Newsletter

August 2001

Dear Friends,

Well here we are at last. So much to tell you because it has been a while since I last wrote about the comings and goings of Kondanani. I will never loose the moments when I stand in awe of our father God, and His greatness towards us, His faithfulness towards the ones He has called and His provision to fulfil that call.

It is so special to be able to fulfil that call. A few days ago little Pieterson came to join the big Kondanani family, what a beautiful child, 1 year old and yet no mummy to care for him she died of Aids, the father is still alive and who knows for how long. The father had no choice but to bring his child to us as he was unable to care for the little one, the Welfare told us that both the father and mother where orphaned and there was no family left because of the AIDS epidemic. What touched me was, that when the father left after we had bathed his child and shown him where his little bed was, the hopelessness and pain in his eyes, having to leave his child with strangers he had never met before. We assured him that his baby will be well cared for and loved.

Our little Agnes needed a lot of prayer, she always had her tongue outside of her mouth and we wondered what was wrong with her, we spoke to the doctor about it but she did not seem to worried, the amazing thing was that when she smiled her tongue would go into her mouth. We are rejoicing now because it seems that all of a sudden she has stopped the habit and keeps her tongue where it should be, well we say thank you Jesus .Our babies are very important to us.

Malawi women give birth to many twins, in fact it is quite incredible how many twin are born 4 in every 10 births. Sadly one of the twins is often positive if the mother was positive and died in childbirth. A few weeks ago Florence and Chrissie arrived they where a week old, their father had died before they where born and the mother died in childbirth. Florence did not look very good to begin with but we always hope that WE will win the battle for these little lives. As I have shared with you before the agony and pain of a baby with full blown Aids is hard to bear, little Florence is now in the Heavenly Nursery safely in The Arms of Jesus, but the pain and agony that proceeded her departure was very painful. It soon appeared that Chrissie was not well either, but thank God we pulled her through and she is H I V negative and is growing, something to rejoice about.

OUR NEW BABY HOUSE.

We moved and what an easy move it was. With plenty of cooperation of the staff at "Caring Hands Infant Home " we made the move in less than a day. There were some volunteers helping which was great. When I entered the kitchen at three of clock in the afternoon it looked as if nothing had ever changed everything was in order. The rest took about two days to get organised. Bravo for the kitchen staff. Just imagine moving a whole orphanage with at that time 43 children.

It is quite an exercise I can tell you. The children had to settle down in rooms they where not used to but with love and care it all got sorted out. It looks so wonderful, we now have our very own house, it is very big we have already increased to 50 children and we are able to take care of 65 at this house. A while ago I gave away an overhead projector, it really was a seed, we needed incubators and the Lord put it on my heart to sow the projector as it where, into the lives of a some missionaries who needed it. It was not long before the news off an incubator on it's way, was coming in, but it got stolen and the second one too, can you believe it. That did not stop me from believing God for more to come, after all He had promised, and guess what we now have THREE incubators.

Our very tiny 2 or 3 pound babies have a very warm place to lay their head. It gives me a lot more peace as well knowing that they will be better cared for. The new house is being painted at present, I wanted that done so badly, it had not been done for 9 years, every time I arrived I was unhappy about the outside of the house, the inside was all done up for our little blessings, but for me I had to do the outside. As soon as it is done we will show the new photo's, watch this space.

KONDANANI CHILDREN"S VILLAGE.

Keith and Eleanor our missionaries are back on the job. They left last year in December to go to New Zealand and came back in the beginning of June 2001. The devil really has put up a fight as far as the Village is concerned. But I will repeat it until it is finished "The Village will be built ". The walk of faith is an obstacle race, but faith and trust in God and His promises remove these obstacles.

The mission house is ready and Keith and Eleanor have moved in already, the Children's clinic will open in September 2001. We will be blessed by two highly qualified nursing sisters from Ireland who will come and spent 3 weeks with us, they will have plenty of work on their hands. The women in the surrounding villages are threatening to come to the clinic to have their babies and although we have told them it is only for children below the 5 age group, I think we are going to be surprised at times, we are going to find them turn up at the gate and they won't be able to go any further, well when that happens we will deal with it, I hope to be around if that happens it will be fun.

It looks as if our first house will be ready for occupation by October. The first ten children will move in with their new mum and dad, it will take some getting used to, it is a cruel world really and yet we do the best we can but nothing can take away the agony of being an orphan. We trust Father for their future and believe that our babies will feel loved and cared for. Things go VERYYYYYYY slow in Malawi, far to slow for my temperament, but what can I do. We have dug the foundations of another two houses and we hope to start laying the foundations soon. We have dug two bore holes with hand pumps, when the electrics fail us, and this happens so often, we won't be without water.

VOLUNTEERS

God has at last heard my cry for help in the office it became a bit much. Rene Els Has joined us as my Executive Assistant. The first time she met me was at the God Digital TV station in the UK and the Lord really placed it on her heart to come and join us, her work permit in the UK could not be renewed. She came highly recommended and I am so happy to have her.

Dianne from Canada is with us for a period of three months, she is hoping to come back after her three months and is helping with the babies at Caring Hands.

I had a great time in the UK and was truly blessed as the people opened their hearts to bless our babies financially. Any one can understand that it cost a lot to keep the work going. He who calls is faithful. We had some interesting situation though. I love to tell the people what God has done for us, I have difficulty pleading poverty with such a great God on our side, I rather highlight the great things He is doing for us. But to some people this is strange. It appears that people would rather I show videos and photos with children who look malnourished and wearing rags, living in broken down orphanages. Of course I would never show anything like that, what is the point of taking care of babies and have them live in such conditions. Overheard by a member of my team was a conversation between two ladies, the one said to the other don't give her anything, have you seen what her children look like, she does not need anything and they live in a mansion. The other lady put her money back in her pocket. And I was so proud, how can one get offended by such praise. The only thing she did not know is that it was made possible through the gifts of many of you, so please share the praise with us.

Thank you for being a blessing. Continue to pray for us, God is Good. Both Lewis and Myself want to thank you for all your support.

Yours in His Service
Lewis and Annie Chikhwaza.