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BUSH BEAT: June 2004
BACK TO THE BUSH!
Gerald and I finally arrive back in Balama on May 10th and it
was really good to get HOME! Within a week, we had broken
ground to build our new home and had the building supplies
coming in by truck. As of June 13th, the walls of our 3 room
brick home are up to window level. If all goes according to
plan, it should be finished by August. Living in a tiny mud
hut (10 ft. X 15 ft.) with room for only a double bed and small table, makes life interesting. If I want something
from my dresser, I have to ask Gerald to move his chair. A
real TEST of TOGETHERNESS!
The USA tour, followed by the sudden change to Moz.
culture, was a challenge to both of us, but we are quickly
becoming a strong team.
Gerald has been busy learning Portuguese, rescuing the Village of
Love, and doing all the everyday chores that makes this mission
tick with efficiency.
WE BOTH send our THANKS for all your love, prayers, and support!
VILLAGE OF LOVE TO BE SALVAGED
Just 2 days before our TX wedding in Feb., the South African
couple who had been managing the VOL sent us their resignation
with a 30 day notice. Eric Dry, our team mechanic from RSA,
flew up at our request and helped my Moz. pastors get things
organized, and keep the children from hunger and neglect.
Pastor Eugenio stayed behind to operate the small orphanage of 14
kids until we could decide what to do with the program. We
had no one to run it, and Pastor Eugenio couldn't stay past
June. After much prayer, phone calls, and e-mails, a solution
was found.
In late May, Gerald and Pastor Mussa traveled to Majune to meet
the Living Water's National Director, (our church covering in Moz.)
for an inspection of the project. The Director, Pastor Phiri,
decided to send one of his pastors to manage the small church and orphanage if we could continue to sponsor the kids. We
agreed to try this for 1 year as most of the kids are finishing
high school in Nov. and will be able to be on their own.
We are very happy that God has sent someone to care for those
kids.
BIG SNAKE STORY, NO JOKE!
When we broke ground for the house, we disturbed the hunting
ground of the local 7 ft. rock python, with a body as thick as a
man's upper arm. It let us know in definite terms that the
shade trees where we were building was IT'S GROUND and it
planned to stay there. The first day, it appeared late
afternoon as the men finished work. It had caught a house
cat nearby, and was busy swallowing it whole. Two days
later, it appeared early morning, headed for the door of our new
house. Since it was cold and the snake was sluggish, our
guard took a risk and whacked it unconscious, then cut it's head
off. This is the first I've seen this type. They do
have venom, but it isn't deadly. I don't like choking hugs,
so am glad I won't have to deal with that at my front door!
(THE JOSEPH PLAN)
BUY IT and PUT IT IN THE STOREHOUSE FOR THE
TIME OF HUNGER!
It's food buying time for our "family
of 400-500". Here you buy everything you need at the
May harvest, as it is all sold off and exported to feed other
countries by September.
Our seasons are opposite to the northern hemisphere.
We plant in Dec. and reap in May. It's the busiest time of
the year for us as our crew of 14 men have to weigh, sack, and haul over 100 TONS of dried food into our warehouses. We can
process about 7 tons a day, making it a month long project.
The harvest was good for the first time in 4 years (Praise
the Lord), making the job easier than usual.
OUR YEARLY BASIC FOOD NEEDS for the children, widows, and the malnourished are:
70 tons of corn ($10,600)
20 tons of beans (2 kinds) ($3,060)
2 tons of peanuts ($320)
10 tons of rice ($1,720)
Labor $500 total= $16,200 or approx. $50/child/year for their
basic food.
Your monthly support also provides them with meat,
vegetables, cooking oil, salt, sugar, soap, toothpaste with brush,
bed and full bedding, school supplies and medical care.
Wouldn't you like to be able to raise your child to adulthood for
only $360 for the year?
WE OWE A BIG THANKS TO ALL WHO SPONSOR THE CHILDREN and GIVE
INTO OUR GENERAL FUND. WITHOUT YOUR HELP, BUYING THIS MUCH
FOOD AT HARVEST TIME WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
SPONSORS FOR ORPHANS ARE STILL NEEDED.
Due to rising prices for food and the essentials
listed above, raising a child has gone to $30/month both in Moz. and
Zambia. If you'd like to sponsor an orphan, then
please put in a note with your first month's gift of $30 and you
will soon receive a photo of your child. These kids need
your prayers.
BELOW IS INFORMATION JUST RECEIVED FROM THE PASTOR IN ZAMBIA
WHO IS CARING FOR THE 250+ ORPHANS IN NDOLA.
(From Pastor George, written in his own words)
I am so thankful for the approval of the children's blankets as it
is really a big need at the moment. Many of the children are sick
with coughs because of sleeping without covers in these cold
months. (The BLANKETS, a gift to all our orphans in Moz. and Zambia from Northcoast Christian Center in Sandusky, Ohio).
"Under the tree school". I would like to take this
opportunity to inform you that the teacher of the under the tree
school died two weeks ago. A very hard working and full of
generosity man, may our good Lord remember for his work towards
the vulnerable and orphans.
We told the Government that our role was to supplement the
effort of the Government through Orphans Unlimited to respond to
the needy of the orphans as they are the future of Zambia (some
days ago I received on three occasions three abused girl
children.
(1). a 12 year old girl pregnant with no shelter no guardian
(2). A 13 year old girl in the same situation
(3) a 9 year old girl infected with STDs (sexually transmitted
diseases) living in a tunnel with other 32 children
(26 boys and 6 girls).
The stories never cease to amaze me as to what these kids have to
deal with just to survive.
PRAYER REQUEST: We have received an application
from a lovely ZAMBIAN, Christian couple, who are interesting in
administrating the Zambian school and helping Pastor George with
the orphans. We plan to meet with them in Zambia in August.
This couple will need support to work as missionaries as they have
no income. Your prayers for our discernment in this matter
would be greatly appreciated, as we have no missionary to over see
this program at this time. For a strong program, we need an
educated, honest, person who has the capacity to operate the
school and orphan's program. It is more than Pastor George
can manage as he now has more than 260 kids in his care.
LITTLE MADELINA--STAR OF THE BUSH BUNNY MOVIE SHOWN ON USA TOUR
In the movie, do you remember the little 10 lb. orphan girl,
now 3.5 years old, suspected of having AIDS? (Aids babies seldom
live past 2.5 years, so she is truly a Jesus miracle)
Thanks to the immune booster she is on, she is gaining weight,
standing, playing, and showing much more strength than ever
before. Many have asked about her, so just wanted to give
you the PRAISE REPORT!
VISITORS ON THE HORIZON
1. The Moz. President has delayed his visit, but is suppose
to come within the next month.
2. June 17, sees the arrival of 4 American women who will be
helping out with the pre-school and evangelistic programs.
RADHIKA, from Tulsa, who came last year is
returning for a 2nd time.
SARAH, 19, has requested to stay for 2 years and
help with the kids. She is the daughter of Daniel and Anne Boley of San Antonio, who have just returned from a 5
year missions assignment in Belgium.
HEIDI, social services background, who is here
to scout the land for possible full time commitment.
JUDY, pre-school teacher, to help us better
train our teachers in the new pre-school.
3. July 3rd sees the arrival of:
ERIC, South African mechanic with a heart for Moz. and
showing the Jesus Film.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE LOTS OF HELP ON THE WAY! EXCITING TIMES
AHEAD AS WE HIT THE BUSH WITH THE JESUS FILM IN JULY!
LOVE and HUGS,
BBBrenda and Gerald Campbell
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