supporters have just sort of taken over areas of responsibility….Lena at Sons of Thunder, Abel at Katapazi, Kenneth at Sinde and Siakasipa, Sally at Kabuyu,  and Charles as secretary keeping written records of activity.  Two weeks ago I felt like God said my time of teaching Thursday mornings at Sons of Thunder was finished and I was to turn the lessons over to someone in the group to carry on….so last week Precious led the class with the CHE lesson she selected to facilitate.  The class reported it went well and they didn’t have to translate….they could just use Tonga!!!

    Over the months, it has become apparent to me that each community where we offer HIV care, there needed to be a support group within the community and then as months progressed it also became apparent that a leaders group was developing in each area.  The treatment supporter overseeing the area would be instrumental in helping a support group form from among HIV positive patients.  A leaders group of both HIV positive and negative people would be crucial to carry out home visits and seed projects. I feel like my time teaching CHE at Sons of Thunder is over, but is just starting in all the other areas as the leaders groups are formed.  The same classes I taught here for the last 9 months (how appropriate J) are now to be taught in the outreach communities.  Sally, one of the treatment supporters has already begun teaching the CHE classes to her group!  So, Precious is continuing the teaching at Sons of Thunder and Sally is already teaching them in Kabuyu……you can see how God is growing this effective web of ministry, reaching people physically and spiritually….we speak truth right from God’s Word.  We don’t sugar-coat or tickle ears.  We just speak truth.  These people are already faced with their own physical death.  They need and want to hear the truth….Eternal life is at stake.

     

    As we left for furlough in May 2010, Boston University came and gave SoT seeds, fertilizer, watering cans, sprayer, and hoes to plant a PMTCT garden, which was planted Farming God’s Way during my absence.  The garden has already produced a harvest and has been found to be income generating to be used for food for vulnerable HIV positive mothers and exposed infants.  When the groups in the four outreach areas saw the success of the project, they also requested gardens.  We did not want to give the hoes, watering cans, seed and fertilizer without training in the method of FGW.  So, in coordination with Patrick’s visit from South Africa two weeks ago(God’s timing is always perfect) we held a three day workshop for 20 participants in Farming God’s Way, four from each outreach area and four from our home group.  Now the plan is to go out to the area on their respective Friday and assist them in planting an income generating garden initially to benefit positive Mothers and exposed infants, but afterwards to broaden the target base to include patients who need food assistance.

     

     

    FGW in Katapazi

    FGW Training in Katapazi Nov 2010

     

    After the gardens are established and we receive the new vehicle, the next step is to travel to the four outreach areas and teach CHE classes just as we did here at Sons of Thunder.  Some of those very same issues need to be addressed and discussed for healing to occur.

     

    In addition to this, we have been teaching students from the Western School of Nursing.  Sal has been teaching Anatomy and Physiology in the classroom and we have been hosting groups for their three week rural health clinical rotation. 

     

    Sons of Thunder Clinic is becoming well-known throughout Zambia and will soon be recognized as a nationally accredited HIV center.  Preliminary inspections by both the District and Provincial Ministries of Health have been made to help prepare us for the Medical Council’s accreditation review.  In order to help us comply with national requirements, the Ministry of Health has posted a male nurse to our clinic and is looking for a pharmacist or pharmacy tech as well.  Posting of these positions means they pay the salaries even though we are still required to provide housing. 

    In addition to national recognition, we have been awarded a grant from ZNAN (Zambia National AIDS Network) sponsored by the Global Fund.  This grant money is specifically targeted for HIV/AIDS care.  The monies are allocated for lab refurbishment, a new bush vehicle to do mobile ART clinics (antiretroviral treatment clinics), a CD4 machine with reagents (needed to do CD4 tests specific for ART protocol guidelines), an autoclave, and some top-up salaries.  The CD4 machine arrived last week but without reagents.  The vehicle is ordered but not yet received.  The lab construction is underway.

    God is good and His blessings abound as He establishes Himself as Our Provider!!!    Even with all these blessings, there is still much more to be done.  Monthly operational costs are still a great need to continue the work .

     

     

    Nursing Students 2010

    Last group of students from Western School of Nursing Sept/Oct 2010

     New lab Construction

    New Lab

    New lab Construction  (Clinic on left)

    (Chicken Coop on right – plan for more wards, laundry and kitchen)

    Plan for Maternity Ward across from Lab

July 28, 2010

  • Long Overdue.....

         ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN ZAMBIA!!!!!

    31402_817106969044_12303815_45375480_8088162_s[1]

    Thanks to the willingness and obedience of two men who came on a work team in January – lives are being changed!  Two members of AA came with 20 little books not really knowing why they had come.  But God had a plan – a very big plan!  Enoch, a long term resident of Sons of Thunder is an alcoholic and in January all of us had had enough.  Enoch was living under a bar in Kabuyu while his wife took the children and went to her mothers.  She intended to file for  divorce this time.   Enoch had lost his job and now his home at Sons of Thunder and all appeared lost, but God had other plans.   At his wits end, Enoch was picked up and for the next two weeks ministered to by these messengers of God. Since their visit, Enoch has been saved, water baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.  He and his wife are reunited and he has a job as the clinic gardener.  He is now running an AA Group and already has 2 other members!  I’m sure all those books will be put to use as alcoholics help other alcoholics!  

    SCHOOL MINISTRY 

    31402_817106669644_12303815_45375460_6643058_s[1]    31402_817106714554_12303815_45375469_6811161_s[1]   31402_817106684614_12303815_45375463_1246081_s[1]

    As of 2009, Sons of Thunder Primary School is now officially a private school under the Ministry of Education.  To promote a unified front, all the students and teachers are now operating out of one location. Carrie has been doing a great job as Headmistress hiring new teachers, instituting policy changes as well as improving the physical appearance of the school.  Even a PTA school garden was planted as a community project in hope of reinstituting school lunches.  Down on the farm, we have opened an unofficial preschool just for the children at Sons of Thunder.  Christine teaches preschool classes and Lena B Bible classes Mon-Fri in divided sessions to children ages 3-6.  Agatha has been hired as a teacher’s aide to assist both classes and provide snack.  
    Lena A has been commissioned to open a library.  All the donated books at the guest house were moved into a room in the old clinic building.  Two bookshelves full of both adult and children’s books as well as some DVDs, a table and some chairs help provide an atmosphere for reading and study. Lena also provides extra tutoring for the seventh grade exam as well as story time for tots. 

    CHURCH MINISTRY

    31402_817107213554_12303815_45375489_7866454_s[1]  

    Your browser may not support display of this image.The exterior painting at the new Sons of Thunder Church has now been completed making the structure a beautiful welcoming sight from the road. As with all the ministries here at Sons of Thunder, the church continues to grow.  We now have two new church plants making a total of 5 in all.  Along with the Sons of Thunder mother church, we make up our own “zone.”   Two of our church plants are now ready for new church buildings and the pastors from Kasiya and Musokotwane   are  seeking   financial    assistance   and/or   labor  to help with construction. They now have formidable numbers and viable ministries to warrant permanent construction.  Pastor Julius, the clinic chaplain and Pastor Peter are also looking for inward growth in their walks with God…they are both planning to attend Jembo Bible College in September. 

    FARM MINISTRY:  “Mainstreaming Entrepreneurship to the Youth” 

    That’s the title of the one day workshop eight of our Sons of Thunder residents attended June 10th at the new Victoria Falls University.  Those eight people are the ones who over the last six months have approached us with dreams of businesses:  Godfrey, our carpenter/bricklayer, wants to make and sell furniture; Terry, our mechanic, wants a garage to service and repair vehicles; Eunice, our sewing instructor, sees an opportunity with textiles; Abson, one of our supervisors, wants to start a chicken business; Pastor George, sees a bigger food store, selling to people both on and off the farm; Alexander and Tyson, two of our successful farmers, see a future with increased produce; and Graham our tractor driver, wants to buy and sell maize.  Microfinancing for the Sons of Thunder businesses is the next step in the process of self-sufficiency.  Start up costs for buildings, equipment and inventory is needed along with increased training on writing business plans, formulating budgets and recordkeeping.  As we pray for God’s financial provision, we will begin classes in August.  Any investors interested in investing in new businesses??? 
     

    MEDICAL MINISTRY:  The Flood Gates are Open!!!!! 

    Sons of Thunder Clinic is becoming well-known throughout Zambia and will soon be recognized as a nationally accredited HIV center.  Preliminary inspections by both the District and Provincial Ministries of Health have been made to help prepare us for the Medical Council’s accreditation review.  In order to help us comply with national requirements, the Ministry of Health has posted a male nurse to our clinic and is looking for a pharmacist or pharmacy tech as well.  Posting of these positions means they pay the salaries even though we are still required to provide housing. 

    In addition to national recognition, we have been awarded a grant from ZNAN (Zambia National AIDS Network) sponsored by the Global Fund.  This grant money is specifically targeted for HIV/AIDS care.  The monies are allocated for lab refurbishment, a new bush vehicle to do mobile ART clinics (antiretroviral treatment clinics), a CD4 machine with reagents (needed to do CD4 tests specific for ART protocol guidelines), an autoclave, and some top-up salaries.

    We were further blessed upon our return to hear our home church (Difference Makers Church) had raised enough funds for yet another vehicle! We will purchase that vehicle upon our return to Zambia. 

    God is good and His blessings abound as He establishes Himself as Our Provider!!!    Even with all these blessings, there is still much more to be done.  Monthly operational costs are still a great need to continue the work and so, while we are stateside, we are hoping to raise $100,000 in new faith pledges.  As Pastor Jerry said 275 people only have to give $1.00 a day.  It’s a good time to join God where He is already working! 
     

September 20, 2009

  • Building the Tabernacle

    Just to let you know what has been happening with the Medical Ministry….. 

    Sal continues to be forever busy seeing outpatients not only at Sons of Thunder, but also at five other outreach communities.  There have been two more communities that have written to request us to provide medical services in their areas; Siandazya and Siamasimbbi.  Both areas are very far from any kind of medical care.  To give you some kind of reference, they are approximately 30 kilometers (18-20 mile range) away from Sons of Thunder and we are the nearest medical facility.  The villagers of Siandazya have built a grass hut for us to use as a clinic building and have come to the farm with the headman to present their petition.  Still knowing that we are supposed to do what God puts in front of us, we will probably be starting in October to provide full services to them twice a month.  Along with outpatients, we have a full inpatient ward most of the time, caring for predominantly AIDS patients and Obstetrics.  For example….five babies were born in the clinic last Monday!!!  Besides that, Sal’s phone number is well known and he answers calls 24 hours a day, being his own EMS service.  I guess God prepared him with all his missed night sleep as a paramedic in the States!  Now if that weren’t enough, he also has been teaching Anatomy and Physiology at the Western School of Nursing.  God has definitely equipped him because I can’t keep up.  Just this past week Lena B told him, “I know what your gift is” and when Sal asked what that was, she said “You never get tired; you are always working in God’s strength.”  I believe that to be very true.

    I, on the other hand have been busy administrating the rest of the ministries here, children’s home, primary school, farm, piecework, sewing, vehicles, taxes, budgets, payroll as well as hosting Traveller volunteers, student nurses and visiting teams from the States. I know that sounds like a long list, but the only reason I can do all that is because the Zambian leaders in each area are doing a fantastic job! Lena and Royce with the children, Phillip as headmaster of the school along with excellent teachers, Alexander and Abson over the villages and farm, Pastor George over the church, Terry with the vehicles, Eunice with the sewing classes and Advent at the guest house! As for my role with medical, I still manage to do Under Five once a month, but my biggest role has been with our HIV Community Care Program.  We sent seven people living positively with HIV to a workshop in town to become treatment supporters under a program sponsored by AIDS Alliance.  We also established a group of people from among Sons of Thunder residents to form a Home-Based Care group.  Since January after coming back from furlough, and following my trip to Swaziland to learn Community Health Evangelism or CHE, I began weekly classes with both groups together.  We started with team building and proceeded to cover the CHE classes targeting just HIV and all its ramifications.  HIV positive and negative people found working together to minister to our group of HIV clients now over 500. During those classes, we covered topics such as What is HIV, Transmission, Prevention and Treatment, Consequences of Sex Outside Marriage, God’s Plan for Marriage, Requirements of Marriage Partners, Emotions such as Denial, Fear, Worry, Guilt, Anger, Bitterness, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, Counseling, Compassion, and Caring for the Whole Person.  We spent weeks discussing tradition, customs, culture and contrasting what it says in God’s Word.  From whatever God had us discussing over the month, the group would develop a drama to perform at each outreach site for that month. Always included with the drama would be corresponding scripture.  In the group, we have three pastors; two of which always go to the outreach areas with us.  So class would be on Thursday mornings and Friday the group would travel with Sal to the outreach site where Sal would see HIV clients receiving ARVs.   They perform the drama and bring forth God’s Word before Sal begins seeing patients.  While Sal sees the patients, the treatment supporters talk with individuals about adherence to medications, answer questions concerning living with HIV, teach lessons on perhaps nutrition or some other relevant subject and counsel and pray with individuals. The treatment supporters along with the home based care group visit homes in the areas that have been designated as needing a visit…perhaps a patient is too sick to make it to the clinic or perhaps there is a defaulter who for whatever reason is refusing to come to get help.

    The treatment supporters have just sort of taken over areas of responsibility….Lena at Sons of Thunder, Abel at Katapazi, Kenneth at Sinde and Siakasipa, Sally at Kabuyu,  and Charles as secretary keeping written records of activity.  Two weeks ago I felt like God said my time of teaching Thursday mornings at Sons of Thunder was finished and I was to turn the lessons over to someone in the group to carry on….so last week Precious led the class with the CHE lesson she selected to facilitate.  The class reported it went well and they didn’t have to translate….they could just use Tonga!!!

    Over the months, it has become apparent to me that each community where we offer HIV care, there needed to be a support group within the community and then as months progressed it also became apparent that a leaders group was developing in each area.  The treatment supporter overseeing the area would be instrumental in helping a support group form from among HIV positive patients.  A leaders group of both HIV positive and negative people would be crucial to carry out home visits and seed projects. I feel like my time teaching CHE at Sons of Thunder is over, but is just starting in all the other areas as the leaders groups are formed.  The same classes I taught here for the last 9 months (how appropriate J) are now to be taught in the outreach communities.  Sally, one of the treatment supporters has already begun teaching the CHE classes to her group!  So, Precious is continuing the teaching at Sons of Thunder and Sally is already teaching them in Kabuyu……you can see how God is growing this effective web of ministry, reaching people physically and spiritually….we speak truth right from God’s Word.  We don’t sugar-coat or tickle ears.  We just speak truth.  These people are already faced with their own physical death.  They need and want to hear the truth….Eternal life is at stake.

     

    Some of the leaders on the farm were in the CHE classes and were so impacted that they asked me to please teach some of the classes to all the married couples on the farm.  Now, with so much in front of us to do, Sal and I will not just do something to do it.  We watch and pray until we see what direction God wants us to follow.  After months of waiting, God brought confirmation through many different ways and people and so I agreed to teach the classes.  At the same time as I was seeking God’s direction for these classes, I was doing a personal bible study on the Tabernacle and God clearly spoke to me the message for Sons of Thunder out of Exodus 25:8-9,  “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.  Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”  It is clear to me that God wants us to build Him a tabernacle so that He may dwell not only among us, but within us!  The message God spoke to George after his time of fasting and prayer seeking direction for the church “Building the Kingdom” rings the same message.  The Word says that “the Kingdom of Heaven is within you.”  Clearly God wants a people here prepared for Him….  “clean hands and a pure heart, ”  no longer ruled by the sinful nature, but living by the Holy Spirit.  We have had four classes so far and people are being convicted….some have stopped coming, some are hungry for more.  The classes are opening eyes and minds to the Truth of God’s Word.  God wants a holy people and just as He cleaned up and continues to clean up the physical surroundings here and shake that which can be shaken, He is once again giving us another chance to get in right relationship with Him.  Thank you Lord….You be glorified..

June 21, 2009

  • Sorry It Has Taken So Long...

    Sunday, June 7, 2009


    I am sitting here Sunday morning sipping on a cup of Hazelnut Decaf and listening to my Ipod.  I have decided to write you to once again thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and financial support.  Thank you for giving me grace when I have not been able to write weekly updates as I have done in the past. Today I am waiting for Sal to deliver the second baby of the day so that we can go to church together. If the woman (or should I say the baby) is uncooperative with my plan, I guess I will be going alone.  But, while I wait, I thought I would sit down and put thoughts to paper. There is so much I want to share with you…so much God is doing in the lives of people and on the farm….so much He is doing at the orphanage, school, church and of course the clinic! 
     
    Farm….

    • We had a whole training on “Farming God’s Way” early this year provided to all our farmers.  FGW is called “conservation farming” in the secular world and has proven itself to be effective in this area.  There is no need for plowing or big machinery…just a hoe, a little order and “God’s Blanket.”  The clinic garden was used as a sample and I must admit the carrots were beautiful…straight, bright orange, big and sweet!!!  Alexander has been moving forward with the plan for FGW and is leading the other farmers.  He also has been working with the “chili pepper people” in order to discourage the elephants.  You see, we had over 200 of the big guys and their babies coming through ravaging all the gardens and fields…sometimes in one night.  Firecrackers just weren’t enough! The rangers had to come and kill an elephant to get them to move on.  New markets have been opened for farm produce including our fruit from the orchards.  Professor has been working hard marketing and overseeing the orchard.
    • There are no more loans being given out…credit is coming to a halt and there is a need for teaching budgeting and money management skills. There is no more free seed and fertilizer this year, and the guys are ready to pay for it themselves. 
    • We have two villages that have the capacity for electricity and 10 homes have now been connected…all at their own cost and with a monthly bill. 
    • The Department of Road Transport is finally having the main road here paved so they have a Chinese company hired to do the work…the maps have slotted our little road to be the detour….so they are coming through widening our road and will pass right through two of our outlying villages and Revelation village and the front gate!! That means buses and trucks coming right past the front gate for the next three months….addressing our concerns, they have agreed to speed humps, a traffic attendant and watering to keep down the dirt and dust.  They have also agreed to widen the road to the Hill.
    • We just had a woman’s ministry here where 40 women were taught sewing classes by a retired home economist right here at the guest house.  She had four classes a day and the ladies made chetange outfits, as well as stuffed elephants and Tonga Lady dolls to sell. Sue purchased 4 hand crank machines to use and leave here and one of the more advanced Zambian women is going to continue the classes now that Sue has left.  We made the front room into a sewing room and the classes start up again Monday.  They are going to learn little boys shorts and little girls chetange skirts and/or dresses….the first ones will be for the orphanage before they make them for their own children. Another woman from a work team came during the same time and taught 20 ladies crocheting.  Both classes ended with certificate presentations and the sewing class was a fashion show!
    • The electric all over the farm has been updated and worked on making things safe in the guest house, orphanage, clinic, boreholes, new church site, and some of the tobacco barn and school.
    • New screens are being completed for the guest house as well as new curtains in the bedrooms and bathrooms.
    • Janice has left the farm….she has gone to Livingstone to join her husband Albert who got a very good pastoral position with Rainbow in town and their two children get free private education at Rainbow school.  It was a blessing and now they will be able to do ministry together.

    Janice's last Day Janice's Last Day

    Carrots FGW Carrots - Farming God's Way

    Crocheting Crocheting Class

    Sewing Class One of the Sewing Classes

    Agatha with the hand crank sewing machine

    Agatha with the Hand Crank Machine

    Eunice in her new chetange outfit  Eunice in her new chetange outfit

    elephants Tonga Lady Dolls and Stuffed Elephants

    Dolls Tonga Lady Dolls (up close)

     

    Orphanage…

    • There have been many inaccurate reports spreading about the “orphanage closing and us sending the kids all over the country.”    Those reports were initiated when people from outside the district used the pulpits of our smaller planted churches in the surrounding areas to put fear into the Zambian families of the children and it has caused a bit of havoc. Families have been going to Social Welfare asking for their kids…most not in any position to take their kids and some with the intent of giving them to another orphanage outside the district. I just hate gossip and unfortunately no one has come to Sal and I to secure the truth.  When we returned in December, three boys (Misheck, Thomas and Wilson) had been moved to Global Samaritan according to Jaime’s plan to reunite some of the kids with their siblings.  There was one more boy slotted to go, so Joseph quickly followed his buddies.  Now in case you are not aware, our largest donor has chosen to reduce their support by one half effective in June, and to continue with half through the end of 2009, at which time they will contact those who have given, and give them our address with the opportunity for them to continue to have part in the orphanage work.  We trust they will.  While others have deserted the children and the work, God has helped us remain faithful to provide and care for the children’s needs with the resources He provides.  God is a big God, our Provider and He will take care of the kids.  Remember this is His vision and those are His kids…He has promised never to leave them nor forsake them. Right? So as we look to God for His plan for the children, we continue to walk through the doors He opens. When I was at Global Samaritan last month for a certificate ceremony for a ladies ministry (same as here at SoT that I told you about above) I spoke with Miriam who is now running the operations there and she told me she had two positions for girls open up unexpectedly and she also had three more boy positions left in the same house as the other SoT boys.  Taking that as an opportunity God provided and clearing it with Social Welfare, Racheal and Peggy were moved last week and Steven, Joe and Mapalo are scheduled to move by the end of the month….Nine of the older children moved to be with siblings, closer to Sons of Thunder Primary School, eight to a house with English-speaking house mothers and guaranteed secondary education (Global is currently in the process of building a secondary school for their children). All that sounds like God’s provision to me!  Peter was reunited with his father and sisters…his dad has a good job, is remarried living in town and is now able to take proper care of Peter.  So approved and recommended by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Peter went home! That makes 10 children…taking our numbers down to 38.  Now God also opened the doors for a possible 8 children to go to Villages of Hope Children’s Home up by Lusaka. Villages of Hope is with the man who first approached SoT to partner and put money into our orphanage, a plan that was negated by field management at the time.  That Christian investor had the same vision as SoT and has since established a children’s home with individual houses, 8 children and a house mother to each home. He has a school started and is also constructing a clinic.  There is farming and even a restaurant on site.  The director of Villages of Hope and some Board members came to SoT to meet and discuss the possible transfer of children since they just happened to have a house being built that should be ready by June. We all went to the Ministry of Social Welfare and they were in favor of the transfer….the Ministry of Social Welfare up near Lusaka was also in favor and authorization from families is now being sought by the social workers.  If forward progress continues, 8 more children will be provided for through the countenance of God.  That would take our number down to 30.
      Funny, but we are really only approved for a capacity of 25….the original director of the orphanage however chose not to abide by the government regulation and accepted more than double that amount causing overcrowding and all the public health issues that arise as a result of sleeping two and three children to a bed and now not having enough toilet facilities for the number of children, etc. Since God’s Word tells us to submit to local authorities, I am looking to see if we indeed will be at 25 soon!...and that would take us to 50% !   These are the only plans we have for the orphanage right now …we have no Plan B, no plan of man, just stepping as God lights up the next stone.

    Racheal and Peggy Racheal and Peggy go to Global!

    Peter and his dad Peter Reunited with His Dad

    Luyando and his aunt Luyando Reunited with His Aunt

    • On a lighter note, we are being sponsored by David Livingstone Safari Lodge in town.  They had a Christmas party for the kids here at the orphanage with food, a tree, “Father Christmas” and a gift for each child.  They brought maintenance workers and a cleaning crew…along with a television crew and newspaper journalists…even the Provincial Minister came to deliver a short speech.  At Easter time, they sent a very plush bus to pick up 25 children and 5 adults for an Easter luncheon at the Lodge.  They had a lovely buffet with long tables set up on the lawn along with a moon bounce to jump in and baby chicks for the kids to hold and pet. 

    Dressed Up for Luncheon (Waiting for bus) Dressed Up Waiting for Bus

    Luncheon at Lodge Easter Luncheon at David Livingstone

                                                                                                       

    Luncheon (notice the forks) Notice the Forks!

    Faith with a chick Faith Holds a Chick!

    Luncheon (Games and Fun) Moonbounce, Fun and Games

    Easter Egg Hunt at Guest House Easter Egg Hunt for Those Left Behind

     

    • A young woman from Scotland named Kelly, who had been here last year, returned with a friend to work at the orphanage. They are with a group called Travellers Worldwide and are here for 2 weeks coming back and forth each day from town.  They stayed here the weekend and just yesterday they and 31 children along with 4 ladies and Doubt (who is now called Able) just took 31 of the older kids to the Mosi-o-tunya Game Park in the lorry driven by Terry.  They also included the children who went to Global along with two boys and the house mother from Global. They saw the animals at the park, had a picnic lunch at the Baobab tree and got ice cream from Steers at the Spar shopping center.  When they got back to the farm, they were filled with excitement all telling me what they had seen!!!

    Group Game Park Group Ready for the Game Park Outing

    Game Park-Lorry In the Lorry

    Game Park- Ice Cream Ice Cream!

    Game Park - Sleeping Kids Tuckered Out!
     

    Church….

    • Pastor Hank came on a work team and taught a Pastoral Counseling Workshop at the beginning of the year for Pastor George and the surrounding pastors. 
    • Pastor George is the District Evangelist and has been going out doing outreaches showing the Jesus film
      He has planted a new church in the District.  He was in charge of the local conferences in the District
      He is growing spiritually….God has shown him his responsibility as a Pastor to speak the Truth and confront sin, as well as discerning spirits and the role of spiritual authority in the church.
    • Construction on the new church was resumed after more than a year of sitting at foundation level.  Right now, it is at roof level and electric is being installed. 

    New Church at roof level New Church at Roof Level

    New Church Stage area New Church Stage Area
     

    School…

    • School sponsorship has been implemented
    • Killian’s contract was not renewed and a new Headmaster/Education Secretary was hired.  Phillip holds a University degree for teaching and gives us the qualifications we needed for grant-aided status.
      Paperwork for grant-aided status was corrected and resubmitted with Provincial Ministry of Education’s approval…waiting for national approval.
    • Final inspection and paperwork made for SoT to be a seventh grade examination center
      Maintenance work done at the school and one of the teachers houses worked on….making provisions for an American teacher to spend 2010 teaching at the school.
       

    Clinic….

    • Geoffrey left Christmas eve, leaving Sal and I the only professionals…but God provides and we ended up having 4 groups of nursing students over a 12 week period…no less than 14 on the farm at any one time.  They stayed in the tobacco barn and rotated between the clinic, orphanage and school…a week at each site.  They covered nightshift and helped with emergencies and we got to teach them some skills and theory.  The director of the school liked the experience and training they got here so much that she has asked Sal to teach some lectures starting in August. 

    nursing students Nursing Students

    Nursing Students resized More Nursing Students

    Nursing Students 069 resized Students:Health Teaching to Orphanage Workers                                                                                        

    • We hired an RN/Midwife….she and the new Headmaster are married.  We put them in the tobacco barn and Philip drives so he has been driving back and forth to the school on the Hill.
    • Community Health Evangelism….classes continue on Thursdays and then outreach on Fridays with dramas and home visits to HIV clients.  Support groups rising up in 4 outreach areas.  Reminds me of “each one, reach one.”  What I teach and we discuss on Thursdays, they put into practice on Fridays and now they are starting to teach in their areas….etc.
      Many stories to tell……


     Work teams…

    • Started off with team of 3 pastors….Pastoral Counseling
    • Couple of men from Farming God’s Way – (unexpected…a God encounter)- training in Farming God’s Way to about 35 of our farmers
    • One doctor from UK….worked with us in the clinic…a blessing
    • Group from Villages of Hope….spur of the moment….open doors
    • One woman from Indiana….sewing ministry/devotions for 40 women during the month of May
    • Team of 5 from US…crocheting classes/devotions for 20 women, Farm Feast and fellowship, outreach with Pastor George
    • Team of 16 from Gonzaga University…dinner and fellowship, visit to clinic and orphanage
    • Traveller volunteers…orphanage workers…took children to Game Park
       
      It’s hard to believe it’s only 6 months since we arrived back on Zambian soil.  God has been accomplishing a lot ….there’s in between the lines stuff that has been taking place also but this would end up 20 pages or more and I think I will spare you!!! J
       
      Love to All…
      Sal and Renee

     

March 13, 2009

  • Catching You Up

    February 21, 2009

     

    I have started writing many an update, but time is never on my side and I seem to leave them all unfinished.  Let me catch you up with a few things…..

     

    When we arrived back in Zambia on December 10th, we were given the news that the other missionaries here overseeing everything else besides the Medical Ministries would be leaving Sons of Thunder.  That occurred December 17th, a mere one week after our return.  Well, no longer surprised by God for “His plans are not our plans”, we buckled down to once again resume the oversight of all the ministries here.  The initial step meant moving back into the guest house, which we did December 18th.  Next was end of the year financials and getting a handle on all the budgets, reviewing all areas with regard to operation, personnel and maintenance issues.  Then of course there was Christmas and the children!  There were no plans in the works, but God being our Provider and always there for us, a woman in town called on the phone.  She had just completed making shoeboxes for the children in town and had thought of our children’s home….her question: “Would we like shoeboxes filled with goodies for all our children?  She and her husband would love to make wrapped packages for all the kids if I would just give her a list of the names of all the children with their corresponding sex and age.  I was thrilled!!! God, you are good! My answer of course was YES….she brought wrapped Christmas gifts for each child and Christmas morning every child got their own present!  We had two Traveller volunteers that had been working in the children’s home all month.  They wanted to spend their last day which was Christmas with the children handing out presents, playing games, singing songs and presenting the story of Jesus’ birth.  Lena and Royce had bought extra goodies for a Christmas meal ….things like rice and beef and cake!  It was a nice time.  Our God provides more than we could possibly hope for right?....so the day after Christmas, the children were once again blessed by a lodge from right here in town.  The owner and staff of David Livingstone Lodge arrived at the children’s home in vans with their chefs, repairmen, and cleaning staff all armed with the supplies of their trade.  Not only did they come prepared to do work, but they came to celebrate as well!!  They brought a small Christmas tree and decorated the large front room.  They brought balloons and sweets….also bananas and drinks.  “Father Christmas” as they called him came with a red suit and a pillowcase for a beard, sat the children one by one on his lap and gave them each a present….every child got a new t-shirt to wear!  All of this was quite a surprise, but they also brought a camera crew and newspaper reporters!!!  The Provincial Minister himself arrived and gave a speech!!! Sal and I, caught off guard, were also interviewed (in our scrub shirts of course)!  The next day SoT Children’s Home was on the local news (and so were we)!!!!!

     

    I wanted to write and tell you of the four legged creatures that terrorized our villages and ravaged our fields and gardens!!!  I am serious…..we had literally hundreds of elephants on the farm!!!  You see, Zimbabwe is in such a state right now facing starvation that even the military is suffering from hunger.  So they started shooting elephants for food!!  The elephants started running for their lives so to speak and the Zambezi River was crossable, so they have been migrating north into Zambia….well we are only 25km outside of Livingstone, surrounded by forest and have lots of food between orchards, gardens and maize fields!!!  There were herds all over the farm…in different villages and even right here on the farm proper.  Elephants disappear during the day and come out under the cover of night….Big BIG animals that can’t be seen right in front of you because they are black as night.  One night when they were out in force, I went out on the front porch and literally heard them on both sides of the guest house….on the left of the house in the small orchard garden area and on the right on the other side of the driveway where the main gardens are!!  You really feel helpless….what do you do to get rid of an elephant in your garden?  Well ZAWA was called….ZAWA is the Zambian Agriculture and Wildlife Authority….they came out with firecrackers to help scare off the animals.  They even stayed for 10 days on the farm answering sightings at night.  When nothing was working, the number of elephants increasing and many fields and gardens destroyed, it was decided that an elephant would have to be killed.  So, at first they sent out a novice with an AK 47…..one night a lone bull elephant was spotted in the garden by the house….after three shots and three full misses, the elephant charged chasing the ranger and Alexander into the dairy!  So, next ZAWA sent two elephant hunters with high powered weaponry to the farm….and about three days later, word came that they had killed an elephant.  People from the farm were called to come collect the meat.  After the elephant had been killed, the herds started migrating further north….we heard news that our neighboring farms were now being troubled.  Three people have been reported killed by the elephants since the bull elephant was killed here.  We had a few weeks of peace until last week when more elephants were sighted….some at 2pm right here behind the tobacco barn on the soccer field.  We also have chili pepper people working with our farmers to grow and use chilis around their gardens to keep the elephants away….seems the elephants don’t like spicy foods!!!  Despite the discouragement of the elephants, the farming ministry here continues to move forward with new principles of farming being learned, new markets being developed and God speaking.  It remains the heart of SoT…..

     

    White uniforms and nurses caps all over the campus here……why, you ask?  Well, because the Western School of Nursing has asked if we would be willing to allow their second year registered nursing students to do their rural health clinical experience here.  So, for three weeks, we have 17 nursing students living and working on the farm between the clinic, children’s home and primary school. After this three week period, there will be another 18 students coming for the next three week period.  God provides for all our needs….even helping hands!  You see I guess I haven’t told you that December 24th after taking a break for Christmas with his family in Lusaka, Geoffrey finally received his graduation certificate and an accompanying government position at another rural health center outside of Kazungula District. So December 26th, he packed his belongings here and relocated.  That same day we received a call from another Clinical Officer in town, retired and looking for work….so Mrs. Malamo has been with us on a trial basis also for the last three weeks!!!!  We’re not sure yet if she is supposed to be our next C.O., but for now she is help.  A new doctor from the UK is supposed to come visit in March for two weeks also helping out….so you see God does take care of His people.

     

    I think I mentioned to you that God would not let me alone about “community,” so taking steps as He lights those stones, we now have a support system of health workers developing.  I am organizing the program and teaching weekly lessons….Treatment supporters and Home Based Care volunteers are joining forces in our HIV Support Program to become Community Health Evangelists or CHEs.  They have been going out every Friday to our ART locations either going to people’s homes or teaching through drama at the Rural Health Center site.  The first message God gave us was the message of the lost sheep….you see we had files of people who never returned to the clinic after they found out their HIV status or after they started medicines.  Our goal was to find the “lost” patients and minister to their needs just as Jesus went “to seek and save the lost.”  The message deals with both the physical and spiritual needs of the people which is what CHE is all about….and coincidently is what Sons of Thunder is all about!!!  This was the training God had me go to Swaziland for if you remember….now it seems to be the time to implement it….one step at a time….and I’m watching it multiply before my eyes. 

     

    The other main issue at the moment is a shortage of mealie meal (maize-based meal used to make nshima which is the staple food of Zambia).  Long cues waiting for delivery trucks to arrive and rationing of meal have made it hard on the villagers here not to mention the children’s home and clinic which buy in bulk amounts.  We are talking waiting in lines for 12 hours or sleeping at the mill the night before and then only able to get one 25 kg bag.  Well, Sal went into the local Spar and negotiated with the owners/managers and was able to get a truckload of 50 bags sold to him.  So now the villages are getting the meal from the guest house; Lena and Royce are getting their weekly bags for the children’s home without standing in cues or trying to find 6 other people to help them purchase the numbers they need and the inpatients in the clinic are being kept fed.  It’s also been nice to divide in smaller portions for home visits and of course it’s here if someone from off the farm is in dire need….again feeding Africa physically and spiritually!!!

     

    God never ceases to amaze me and I am humbled to be His child!!!  He reminds me all the time here that He is our Provider….He is the one responsible for this vision….not only for the plan but the provision of all that we need to see it carried out.  My job is to just say yes and step as He lights the stones.  Be at peace my friends during this time of financial instability and always remember….there is one thing that never changes….one thing that never waivers.  He is always there.

     

     

February 6, 2009

  • World AIDS Day

    World AIDS Day

    December 1, 2008

     

    While Sal and I were still in the States, mind you, Kazungula District Ministry of Health called Geoffrey on his cell phone.  Now remember….Geoffrey is the other Clinical Officer here at SoT(besides Sal) that was covering the Medical Ministries while we were on furlough.  Well it’s not unusual for Geoffrey to be contacted by the Ministry of Health (MoH), but this phone call was different.  This phone conversation was a request to hold “World AIDS Day” here at Sons of Thunder Farm for all of the Kazungula District in the Southern Province of Zambia!!!  This, ladies and gentlemen, was a BIG deal!!!  Imagine….the government of Zambia was asking Sons of Thunder, a Christian Mission to host one of the biggest events of the year!  Sons of Thunder Clinic has such a reputation as an ART Clinic and such a good working relationship with the District MoH, that we were considered for this honor (…….and besides, we have a lot of room! J ) Sal and I were so proud of everyone….the entire farm participated dividing up the workload.  Abson was in charge of the grounds setting up tents loaned from the Zambian Air Force and making sure the large water tank purchased for the new church building site was filled and in place for the day.  Namatama was selected to attend all meetings with the District representing Sal and I and the clinic and being the liason.  Meetings were held at the farm with Zambian planning committees and leaders from all areas of the farm involved.  Lena A was in charge of food for the multitudes that would be coming and Janice was in charge of the diplomat luncheon that would be held at the guest house for all the Zambian officials.  Mishack was selected to be the Master of Ceremony and the Sons of Thunder Praise Team would provide singing.  Pastor Julius was asked to preach a Gospel message and say an opening and closing prayer.

    The preliminary ceremonies officially began the evening of November 30th with a candle lighting service originating at 6:30pm at the entrance gate to Sons of Thunder.  A procession of people with lighted candles marched from the gate to the Sons of Thunder Church in commemoration of those who had died during the past year of HIV/AIDS.  It was amazing  I was told and people were very touched with the event.  Mishack welcomed all who were present and the Sons of Thunder Praise Team sang some worship songs.  Following the singing, there was a time of testimony given by two people from another area of Kazungula.  The Gospel message was then shared by Pastor Julius (Chaplain at Sons of Thunder Clinic.)  After the preaching, Mishack invited the DAKA (this is some government official that I didn’t get the name of nor what DAKA stands for) to give a talk on HIV and AIDS, then everyone joined in a wonderful song which left  hope in people’s hearts. The service concluded at approximately 9pm.

    The next day, December 1st, was officially World AIDS Day.  The commemoration festivities started late… around 9:30am. The national anthem was sung and then Pastor Julius opened the program with a prayer.  Mishack, again as Master of Ceremony, welcomed everyone and gave opening remarks.  The schedule of events as outlined by a written program had to be changed since the Guest of Honor was delayed in Livingstone with the First Lady.  Entertainment ensued to fill time.  There was drama, poetry, singing, dancing and acrobats.  Testimonies were shared and speeches given.  Remarks were shared by the DAKA, the District Commissioner himself Mr. Haasuntwe and the Provincial Minister Daniel Munkombwe.  Other honored guests included the Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe and Chief Sekute and his family from Kazungula.  Another outreach organization, Corridors of Hope carried out HIV testing throughout the day.  The scheduled events ended at 2pm when everyone departed for lunch.  Close to 500 people were estimated to have participated in the day including lunch!! 

    Feeding Africa physically and spiritually…..500 people heard the Gospel….500 people were provided lunch (paid for by the government )and all 500 were shown the love of Jesus and given Hope!!  It reminds me of the banner I was given to bring over in 2005 for the clinic….a godly woman made the banner as she felt God directed her…..on it was one word “HOPE.”  It hangs on the wall inside the reception room.  Outside, we also have a sign….It says “Jesus is our source of Hope!”

    Jesus is indeed the only Hope we can ever give to a dying world and a day remembering those who have been touched by HIV/AIDS brings it home!!!

    Check out the pictures…..

    Banners crowds

     

December 28, 2008

  • October 22,2008

    Hello to All….I am writing this entry from the US.  We have been in the States for six weeks  now and it is such a difference in the world of “high speed connections!!!”  Here you have access to the world within seconds…..such a difference from the world of “dial-up and outages and ‘our system is down’ that we experience when in Zambia. Well, now that I can…..

    I want to share with you a blog that I tried to send while in Zambia before I left, but unfortunately was unable to do so.  I wanted to tell you about Ian….

     

    Sal was in town and Geoffrey was on call…there was a knock at my door and Anna said, “There is an emergency; can you come.”  I immediately followed her to the clinic to find a 68 year old white farmer lying in the bed with a concerned wife standing at his side and a son at the foot of the bed very eager to start telling me their story.  As I listened to his words, I observed the surroundings to find that Geoffrey had already attached the transformer to raise the head of the hospital bed and then to the oxygen concentrator which he had already brought out of the supply room.  “Good job Geoffrey” I thought so far, but I was a little confused when I saw the wife squeezing an Ambu bag over her husband’s face that had a nasal cannula in place but not in his nostrils. As I looked closer I realized he was conscious and breathing on his own….so why the Ambu? This reminded me of a scenario in an ACLS class!!! Well, seems Ian had a history of high blood pressure and an episode of bronchitis in the past month.  That morning at the breakfast table, “he went out a couple times where he stopped breathing” and had to be stimulated to “come to.”  They put him in the car and started to “speed” off toward Livingstone about 35km away to a  private physician in town. Well, here in Zambia you can’t  “speed” anywhere  because of all the bush roads but especially because of the crater filled main road to town.  After a half an hour of travel they decided to stop at Sons of Thunder Clinic for help.  Well, as I continued to ask questions and listen I slowly and calmly walked over to Ian’s wife and took the Ambu bag out of her hand, checked the O2 concentrator and placed the cannula in his nose.  During a brief break in the conversation I took vital signs and then proceeded to call Sal.  After hearing the report and assessment  of Ian’s condition, Sal decided to head back to the clinic.  Later I found out that with Janice and her children in the car, Sal did indeed race back to the clinic in the Land Rover on one of the back roads at a speed delighting the kids and causing Janice to hold on with white knuckles!!  While waiting for Sal, Geoffrey started an IV and we made Ian comfortable.  He began to regain color and was able to answer questions….he even began to crack jokes which I discovered was part of his sarcastic personality.  Once Sal arrived, he dug out the monitor/defibrillator and the pads.  Using the machine as a heart monitor, we were able to see a very rough picture of the heart rhythm. Sal diagnosed him as having an MI (heart attack), administered appropriate medication and started to prepare the Land Rover for transport into Livingstone. The back of the Rover padded with a mattress and multiple pillows for propping, Sal and I transported Ian and his wife to the private physician in town.  Verbal and written reports given, assistance to get Ian transferred to a patient room and placed on O2 again (we were unable to run O2 during transport), and after multiple thank-yous and goodbyes,  we headed back to the clinic. After talking to the doctor the next day, we found out that Ian had been sent on a commercial airline to South Africa for continued treatment.  Ian was our first cardiac patient and the first real EMS system in operation…..the first time when we could actually see transfer of care to a higher level.  It was a good feeling.

September 15, 2008

  • EMS Weekend

    Call 9-1-1 in America, translates Call S-A-L in Zambia.

     

    This weekend has been “EMS weekend”…..I mean really. Calls to houses in the bush, other clinics….emergency transports to Livingstone Hospital…yikes! Day and night! And Sal even changed phone companies and his phone number just last week….but the word is out!!!  What are you saying God?  Every time we think we have God figured out, there is another level, another step, another piece in the puzzle.  And right now He is moving so fast, we are running to keep up…….. 

     

    I know Renee usually writes the updates, but this is where I felt compelled to take over the keyboard.

     

    I want to tell you about days that are becoming more typical than unusual:

     

    It starts early Friday morning, the 5th of September, with a pregnant HIV patient in labor.  It is my night for call and the patient required monitoring three different times during the night. At 5am, the alarm goes off and by 5:15 the first cup of coffee is ready.  I complete my quiet time by 6am and go to the clinic to check on our expectant mother and get ready to go to Kabuyu for our HIV Clinic Outreach.  Geoffrey arrives a few minutes before 7am for report on the expectant mother and the other inpatients (there are 6).  Off to Kabuyu where we arrive by 8am, set up and proceed to see over 30 of our HIV patients. Back at the clinic, Geoffrey has delivered a baby girl and is preparing to see patients at Sons of Thunder Clinic….there were 38 patients seen that day.  By 1pm, still in Kabuyu, we have seen our last HIV patient when Renee calls to tell me there is a woman in labor at only 7 months with moderate bleeding.  I left the staff and supplies at Kabuyu and took the Land Rover to Bwiketo Village (15 minutes away) where I found a 38 year old woman in obvious discomfort. still in her hut.  On exam, she was fully dilated and delivery imminent.  I reviewed her prenatal card since she was not one of our patients and I saw nothing to cause me concern.  I called Renee to get another vehicle to go to Kabuyu to pick up the staff since I was obviously going to deliver this baby in the hut.  Thirty minutes later, her water breaks and out comes a baby boy that maybe weighed 1 pound.  I attempted to resuscitate for about thirty minutes without success….at 7 months gestation this baby’s lungs were not developed enough.  During the attempted resuscitation, I quickly looked at mom and saw there had been no change in her abdomen size.  I gave the baby to grandma to continue what I was doing and by the time I turned around, a second bag of waters broke. Great----TWINS! Prenatal card didn’t mention this fact.  Trying to teach grandma quicker, I saw the umbilical cord present….not good.  I finished the teaching, turned and moved to mom to now find a foot presenting and the umbilical cord detached.  Mom was bleeding profusely.  By now the vehicle that was picking up at Kabuyu was back on the farm.  I called and had them sent to my location….I needed a flat bed truck.  In about an hour, we had mom in the clinic….IV lines running, monitoring.  Praying the second baby would come out on its own.  About an hour later, I decided to take her to Livingstone General Hospital for a C-section to remove this already dead baby.  During preparation for transport, another call was received from Kasiya with another woman in labor.  Geoffrey and Mwanza head to Kasiya while I head to LGH and Renee stays back to cover the clinic.  Two hours later I return to find Geoffrey had just delivered his second baby girl for the day 5 minutes before I walked in the door.  We talked a bit, I told him goodnight and let Namatama know I was on call.  It was now 10pm.  At 10:45pm I received a call from Katapazi Clinic for an HIV patient in labor.  I arrived and ended up doing the delivery at their clinic and started the baby on the protocol of a prophylactic short course of HIV meds.  I arrived back at the apartment at 1:30am….changed IVs on those in the clinic that needed them and was in bed by 2am. 

     

    The alarm went off at 5am Saturday morning, Sept 6th and we start again. 

    I leave for town at 6:45 am Saturday morning to do some clinic shopping for medicines and office or food supplies.  It is also the day we pick up the lab technician to bring him back to the clinic to do the weekly lab tests.  On the way back to the clinic, I received a call from Siandazya for a woman in labor.  I dropped off the lab tech and went to pick up the patient and bring her back to the clinic.  Around 1pm, another call came from Siakasipa for a 18 year old girl in labor.  Upon arrival at the village, found a first time mom too far along to move.  Baby was delivered in the hut….everything fine.  I arrive back at Sons of Thunder at 5pm and make rounds on all the inpatients twice before going to bed.  .I’m still on call.  Twice during the night I am awakened to check on our pregnant patients.  All is well.

     

    It’s now Sunday morning Sept 7th…we go to church in town and have lunch out.  One of the missionary couples who have been here for six years are returning to the states and this was his last sermon.  Geoffrey agreed to cover the clinic while we were in town.  When we returned from town, we found that one of our AIDS inpatients had suffered a stroke and was close to death.  Pastor Julius had already been called and family was around her bed.  About 30 minutes later, Emeldah died.  After the usual washing and wrapping of the body, we took the family and Emeldah back to her village for burial.  It’s now Sunday night and I’m still on call, still have 5 inpatients and the alarm will still sound at 5am Monday morning if not sooner.

     

    These are our days and they are occurring more frequently….

    We have 3 skilled people trying to do the job of 10….

    We have 1 vehicle when 2 are needed…..

    The clinic is bursting at the seams.  On one occasion we had 12 patients admitted in a clinic that holds 9.  We need a mother’s shelter…we need more wards.

    We need more skilled staff and the money to pay them.  We need staff housing. We need another vehicle. We need Tonga Bibles.

    Right now our monthly budget is $2500….but we realistically need $5000 just to meet our monthly operating expenses…things like salaries, medications, formula for babies of HIV positive moms, inpatient food, lab reagents, office and cleaning supplies and diesel. And that doesn’t include repair and maintenance for either the vehicle or building. 

     

    We need your help.  First and foremost we need your prayers and then we need your financial support.   Together, we will see God’s purpose fulfilled….It’s says in His Word that His plan will not be thwarted.  This is an awesome work to be a part of….God is making a difference here.  Each and every day, we see His hand and if we look hard enough we see His face.  To think that God has called you or me to be His vessel in this ministry is very humbling.  Lots of times when we give our money to something….we never see where it goes or how it helps or even if it helps.  I am here to tell you your money here helps!!!  Your money here makes a BIG difference.  Your money feeds a belly, treats a wound, transports the sick and dying, safely delivers a baby, helps to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child, provides education and most importantly preaches the Gospel by word and deed. Sons of Thunder Medical Ministries is feeding Zambia physically and spiritually every day….you are always welcome to come and be a part of God’s hands and feet in this ministry. 

    Thank you.

     

    God Bless,

    Sal