Update 26th Jul 15

Kaylene and the ed team have been teaching them things which have purpose in their life. Here each of the kids had their height measured and they wrote it by their name. This is preparing them for the time we can get ID cards issued for them.

A name is your identity. Many of these children didn’t even know their names previously. They are so proud of their efforts.

Some of the 'school uniforms' may not pass inspection.

Tomasi has only used chalk and blackboard once before. There is some amazing potential in some of these kids if they only had opportunity.

School’s out. Time to pack everything away in the heli...

 . . . and head home.

Thank you.

Dean and Kaylene for the Mercy Air team 

Update 15th Jul 15

This was how their patch looked when we started back in May.

With some of this . . .

 . . . they produced this!

Dominga – one of the girls on the team, recently completed studies in agriculture and was able to pass on to the Luawe association improved methods for planting which enabled them to triple the number of plants per square metre when using irrigation!

Once shown, it was then their turn to do it themselves.

Unfortunately, the local bugs are also enjoying the new menu, so we are desperately trying to locate an insecticide that they can use to control this to ensure the success of the project.

Thank you.

Dean and Kaylene for the Mercy Air team.

Update 15th Jun 15

At the 'new' village of Nhacapale. People won’t  travel 5km to the nearest health centre because of the very real danger of crocs where they must cross the river.

While mums bring their children for vaccination and the medical team do consultations and wound care – many men of the village sit around the local distillery drinking. This is their 'still' for brewing alcohol from sugar cane.

Julio – the old man, too weak to walk, was wheeled to us on the back of a bike.

15 year old Aozolina, in great pain,  being carried to the helicopter by her mum.

Aozolina suffers from epilepsy. During a seizure, she had rolled into the cooking fire and had severe burns down her back, neck & head. These burns were weeks old and badly infected. Due to isolation and ignorance, her family had not sought medical help for her. She is now at Marromeu hospital receiving treatment.

Thank you.

Dean and Kaylene for the Mercy Air team

Update 7th June 15

In our May outreach to the Zambezi Delta, we flew 163 flights into 23 different villages. While the new irrigation pumps project seems like the highlight, we also did 5 medevacs. One of them a 55 year old man, Armando Joni. Emaciated and incapacitated for 2 weeks with a huge, rapidly growing abscess on his liver. He is making a remarkable recovery and now staying with his son near Marromeu while he recovers.

The village of Molicholo continues to welcome the Bible teaching program very enthusiastically. Large numbers of people continue to meet with each visit and engage in intelligent question asking and learning. Pray this will continue.

In pain and barely able to move for 2 weeks with a huge, rapidly growing  abscess on his liver

With a hastily constructed stretcher, friends carried Armando 25 minutes to the helicopter.

At Marromeu hospital, they drained over 2 litres of fluid out of the abscess. Within days he was up and about. With anti-biotics Armando is well on his way to recovery.

The new treadle irrigation pump being put to use at Nensa.

Everyone wants to have a go!

Time for small group discussions at the village of Molicholo. This place is amazing! They stand out amongst other villages where we have worked.

Thank you,

Dean and Kaylene for the Mercy Air team

Opportunity for Short Term Missions

 

Update 31st May 15

In April we introduced the 'water pump project' in partnership with ASAM & YWAM missions. We’ve now got these irrigation pumps operating in 3 villages and this looks like it has the potential to become a huge success. These foot treadle pumps can lift water vertically up to 7 metres and distribute it up to 54 metres.

The concept is - interested groups have to form an 'association' to manage the operation of the pump and the farm. They must agree by contract to create a community garden where they can grow vegetables which will supplement their diet and provide income through selling the surplus. 10% of this produce must provide for widows and orphans in the village. The pump will enable them to continue growing healthy vegetable crops through the dry season – exciting new possibilities.

We provide the first lot of seed, then they will keep seed from plants grown for future planting. To avoid problems associated with 'giving' stuff – we retain ownership of the pumps and if they fail to fulfil the agreed conditions of their contract, we may give the pump to another community. Pray that their enthusiasm for this concept will be sustained.

The Ag team arrive in Luawe village with the first irrigation pump in the delta.

We instructed them how to reinforce the sides of their wells to stop the sand perpetually caving in.

Several in the community (including mamas) – chosen by the 'association', are instructed how to disassemble, reassemble, service and repair the pump.

The first ever pump irrigation in the delta and their new community garden. Still a work in progress, but an exciting day.

Water under pressure is a new concept. By the time everyone had finished squirting each other, the well was dry! They still have work to do to deepen it.

This pump is beside the Zambezi river at Luabo. Previously they had to lift buckets by hand up this 7 metre bank to irrigate the orphanage garden. Crocs are a good motivation not to fall in!

Jannie’s orphanage garden by the Zambezi helps feed 22 kids. Previously irrigated by carrying buckets of water from the river.

Thank you.

Dean and Kaylene for the Mercy Air team.

Update 24th May 15

One of our highlights is taking people back to their village with restored health following a medevac. One week after we brought out little Akimo, hanging onto life by a thread, we took him and his mum back to their village of Nkonde. A week of malaria treatment and care has restored this little guy’s life.

This last week has been Government vaccination campaign. I’ve taken 2 teams from 2 provincial hospitals into 4 villages most days and vaccinated over 4,000 women and children.

Plus, I did another 3 medevacs this week.

The bible teaching program in the village of Malicholo continues with increasing interest from folks each day. 78 people gathered on Thursday to watch the team role play the story of Noah and then break into small groups for discussion. There are a few educated people in this village and it seems to function well. They are asking for schooling. Pray that we will know how best to engage with this village. 

Government vaccination campaign week. Hundreds turned out in many villages.

The start of the rice harvest. An exciting time for many.

The story of Noah being acted out for an enthusiastic Moslem audience in the village of Molicholo.

Little Akimo arrived home fit and well after a week.

This is why access is so difficult in the delta. The area is riddled with these.

Medevac of 45 year old Virginia with a huge cancerous growth on her leg.

Kids pull their weight around here.

Thank you.

Dean & Kaylene for the Mercy Air team

Update 17th May 15

There’s no evidence that the political situation mentioned last week has deteriorated past talk, however there are rumblings and fear in the villages out in the delta.

The bible teaching program was initiated in a new village this week [Malocholo]. It turns out they were very receptive to the Bible teaching program and want more! Please pray this will continue well.

When I dropped Kaylene and the education team in the village of Nkonde, we were pursued by a woman pleading for help with a semi-conscious 3 year old – Akimo. He’d been in this state for 3 days and having convulsions. He was in advanced stages of malaria. We flew him to Marromeu hospital where Leanna was not optimistic he would make it through the night. It took some time to get an IV into him, but yesterday he had 'turned the corner' and we are hopeful he may have a future.

Kaylene has the pleasure of teaching not just kids. Some have a few years of schooling.

Lots of kids are absent from school. They spend hours each day in these little watch towers frightening off birds by bashing tin cups together. The rice is nearly ready for harvest.

Gloria holding little Akimo - explaining his symptoms. Maria takes time to pray first.

Ali on the satellite phone describes Akimo’s symptoms to Leanna back at Marromeu.

Little Akimo totally unresponsive in his Dad’s arms at the helicopter.

Nurse Leanna meets us at the helipad back at Marromeu and takes 3 yr old Akimo [and mum Torina] to hospital.

Thank you.

Dean and Kaylene for the Mercy Air team.