Dear Family & Praying Friends,
This is going to be a different monthly prayer letter in that it is a PLEA letter.
"You shall comfort and assist them, and be ready upon all occasions to show them kindness."
(Matthew Henry's Commentary)
January was a hard month for the orphanage at Mapanga. During this one month we were compelled to take 56 children to Chiradzulu District Hospital due to malaria, colds or flu. These were the children bad enough to be taken to the hospital and does not take into account the many children that we tried to nurse ourselves. I believe with all my heart the one dominating factor is the lack of nutrition due to our food menu we have been forced to adopt. Over the last year many people who had committed to the care of these kids have been forced, or chosen to quit sending aid for the kids. We have 101 children that depend on us and it tugs on the string of our hearts when we see the kids getting sick and we know with a proper diet it could very well be averted.
Let me give you a glimpse of what a child gets in one week for his/her meal.Approximately one and one half cups rice (Sunday only)
4 eggs (2 on Tuesday & 2 on Thursday)
1 cup beans
1 cup small dried fish
1/3 cup of milk (that's right: for one week)
Rice porridge at every meal except on Sundays (This is called Nsima, (the national food) and it has very little nutritional value. It is eaten as a filler to make the children feel full.) A mixture of vegetable greens, onions, ground nuts and tomatoes they call "relish" to be eaten with the Nsima.
Hot tea with sugar
Water to drink with their meal
THEY DO NOT GET:
Red meat of any kind Chicken or fowl
Fruit Bread
Noodles or other types of starches Hot or cold cereals
Snacks, treats or desserts Flavored drinks; only water
January was a deciding month, Darcy and I knew we had to change the meal plan, so we have revised our menu and starting February 15th, we have implemented a new menu aimed at increasing the nutritional intake of each child. The children will be receiving:
2 fruits every day
1 1/2 cups of milk a week
4 eggs a week
9 oz of red meat a week
Chicken once a week
Noodles with beef once during the week
Hot cereal with raisins twice a week
A larger quantity of small fish in their relish
Beans with beef soup bones once a week
One slice of bread every day
More vegetables & less Nsima during the week
Nutritious baked rolls for snacks, made at the orphanage
We are trusting God to touch the hearts of people to help us with this meal menu for the children. It is still lacking, but it will give them the marginal nutritional values that they need. What if 350 families would be willing to give $10.00 per month for this need? This would cover the increase in our monthly food budget for the kids. If you believe God is leading you to help please send your donations to:
Victory World Outreach
P O Box 4403
Milton, Fl. 32572
Please designate your donations as "Orphan Food" and send an email to us at john@raisingagodlyheritage.org to let us know what has been given so that we can plan accordingly.
If we believe the Bible is /God's Word, and He many times shows that His Heart is for orphans shouldn't our hearts also be towards the widows, afflicted and orphaned? God has chosen to work through His people and I pray that when He talks to you in "that still small voice" you will listen and obey!
If we believe the Bible is /God's Word, and He many times shows that His Heart is for orphans shouldn't our hearts also be towards the widows, afflicted and orphaned? God has chosen to work through His people and I pray that when He talks to you in "that still small voice" you will listen and obey!
PRAYER REQUEST:
1. Health and support for our orphans
2. Rufina, one of our HIV kids that is going through a tough time
3. Health and safety for our family.
By His Grace & Mercy
John, Darcy,Elizabeth, Sarah & Johnathan
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