BUSH BEAT: March/April 2005

BUSH BUNNY BACK IN BALAMA

The March 9th surgery on my right shoulder was successful this time, PTL! The 2 hour procedure included removing the top head of the bicep from the shoulder and screwing it to the top of the arm bone (humorous). Then they got out the bone cutter and snipped off the end of the collar bone to give my shoulder muscles more room to move. Glad I slept through it as was no joy when I woke up. I healed rapidly, and was released to fly to Moz. on March 25th. MAF Mozambique did the honors o flying me and the 600 lbs of supplies safely to the remote landing strip at Montepuez, just 30 miles from Balama. Since I was still quite sore, and in an arm sling, the TLC of MAF was considered less risky for me than trying to maneuver through the crowds of 3 airports. The entire staff and many friends were waiting with a welcome home greeting. It's nice to be loved and appreciated.

HOPPING INTO THE VISION IN 2005

Our all new website is really something to see and fully reveals the vision!  New photos, 7 min. video, and lots of new info! It's a gift from Stacey Dyer, professional designer. Thanks Stacey, for this awesome gift that will reach 1000's!

Those who saw me on tour know that Orphans Unlimited is being registered as a Christian NGO (Non Government Organization) in Mozambique. This means we can do humanitarian aid and construction in a larger way than a church. This is a must, as the large foundations who desire to help us fund this vision are only able to release funds to NGOs.
For further details on the vision, click here.

"No Compromise" is O.U.'s motto. The vision is the Lord's, and His word and His love is being spread via our pastors and staff in every project we do. It is required that all the incoming project supervisors be Christians to assure that the love of Jesus is revealed in every project. Interviews are in progress (see positions needed below).

The President of Moz. visited Balama in early March, landing his entourage in 4 helicopters on the town's soccer field. Eric was present, and said it really excited the people as most have never seen a helicopter. Four at once would be enough excitement for anyone (the dust must have kept anyone sneezing for at least an hour!)

The County Administrator explained our vision to the President, and he was very excited and encouraging. He especially asked us to not delay with the Industrial School/Jobs Creation Program, and the extension of our school boarding facility. He stated that both these projects are needed urgently to curb the hopelessness the kids feel because no jobs exist in northern Mozambique.

We are very pleased that he gave the vision personal recognition. This was a divine appointment, and we believe a key to receiving future favor for more open doors with this government.

STAFF NEEDED ASAP 

O.U.'s staff has never waited for "buildings or for everything to be perfect" as programs are our emphasis. The same is true with this vision. We take what the Lord provides, as He provides it, and get the program rolling. As we wait on the NGO documents to be completed, we have started clearing the ground for construction of staff housing on our secure 40 acre farm. Our 15 older orphan boys are on a 2 week school break, and are providing part of the man power to get the land cleared. They are so excited about the Industrial School, that they want to speed up the process any way they can. Eric already started the computer classes with the 2 used laptops that have been donated. He holds impromptu mechanic lessons as the opportunity arises. All O.U. staff tutor the kids in English as we work with them. Our kids are as precious to us as yours are to you, and we want them to have every chance at a good future.

Long and Short Term Staff needed:

Long term is 1 year or longer. Short term is 30-90 days. More info.

1. Construction Supervisor - You don't need to be an expert or licensed. I started with barn building skills, and look where God took me!  If you know the basics, have a heart for God's work, and a teachable attitude, that's all we need.

2. Sports evangelism/Youth leader - Our teenage orphan group is growing rapidly. We can reach 1000's of kids with this program, but need a strong evangelistic leader to get it organized district wide.

3. Nurse for Nutritional Program - the corn and bean harvest was poor this year, and we are expecting a large influx of malnourished children in the next few months.

4. Orphan Supervisor - as our program grows from 150+ orphans to 1000 county wide, we need someone to oversee the homes, and train up the mothers in proper child care.

5. Agricultural Supervisor- to handle the training of our orphans in greenhouse skills, gardens, and poultry projects as well as handle our 40 acres farm and missionary green house. If you want veggies around here, you have to grow them.

6. Computer teacher for the Industrial School. Don't need professionals, just people with a knowledge of computers who can share it with others.

7. English teacher - If you speak it, you can teach it. We'll show you how!

8. Preschool supervisor - to train preschool teachers so we can start more Christian preschools in the county. Our orphans are doing very well in first grade this year, thanks to Judy Doxiter and her 3 helpers who organized this program in 2004.

VISION FILM TO BE MADE IN LATE APRIL

Ministry Film maker, Britt Jones of Colorado Springs, is in the area and has offered to schedule us in. This updated film will give you a better grasp of the programs in progress since 2003 (when the last film was shot). It will also reveal how the new programs we are adding will reduce the orphan problem and raise up the new Jesus generation in Northern Mozambique. Changing a nation, means educating the kids in the way they should go. If they have no parents, then someone else must step in and do it or chaos will reign.

BOSBEER PRODUCTIONS! 

(Making a visual/verbal Bible course for the unreached Makua people.)

Eric's nickname is Bosbeer (Baas-beer) which is Afrikaans for Bush Bear. He is attempting what no one else has even fathomed, translating and dramatizing the Firm Foundation Bible lessons in the Makua language! It is a monumental task that he and our Pastors have taken to heart. Using a digital video camera and digital microphone, the pastors translate the script, set up the scenes, then Bosbeer films and edits it on his laptop in his own little Balama Studio. It will be available to all missionaries working with the 5 million Makua tribe as he gets each disk completed. This course takes new believers from Genesis through the New Testament, showing people in unreached areas (especially Muslim areas) why God had to send Jesus into the world. Most cannot read, and this is the fastest way we've found to disciple them.

NOTE: Eric's church, Raslouw Dutch Reform, RSA, has approved him working full time in Mozambique this year. This is a real blessing to all of us as this man is a jack of all trades like I've never seen. God has really blessed him with many talents.

BUSH BUNNY TIDBITS

1. May 2005 harvest looks bleak for corn, beans, and sorghum (for making baby food). Too much rain in Dec./Jan., and not enough in Feb./March. Please help us pray in the 80 TONS of corn and 25 TONS of beans, the MINIMUM it takes to feed our kids for a year. It goes without saying
that the price of food will increase this year. A friend of ours with a 3 ton truck will help by buying from the villages in early June, before the exporters come in to buying up all they can.

2. Lola Onkala coming May 14th to work with the orphans for 3 months. Lola, a Christian American, MK (missionary kid), and recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, was directed by the Lord to work in Moz. She located us via our website. I look forward to working with her, as she comes highly recommended by our USA interviewer, Heidi Harsha.

3. Madelina, our recovering AIDS baby, is doing great. It is wonderful to see her as an active 3 year old, since she was too weak to walk last Sept. On Sundays, she boldly struts around the church looking for hugs. In Feb., Eric informed me that Sylvino, a 7 year old orphan living in the same house as Madelina, suddenly lost the use of his legs without reason. No one could figure it out, so the doctor had Eric build a child size parallel bar to help him exercise. When he wouldn't do his exercises, Madelina would grab his hand and pull him up to make him walk! Everyone was amazed, and it tells me she will be one tough woman of God some day. Obstacles will be no barrier to that determined little girl. Sylvino recovered after much prayer and several weeks of therapy. We still have no idea what caused it.

4. Orphans Unlimited is now a licensed ministry in Zambia, PTL!!!! This is opening doors to help more kids!

Because an NGO needs 2 leaders for reasons of security with the funds, the O.U. board asked Eric Dry to accept this responsibility. His 2 years in Balama has truly show that he has "caught the vision" and is sold out to what God wants him to do to help our kids (as you can see from the stories above). After much prayer, he accepted the position of Assistant Director of the Balama Project. God confirmed it in his heart that this was where He wanted him. His missions committee approved it the last week of March. It thank God for his ever faithful help over the past 2 years and for many more to come. 

Love and hugs, Bush Bunny Brenda and the Balama Staff

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