BUSH BEAT: August 7th 2006
Operation Rescue Update in Meloco County, northern Mozambique
I just returned from my 2nd trip to Meloco where Operation Rescue has begun.
On July 22, 2006, we were well received by the county administrator, who was overwhelmed by our offer to help the 1000+ children who were orphaned in the last 2 years due to dysentery (killer diarrhea) caused by a lack of safe water. After checking our credentials, he radioed a message to us, saying we were welcome to come back to receive land & begin the project.
On Aug. 5, we were given permission to set up an immediate base on 2.5 acres of land just outside the main town. The legal process was begun to obtain 25 acres of land adjoining the land we were given. It is a beautiful forest area facing a 4,000 foot ridge of mountains in an area where over 500 orphans are struggling to survive.
Only 2 hand pump water wells exist to serve this entire area of over 5,000 people. Each well can adequately serve only 350 people a day. Many depend on hand dug water wells that are only 20-25 feet deep. This water is full of bacteria, & thus causes deadly dysentery as the water levels drop from July to December (dry season), & the bacteria becomes super concentrated.
American, Wilber Wilson, joining our team Aug. 23rd, & South African, Eric Dry, O.U.'s Associate Director in Mozambique, are both trained in water well drilling.
One of our objectives for Operation Rescue is to provide clean water to PREVENT FURTHER DEATHS due to bad water, & thus PREVENT more orphans.
The administrator is so excited about our water well drilling project that he wrote a letter to the state governor asking him to give us special permission to dig water wells for the public. Since we are a ministry & not a commercial company, we must have special permission to be able to drill wells, even if they are a gift to the public.
Sylvai (Syl-vi), our project manager trained by CARE International, & Pastor Albino from our Balama church, both well educated Mozambicans, will head this project. Orphans Unlimited purchased them a mud hut, & they are now living in Meloco. With the help of 10 men, they have begun to clear the land we were given so we can construct a rat proof food warehouse. The 124 tons of corn & beans which will feed the orphans for the next year has already been purchased with your generous love gifts, & is being stored in our Balama warehouse until the Meloco warehouse is completed.
Our 6 ton truck is standing by to transport it once all is ready.
Orphans Unlimited, known as Aguas Vivas in Mozambique, has teamed up with the only church in Meloco, to bring the love of Jesus to the children. Pastor Enrique of the Assembly of God has started a small church with 35 believers in Meloco.
He is alone, so with the help of Pastor Albino, they will start an outreach to the many orphans & disadvantaged children in the area. This area is the poorest of the poor in northern Mozambique, & there is little money or food. Elephants are the main terrorizers in this area, & have destroyed much of what is planted in outlying areas. On our 2nd trip we saw fresh elephant dung on the road in 2 places. Houses in remote areas outside of town have to be fortified with high bamboo & log walls against wild cats of all sizes including lion & leopard. The Niassa game reserve is only 25 miles west of this town, & the animals pay no attention to boundary lines.
PROBLEM:
The main bridge on the road to Meloco which crosses a river 50 yard wide, totally collapsed earlier this year due to flooding in the rainy season.
A river bed crossing area has been constructed with rocks, but we are not yet sure if our truck can cross it. Loaded it weighs 11 tons! The government reported last week that they have no funds to repair the bridge. This is a major obstacle to our program.
First, it means that no one can enter this area during the rainy season as the river is 15 feet deep & not passable except by boat.
Second, it means we will have to do some major work in double time in order to get the orphan's food to the warehouse BEFORE the rains start in mid November. If the truck can't get through the river bed, then we will have to find a smaller truck, or possibly haul our tractor & trailer to Meloco in order to relay the food to the warehouse.
Regular updates will be emailed to you as this exciting rescue attempt takes place. Please keep us in your prayers.
Nothing is too big for God, so pray that funds can be found to fix this bridge!
Thanks so much for all you do to help us bring the love of Jesus to the children of Mozambique.
Love in Christ,
Bush Bunny Brenda Lange
Orphans Unlimited, Inc.
Send LOVE GIFTS to:
Orphans Unlimited, Inc.
PMB #391
11152 Westheimer Rd.
Houston, TX 77042
Or donate online now.
LOVE GIFT SECRETARY
KAREN BROOKS
office@orphansunlimited.org
832-671-5530
PUBLIC RELATIONS SECRETARY:
LINDA FERGUSON
linda@eaglehill.com
979-234-2292
BRENDA LANGE
brenda@orphansunlimited.org
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