07/30/2010
Dear Prayer Warriors,
Praise and Prayer Report from Dick Ackley about his Africa trip
Lusa Home Based Care is a ministry to at-risk kids – orphans and neglected children. One of the unique aspects of Lusa (which means Mercy in the local language) is they not only reach out to needy children, but also to needy families in the area. Roughly 20 volunteers (Caregivers) – many of whom are widows – spend many hours each week walking to various villages in the area to visit, encourage, and take medicine and basic supplies to families devastated by HIV and AIDS. These ladies are volunteers who also help cook for the children. These and other volunteers come and help with money-raising projects. Raising about 500 chickens, 5 fish farms, a vegetable farm, making and selling tie-dye and jewelry are some of these projects. These help to make Lusa self supporting while also meeting the needs of these precious Caregivers.
Lusa Home Based Care was begun in 2003 by Mama Yoba and her husband, who has since passed away. Mama Yoba and her assistants are under the authority of a Board which includes a local pastor and SIM missionary, Heather Bruce. A young couple, Luke & Tiffany Wessler, are planning to move there in November to assist in various ways. This will remain a grass roots effort, but there are areas where SIM can assist in a partnership role.
We loved playing with the 70 kids at Lusa, but our focus was intentionally placed on the Caregivers. These ladies have plenty of needs of their own, yet they spend many hours reaching out to who Jesus called, “the least of these”. They sacrifice greatly to serve those who can’t give back. What a joy it was to get them together one day and do my very best to tell them how honored they are in heaven! Little known on earth, but heroes in heaven.
One day our team joined them as they visited families in 8 villages in the area. As we started, Mama Yoba – no spring chicken herself – verbally wondered if we would be up to the trek. I thought, “If you can do it, we can do it.” By the 8th village - I along with at least some of my teammates - was “sucking air”. I looked at Mama Yoba who was striding out like she did from the beginning. Not only was her stamina impressive. I was very impressed with Mama Yoba’s sincere care, grace, and much wisdom in dealing with each desperate situation.
At one home where a grandmother was raising a dozen children in a hut smaller than our living room, we discovered one little girl who had burned her arm in some porridge the night before (the girl at the bottom right in picture at the right). Our nurse determined that it was a serious burn and needed immediate attention. We were able to get her medical help and pray with her and her family. In another village a grandmother told us how the shingles on half of her roof were going to be taken back by a local Catholic church that had given her the shingles, but now needed them back! One story after another broke our hearts. With each one we cried out to God for mercy on the family. How grateful we were to these Caregivers for faithfully serving these needy and hurting people in the name of Jesus.
One of the many impressions our team had was, in spite of extreme poverty and desperate problems, how much joy and sincere gratitude was displayed by each family. I think we were a blessing; I know that we were blessed! R
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Praise and Prayer Report - Chuck Rheam at CenterPointe Church in Chula Vista, CA
Thank you for praying for our CBSM youth last week as they were on mission in California. They have made it back safely and had a great time canvassing the area with information about the church and its new location. Pray that God would use the team's efforts to distribute literature to bring many to the church and that they would enter into a relationship with Jesus. Pray that the church members would be willing to follow-up and disciple these new believers. Pray that the church would grow and continue to be a light in the Chula Vista area for Jesus. Continue to pray for Chuck and his staff that they would grow and mature in their walk with Christ so they can give the positive and uplifting leadership needed to the church.
Let them run and not grow weary. ______________________________________________________________________
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