Loving Children

For those of you who don’t know my sister still lives in Zimbabwe. She is currently working as the administrator for a childrens home. She emailed me today with some sad and happy news. Please read the email copy below.

Dear Friends

It is with regret that this email carries the sad news of the sudden passing away of Baby Dalubuhle.  You will recall in my last newsletter the story of a very brave lady who had both arms amputated after falling into a fire during a seizure, this was Dalu’s mom.  A few weeks back we were able to take Dalu’s mom back to her home in Nkayi but due to her condition she was not able to return with Dalu.  She asked for him to remain with us until she settled and was able to come back and take him home.  Little did any of us know that Dalu would be called Home before this time!
Dalu came to our home in early September after being released from Mpilo where he was being treated for malnutrition, or should have been if there was sufficient feeding within the hospital.  Dalu’s story is one where remarkable improvement was seen within days of him receiving the love, care and nutrition any child should receive in reality, unfortunately circumstances here in Zimbabwe are not quite like that !
Anyway as I take a look back at the photos I have, and I’ve attached them for you too to appreciate, we can only be thankful to God for affording us the opportunity of caring for Dalu and to be able to give him a special quality of life in his last days here on Earth without knowledge of it.  I do not think we could have done any more than what we did for him even if we had of known these were his last days.
Dalu did not show any signs of being extremely ill in fact a few days prior to this we were playing with a ball on the floor of the toy room and he was chuckling away seemingly without a care in the world.

Playtime

He had two bottom teeth and was beginning to crawl, he had come so far from being the frail frame when he first came to thehome to now a chubby boy full of smiles.

When Dalu arrived

A little malnourished Dalu

After Two months

When Dalu was admitted to Mater Dei (a private hospital) he was experiencing very high temperatures which we could not control by medication, the diagnosis was pneumonia which caused his eventual death.
We are saddened by the loss of Dalubuhle and we ask that you pray for his family in the Nkayi Rural Area.  We shall be returning his body there tomorrow and ask that God go before our team and that His Holy Spirit be their strength.
As I often do in sad and difficult times I search my soul to find consolation that God is with us {strange how we question things in the midst of our weakest moment} and again I am able to see that God’s hand is with us always!  Whilst I worried about how we would fund a funeral when I have been struggling to meet our month-end commitments, an angel was sent with a donation for the home, to be used in which ever way the children would benefit.  Whilst I wrestled if this would be appropriate I called the donor and was told to use the money whichever way I saw fit, I knew this was God’s way of providing for us in this sad and difficult time.
May Dalubuhle’s soul rest in peace !
Luv ‘n’ friendship in the Lord always Sis’Bee XxXx

For me this reflects both the goodness and greatness of God. We got to share the life of one little boy who may have moved on but got to be loved by a community who cared enough to love in the midst of the darkness and need in Zimbabwe. These are my unsung heroes, the people who sacrifice their comfort to take care of those who do not have the ability to help themselves.

For those of you unaware of the situation in Zimbabwe here is a brief rundown.

Have the highest inflation rate in the world over 100 000%.

Currently in political turmoil.

Basic commodities are scarcely available as such people have to buy in foreign currency as the local curreny devalues so fast that by the time it gets to the bank the retailer will not be able to replenish his stock.

Banks limiting withdrawals of Z$14 million a day in perspective that is currently US$ 7. That is hardly enough to get a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk.

The basic infrastructure in the country is in major disrepair with daily powercuts sometimes as much as 12-16 hours a day in some places and 2 to 4 hours water supply once every 2 to 3 days.

My sister has to travel out of the country every month to go and purchase food supplies, medicines etc and her vehicle mileage has greatly increased. She recently had her tires stolen off her vehicle. It cost her almost US$ 800 to replace them. The average person there only earns between US$ 20 – US$100 a month.

If God places it on your heart to assist in some way leave a comment and I will be in touch. While I may never have had the chance to meet this little guy I do have a chance to introduce him to you. He was valuable enough to our Father to let him spend some time on the earth with us and to touch many lives with hope and joy.