Update on the Twins...Two weeks old

Scott and David went out to the village today to teach and check on Julia and the twins. The baby that was taken to the hospital last week is doing better and his rash is partially cleared up, so we are grateful for that. Julia is also slowly getting stronger, but she isn't producing milk, so we are thankful for the availability of formula. She was almost out of the second can, so their timing was perfect. We will take a couple more cans on Sunday to ensure she doesn't run out as communicating with someone from the village isn't always possible.

We will also take more food on Sunday to ensure that Julia is eating enough to keep up her strength. She told David and Scott that she needed corn meal--one of their staple foods--and eggs. She also needs a new bottle as one of them cracked this week. We'll buy several to ensure that she has two for each baby. The church in town that we work with has "adopted" the babies as well and is helping out as they can financially, and we are thrilled to see them get involved in serving others.

The saying that "it takes a village" is so true as taking care of these babies has become a family affair. You can see, too, how tiny they still are in the photos. Please continue to pray for this sweet family. Scott and David spent most their time there praying with the Christians and encouraging them. The weather continues to be cold and rainy which along with everything else, makes it hard on everyone.

A special thanks to those of you who have given to The ECHO Project so we can continue to help in situations like this. We've been so encouraged by your generosity. We have a number of other projects planned in the coming weeks that will truly make a difference in the lives of individuals. I will be sharing more in the near future about what is planned including the building of more homes for the homeless.

Count your blessings today!

Lisa

The least of these...

Five days ago, one of the Christian women from a village where we have a church gave birth to twins. The mother had been very sick and the babies were born early, so on Friday, Emily and I drove out to the village to take a food packet and vitamins to her and to check on how she was doing. While there, we learned that she needed a blood transfusion, but was unable to get one at the hospital before they sent her home. We also found out that she didn't have enough food to eat and wasn't producing enough milk to feed the tiny babies.

 After going into to town to buy formula and bottles, we returned and Emily showed her how to make the formula and clean the bottles. It turned into an emotional meeting when the extended family joined us and started singing and praising God. Emily shared some words of encouragement and we were able to pray over the mother and her new babies.

While the vitamins and food are helping, she is very weak and because of some other problems, unable to nurse the babies, but the twins are taking the formula. We are grateful to those of you who have given to The ECHO Project so we can in turn help in emergency situations like this one. 

Tonight at church, the Christians discussed adopting these two babies and helping out financially with the mother's needs. I was touched again to see the joy of giving spread to the Christians here in town. Please pray for this sweet mother and her babies as she has a difficult road ahead of her. We will continue supplying formula and supplementing the mother's food in the coming months.

                                          

To find out how you can give to The ECHO Project to help those in need in southern Africa, please visit our website. We've also just opened a brand new on-line Safari Shop where you can buy really cool products and all profits go directly to The ECHO Project.