springs of hope

Hi All I am Hoping that this going to work. I apologize for the lapse in blogging, but I was having a bit of a problem. Well today was a full day starting with church which here starts at about 10:00 and lasts till about 1:00 pm. We had an outreach to the street boys organized by the youth of All nations Springs of Life Church, and us. This was a really good outreach. We went to the local park by Matatu (which is a small 14 seated van). The day before we made Mandazi (similar to a donut), hard boiled eggs, oranges, and a banana, and bagged them all.
We had a team go into town and tell as many of the street boys we could find that we were having an outreach in the park for them. We counted at least 20 plus about 10 local children that came. We tried to target some of the younger boys so that we would be able to spend time with them, and so they could eat without worrying that they would have their food taken from the older boys. I would have to say that this was a very successful outreach. They were able to hear the word, by Kim-Raphael, and he also gave his testimony. After that we were able to hand out the food, and after that we were able to play games with them. It was a good afternoon. We were also visited by a monkey, which amused everyone especially the Street Boys. These kids had such a goodtime they really forgot their problems for an afternoon. They were so appreciative for everything that we did for them. It is hard to see these young boys so dirty, and fending for themselves. But today they were able to put the glue bottles away and be boys.
After we left the park Joseph, Myself, and Jotham’s wife Leah left to go visit a young woman Helen, and her twin babies at a local public hospital. Helen has AIDS, and she was in the hospital because her babies are sick. Their names are Jeff, and Miriam. They are 3months old, and Jeff is on an Oxygen machine. I cannot really relay to you this experience. First of all this was the baby ward, and it was packed full of sick babies, and their mothers. When we went to see Helen her poor babies were so tiny they looked newborn. There was a woman next to her holding her baby, and she had such sad forlorn look on her face she did not speak Swahili, and no on could communicate with her. Her baby did not move I had a feeling the baby may have had some kind of paralysis. Could you imagine just sitting there and not knowing what is wrong with your baby, and know one to talk to. This was not like a hospital you have ever seen. This is sad place. Very much like a warehouse. We felt so badly for Helen and her babies. She really is so poor, and does not even have the money to but milk or formula for her babies as she cannot breastfeed because of the AIDS, and the hospital was not providing any milk it for her. She was borrowing milk from the other mothers there so that she could feed her children. She then received a prescription from the nurse for her babies, and if she does not have the money to get it right there she does not receive it. So we then had to leave the hospital, and walk to a pharmacy and purchase her prescription for her… go back to the hospital and give them to her so that she could have medicine for her babies. It really was disturbing to know that if she goes to the hospital they will not feed her babies, and not administer medicine for them or her unless she can pay for it herself immediately. We left feeling so upset by this Joseph could not get the image of these mothers, and helpless babies out of his mind. We will be returning to get formula for Helen so that she can feed her children. We at least can try to meet their needs. We just pray that it is not to late for Jeff he is on oxygen, and is having a very hard time eating. These are the times you question God…Why? Why does this beautiful young woman get this death sentence for herself? While her husband goes on with his life leaving her, and her babies who also maybe infected and he probably infecting others. When Leah went back in to deliver the medicine she said that Helen was laying hands on her babies, and praying over them. I ask you can you please pray for Helen, and her babies. That they are healed, and for all the other woman an their babies in the hospital.