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check out martin in action!!! | | |
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Meet brothers Martin Banga and Samuel Hakeem. They arrived as orphans at here at Harvesters one month ago. Martin and Samuel’s mother was brutally beaten to death by their alcoholic step-father in the village. Their biological father abandoned the family years ago. Although Martin is nine years old, he is considerably small in stature and appears more like five years old due to a medical condition known as rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the body’s immune system to attack the joints resulting in painful inflammation and eventu ally joint deformities. Martin often suffers extreme bouts of pain in his joints, confining him to be bed or chair bound for days. This debilitating disease, however, does not stop Martin from smiling and joking around! Martin has the brightest, most contagious smile of all the children on the compound, not to mention the whitest teeth. Martin is extremely gifted by the Lord in the arts. He spends his leisurely time drawing for hours on end. Whether it’s with a stick in the dirt or a broken crayon on a scrap of cardboard, I’m always amazed at the creativity in his masterpieces!! Yesterday he made a model car for me out of two tin cans, fully equipped with windshield wipers! He is a very giving boy, always bringing me his magnificent artwork. Little did I imagine the medical clinic would one day also be an art gallery! Samuel is a healthy seven year old. Like most of our orphan boys, Samuel is an exceptional football player, even with no shoes! He’s quick and agile on his feet and will kick your butt at football any day…believe me. Off the field, Samuel has a very sweet and considerate demeanor. He is always looking out and caring for his brother, Martin. He often helps Martin fetch bath water or brings Martin food during supper. The other day, when Martin’s banana (a priceless treat for the orphans) fell on the ground, Samuel gave him his. Martin and Samuel do not have sponsors yet. If you would like to sponsor Martin and/or Samuel, let me know and I will give you the appropriate contact information. | | |
| Much spiritual warfare right now! We need your prayers. Satan is trying to get a grip on this place, but he has no hold. We have power and authority in the name of Jesus Christ. Please pray God will especially strengthen and encourage the missionaries as we serve the Sudanese people. Intercede for us right now. We do not wrestle against flesh an blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age. -Eph 6:12 | | |
| Meet Imelda and Nadia. I've known them since last September. Imelda always seems to be giving thanks to the Lord, even though she literally has no posessions except two mud huts and a few cooking accessories. Nadia is Imelda's youngest child of five. Imelda's husband has been away for the past eight months serving as a soldier for SPLA. Imelda works everyday by filling and carrying jerry cans of water to locals in the area for a few shillings each day. She does not produce breast milk anymore. Nadia is almost 11 months old and weighs only 10 lbs. 
Praise God. He is providing Imelda with free baby formula to feed her malnourished daughter through our clinic here. Nadia has already gained a pound since she started taking in baby formula last week. The joy of the Lord is Imelda's strength. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lak nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. -Ps 34:4-10 | | |
| Aaron Mawa, our active and determined four-year old orphan boy, developed a deformity in his left leg, making him severely knock-kneed. Aaron’s leg deformity worsened over the past few months and even started affecting his posture. Mama Lilly and I knew Aaron needed intervention soon, so I took Aaron to Kampala, Uganda to see what options were available for Aaron late March. Even before Aaron and I stepped foot into Kampala, God had gone before us. The first doctor we saw said, “You are bringing this orphan before Jesus just like the paralytic friends brought the paralytic before Jesus. There is help for this boy.” God answered our prayers as we were referred to an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Francheschi, who serves with Christian Blind Mission (CBM). Dr. Francheschi performed Aaron’s surgery, and the full cost of the operation was paid for by CBM! Praise the Lord, our Provider! He provided all of the resources, people and talents for Aaron’s leg to get well. I found great joy in taking care of Aaron after his surgery - from making sure he was comfortable, feeding him, teaching him how to walk with his cast, playing with him and praying with him. God’s words of “look after orphans in their distress” have especially pressed on my heart during the time I helped Aaron through rehabilitation. Aaron is doing well today. You would have never guessed he had major orthopedic surgery on his leg and was bound in a full leg cast for 6 weeks. Aaron is energetically running around Harvesters compound more than he ever has! Since surgery corrected Aaron’s left leg deformity, not only is he more active, but his posture has significantly improved. No longer is he standing in the C-shaped curve that was so characteristic of him before, but now he stands with perfect, straight posture! Praise God for completely healing Aaron’s leg!  
Aaron before surgery... Aaron after surgery! | | |
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