At 8 years of age, he had a spot that he picked on his leg, the spot became infected, and as the family had no means of sending him to a doctor, over the following 20 years he had to suffer in severe pain, until Light in Africa and its volunteers agreed to help.
The doctors at the hospital in Arusha were unable to save his leg and it was amputated last week below the knee.
When the stump has healed he will be discharged into our care, where we shall try to obtain a prosthetic leg for him and find him work that he can do.
At present we have another man with us whose leg has been broken since July, when a vehicle ran into a wall and it collapsed on top of him.
The X-ray shows one shattered bone on top of the other....... how these people cope with the pain begger's belief.
Here is a picture of him and his broken leg; let's wish him well and that his pains will soon be over
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Hi Everyone, I do hope that all of our friends are enjoying the
summertime and the summer holidays.
Just some updates for you on some of the stories I wrote about
previously, which are now in the archives.
Firstly, the story about the mama who had given birth to twins at 7
months premature, and the mad dash that Pastor Frank and I had to make
to the hospital with the surviving baby and the sick mother........
I'm delighted to say, that mother and baby were released from
hospital last week and are both doing very well.
The story that Peter wrote about when he was with me in Mirerani,
where a mother who had given birth to a one month old baby and had no
support or anywhere to live and had become mentaly ill, is now living
with her mother and receiving medical treatment, her two children are
still in the care of LIA.
Once again, I was visiting Dr. Minja's surgery when we heard this
horrendous screaming coming closer to the surgery. Dr. Minja dashed
out to find a 2 year old child badly burnt front and back from boiling
water.....He asks me as I have the vehicle, will I take the child to
hospital..... 4 hours of immense suffering and pain, the child was at
last given an injection to numb the pain. This accident could have
been avoided, in my opinion, if a) the mother had been there with the
child, and b) the little round floor standing fires where banned, we
have three children in our centers who were all burnt by these small
kitchen fires, they are the same height as the children, and as they
start to walk and toddle they fall on these pans which are preparing
food and burn.
I am taken to a remote area in the bush, and see a family of 6
children, all badly disabled from drinking water at the village well
which is so high in fluor. They are just sitting there,
unable to walk, with no food to eat. I purchase some rice and fish,
and vegetable for the following 25 days where they can go to the shop
and receive 1 kilo per day. We are operating a new dispensary in this
village for the first time this week, so we are wondering what other
children we will see who are suffering. I was also shown the school,
where the teacher had recently died in childbirth, and the only method
of transport was bullock and cart to get to the nearest dispensary,
but unfortunately it was too late.
The bungalows at Tudor Village are going up at a tremendous rate, it
is just so exciting to see all the volunteers hard at work, the
children are getting really excited about the eventual move. I have
just purchased the curtains for the first house so when they are made
and up, I will take photo's to show you all how wonderful the site is.
be blessed and refreshed, mama lynn
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Karibu Sana!
We're delighted to share the volunteer stories of Marilyn and Peter who both visited us earlier this year.
Please visit the main web page at http://www.lightinafrica.org.
From there, click the lovely children picture and then select from the menu: Volunteers - Volunteer Stories
and read the new pages (marked with an asterix)
We know you are all eager to read about what goes on so you will certainly enjoy these pages.
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Hi everyone,
It's lovely to be writing to you all again after my recent trip to The Netherlands and the UK.
I am sorry it has taken me so long to update the blog but when I returned there was just so much 'catching - up to do' that only now can I happily chat away on the keyboards.
There are just so many people that I need to thank for the wonderful welcome that they gave to Mama Koupa - (Light in Africa's Treasurer - making her first visit to the UK and to myself as we visited two schools in Huddersfield and where mama Koupa was able to demonstrate her "carrying a bucket of water on her head" to gasps of awe from the children to visiting Leeds and meeting once again our dear friends, where we enjoyed a game of bingo, another first for mama Koupa, then off to Scarborough University to visit Gemma and see her new flat, and of course whilst there we had to take a walk along the coast and try out the cockles and mussels (sorry Laura, we were late back, and I received a parking ticket on your car - all sorted though) An African evening at Laura's new home meant that mama Koupa was able to cook some real African food to our friends in the Grimsby area, and then it was off to the South of England for three days via London where we were able to see some historic sites. We were met by a previous volunteer who drove us to our lovely accommodation - and the following day we had lunch at a Grammar school. All I can say is school dinners where never like that when I went to school: poached salmon and prawn sauce for lunch or a choice of food, amazing.
We met some wonderful people during our tour, I cannot thank everyone, or express our gratitude, but you all know who you are. Thank you for everything.
Then the great event that Laura, Lou, Allison and Deborah had so carefully planned, for such a long time: THE BALL. I think the photo says it all. A wonderful memory for Mama Koupa and myself - Bless you all for all the effort that you put in and for all the guests and previous volunteers who attended.
Thank you once again!
mama Lynn.
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seeing these images of some of the devastation and after the various press articles about the many lives lost, we can only hope that the survivors can pick up life and have faith in a better future.
Thank you
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... and Light in Africa was there to assist the desperate people whose homes where swept away by the torrential rains.
The medical and social worker teams of Light in Africa where utilized to the maximum in helping the desperate flood victims in the mining town of Mirerani, Manyara region, of Tanzania over the last three days.
As reports of the miners deaths hit the national news, the medical teams and social worker teams assisted over 100 desperate cases, some people waiting over 10 hours just to have their needs met by the outreach team.
It had been decided that an outreach program would be conducted at the food kitchen on the 28th March and that although there had been heavy rains, we considered the need to take more food supplies which normally feed the 500 people each - six days per week was needed to sustain the program.
Arrangements were made that the medical team would travel in one vehicle, and a volunteer would be with mama Lynn, whose vehicle was filled to the top with packets of food, and containers of water, as in Mirerani the water is undrinkable.
Two kilometers from the airport the first of the flooded roads was encountered so great care had to be taken. A phone call was made to Anthony Kimaro not to use his vehicle but to come by local Landrover with the medical team. Cautiously, the car continued down the flooded road until it reached a low point where the water on the fields were running in a torrent across the road.
We waited until two cars crossed the river. I then steadily moved forward into the water, but the torrent covered the bonnet and the vehicle stalled, and quickly filled with water.
Removing the volunteer’s seat belt, she was instructed to go into the water and go to the side bank. By this time the water was up to the drivers seat and with the release of the side door, I was then able to slowly open the driver’s side door, drop into the water and safely reach the side bank. Ten men quickly appeared to help push the vehicle to the other side of the road, so re-entering the water, I climb back into the vehicle and the men pushed me to the other side, where water streamed from the vehicle.
The phone was 'hot' with messages flying over the airwaves. A very kind man driving a CelTel vehicle stopped to give us assistance - when we looked for our towrope it had disappeared. He then went off to a garage to return with a chain to pull us the remaining miles to a Mirerani garage. We are deeply indebted to this Good Samaritan who would not receive any payment for his kind deed. I was so pleased I was a CelTel subscriber!
In the meantime dr. Minja is being bombarded with enquiries as to our whereabouts. The outreach was set to start at 9am and it was now 11 am. and the food kitchen was packed with waiting people. On our arrival we were met with loud cheers and whoops that we had made it. I then spoke to the waiting people that I now knew how a baby felt wearing a wet nappy, as we were wet to the waist, and had to stay like that all day whilst assisting the clients. The medical team arrived later and set to work assisting the sick.
The decision was made that as we had not been able to help all the people,(64 names went down for the following day) that sister Grace and I would stay the night at the children's home and Anthony and the volunteer would try to return home, as more funding would be needed as the garage bill was expected to be high. That night the heavens opened, and torrential rain fell, Steven our kitchen manager was called upon to help people in distress whose homes where being swept away, he even had to tie a bed to a post, so the women didn’t lose it, and for her to search in the water for her pots and pans and place them on the bed.
In the morning the devastation was clearly to be seen, we quickly heard of the mining tragedy in tanzanite one who lost 70 miners, and the independent mines that had lost other miners. After breakfast we walked to the food kitchen passing uprooted trees that had swept down the road, knocking down mud-stick homes where the poor lived. Before we arrived at the food kitchen we knew we would have more people than the day before waiting for us, and we were right.
We worked through the day, drying tears, comforting the hopeless, giving out hugs and resources to meet there individual needs. We continued to dark, with only a Tilley storm lamp for light, and all we could see in the beams was still a long line of people quietly sobbing until it was their turn for their story to be told of the previous nights misery. We walked home in the dark, through the flooded roads, totally mentally and physically exhausted, but also to know that at the children's home there would be waiting for us a bucket of hot water for a shower, and a hot meal, a basic need that would be denied so many people that night.
Some of the cases that we assisted:
1) A mama with a huge elephantiasis leg had her mud brick home demolished, her granddaughter returned to us late evening to tell us they would sleep at a neighbors house, and arrangements were made for a rented room and food to be provided. A house re-build would be required
2) Rented rooms were paid for 4 other widows whose homes also had been lost. The bed / bedding / and cooking facilities still have yet to be provided.
3) Three mothers with the aids virus, asked for their children to come into care of Light in Africa as they could not support themselves anymore, as their homes had been damaged.
4) A woman who was infected had been told to leave her room, as the landlord had heard she was attending the food kitchen. A seminar was arranged to educate the village elders on stigmatizing the infected.
5) An elderly Masai mama's home had fallen on her fracturing an arm and leg, the Masai family did not want me to take her to hospital but chose for her to have the limbs pulled by a traditional doctor.
6) A further case of a mama with elephantiasis, struggled to see us to tell us she is now unable to access the food kitchen, as she is struggling to walk could she now have her meal delivered?
7) Our doctor for the day had two rooms and his toilet disappear in the flood.
8) A mama came with an 8 year old child, who had been pledged in marriage to an elderly Masai man, she had already been circumcised and had suffered sever infections......... I did a runner with her........
9) 4 families where paid transport money for re-location to their families homes.
10) A 14 year old girl has been raped and was asking for medical assistance as her family had thrown her out of the home. She is believed to be 7 months pregnant and has yet to seek medical assistance
.....and on it went. Light in Africa present volunteers have today been given all the referral cases to see if they can assist the poor, with either house builds, blankets, beds, etc.
Now for some wonderful news.........the disabled lady has now safely delivered a healthy baby girl, she is still in hospital, but is hoping to return to us in the next few days, praise God and thank you for all your prayers.
God bless
mama Lynn
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This update is going to be a little bitty, with numerous items covered.
Firstly, the Masai mama with the lumps, has had the majority removed by surgery. Her 70 year old husband was so happy with her condition that he honoured me by spitting on my arm - great.
Anthony Kimaro who has been Light in Africa's Secretary for nearly 5 years, has resigned to start up his own safari company, we wish him well in his new venture.
On Sunday, we hosted over 60 students and adults from Shishukunj, the local Hindu community, who blessed our mission with many items of food, clothing etc., for our children. After visiting the nursery to see the babies and the disabled children, they then travelled to Pilgrims House to meet the boys and girls from the centres. A lovely morning of relationship building.
PLEASE NO MORE PARCELS THROUGH THE POST.
I am really saddened to have to ask you NOT to send any further large parcels through the post... small parcel post is not a problem, but the larger parcels are. Over the last 4 weeks we have been asked by the customs department of the Post Office to pay large amounts of
money, ( approx. 120 dollars & 60 dollars) for such items as used clothes, sweets, and toys........ sadly, this is money we can
ill-afford to pay, and tomorrow mama coupa - the Treasurer - has another 5 parcels to collect. Please may I ask you that if you wish to send futher gifts for sponsored children that it is through the 'small parcel post' where we do not have funds to pay........ Thank you for your co-operation.
Now, for all you medical students: Information please on how to treat MOLESCUM CONTAGIOUS.
We have so many differing opionions over here, that the only suitable option I have at the moment is applying Provine which is taking a long time for the warts to disappear.....
your assistance in greatly appreciated
For the volunteers who where with us in 2004.
Mama Sarah has now been released from prison after serving 3 years 5 months.
The Food Kitchen project for the adults has now risen to 85.
We are hopeful that shortly with collaboration from two regions that these precious people will soon be able to access the anti-retro viral drugs therapy which will enhance there lives.......
Be Blessed Abundantly - mama Lynn
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Hello everyone, greetings from Moshi in Tanzania, on this lovely hot day where the tree's are in bloom and looking quite beautiful, we bless you all for opening this site. It is so encouraging to hear from our former volunteers who tell me they enjoy the update on the blog to keep them informed of all that is happening in Light in Africa.
This last week saw the discharge from hospital of the pregnant disabled lady who is now with us at Mailisita for bed rest. And already she is looking so much more happier and content from when we first met here, not having to be concerned where her next meal was coming from, or the stigma that she was having to bear.
The Masai mama with the lumps has already visited the dermatology department and has an appointment for the removal of some of the hanging tissue tomorrow.
We have been blessed with Jake Lyall the photographer from the States who had to make a hasty exit from Kenya where he had hoped to have taken shots of celebration, but instead had to flee as the fighting became worse and arrived at our doorstep unannounced at 10pm one evening. Jacob is documenting the history of LIA with photographs as he knew us when we first started on the mountain, so next week we shall have some new pictures to place on the site, thanks Jake.
I previously mentioned that I had made a decision to open the Food Kitchen for the many people suffering from the HIV/AIDS virus who were unable to obtain food, either through lack of employment or because they had become to weak to work.
Saturday found Pastor Frank and me in front of approx. 70 people who had arrived to obtain a plate of food, and wanting me to officially open the Adult Food Kitchen Program. I started by telling them how I had arrived in Tanzania from the UK and then explained all the work that LIA is now involved in. After I had finished, a mama stood up and asked if she could pray. The words that this mama spoke left everyone in tears......she cried out to God that no one wanted to know them and spoke badly of them, they had no food, or money for transport to access the drugs which could extend there lives and all the hope they had was that they would lay down and die quickly....... but now God had send Light in Africa to help them, and for the first time they had hope, that their lives would improve..... she also prayed for the staff of Light in Africa who had welcomed them to the Food Kitchen, instead of shunning them, and now they couldn’t wait for the next day to arrive, because they were assured of having a plate of food and a drink of tea, and for the first time they were all together in one room and friendships had been formed......it was just so emotional that I had to leave the room and have a good cry and to thank our staff that they had put there prejudices behind them to help these suffering people.
Be blessed
mama Lynn
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Dear Family, Friends and supporters of Light in Africa.
I really believed with all the upheaval over the Christmas period that we were now entering the New Year with a quiet, peaceful time...........alas, not so.
The 8th January, finds me waiting in the local hospital car park for two nurses who specialize in HIV/AIDS testing. It had been agreed by the doctor who manages the children in our homes that the nurses may accompany me to the mining town to do a pilot testing scheme, as I am very much aware there are many children who are orphaned and are not receiving any anti-retro virals which would enhance there lives ......
The testing station was held at Dr. Ninja's new dispensary which our volunteers built last year, and there were many clients awaiting our arrival. One maasai mama who was covered in lumps was feeding her baby whilst laying on the floor, waiting to ask for Light in Africa's help.
As the adults entered the room, after the customary greeting to me as an elder, there was much talk and counselling. The nurses were repeatedly explaining to me that they were being asked to thank the 'wazungu' (european) for feeding the children, but please, they were starving too, would I also feed them. Six hours later, I had been convinced that I had to open the Food Kitchen to the adults as well as the children.
So with a long list of names of needy - malnourished - patients that Dr. Ninja gave to me, I initiated the Adult Feeding Program which started yesterday. The adults attend between 10am - 12 noon, and the children attend from 1-30pm to 4- 30pm. We ended the clinic and put the maasai mama and her child in the vehicle to go back to Mailisita. Enroute, I receive a call from Anthony our Secretary. An ambulance has just pulled up from the hospital with two seriously sick HIV/AIDS children, where did he want me to place them?
One child was suffering from TB so they of course had to go into isolation..... We didn't arrive home until 8pm, it had been a long day.
The children were in a skeletal condition, the boy of 4 yrs weighed 8 1/2 kilos and the girl, 4 years, weighed 4 1/2 kilos. I am extremely happy today to say that with the special care our nursery staff have given, the boy is now walking and we pray they will continue to make good progress.
The following day I took the mama with the lumps completly covering her body to the dermatology clinic. The Professors where very interested in this case, and an appointment was made to remove the larger hanging tissues. Thankfully, it is not malignant.
On the 11 January, the police arrived at 9pm with a newly abandoned approx 1 month old baby girl.
At 11 pm our resident 20 year old with a learning disability and schitzophrenia decided to climb a tree and cause havoc. This meant a visit to the hospital at 1pm for sedation......... and that my dear friends just completed my day.
Previously, I wrote about a disabled young woman who was pregnant; hhe is now hospitalized and we are awaiting the outcome..... Prayers for this young women would be very much appreciated.
Bless you all abundanly - mama Lynn
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Hello dear family - friends and supporters of Light in Africa.
Over the New Year period I have received some lovely SMS messages and would like to share them with you as I too pass on these sentiments to one and all..........
MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BRING THE HEAVENS IN THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS THIS YEAR OF 2008 BE FULL OF GRACE AND PEACE ....DR. MINJA
UNDERNEATH THIS CHRISTMAS TREE IS MY WRAPPED GIFT OF PRAYERFUL WISHES OF PEACE LOVE AND JOY FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR IN 2008 .... MR. KESSEY TAXI DRIVER
EACH DAY TO YOU IS A GIFT FROM GOD; UNWRAP IT WITH ZEAL, WEAR IT WITH STYLE & CELEBRATE IT WITH GRATITUDE....
MAY GOD'S BLESSINGS BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES
AS WE ENTER IN TO THE NEW YEAR OF 2008 MAY THE LORD
- REMEMBER YOU LIKE NOAH,
- FAVOUR YOU LIKE JOSEPH
- FIGHT FOR YOU LIKE THE ISTRAELITES AND
- BLESS YOU LIKE SOLOMON AND GREET ALL PEOPLE WITH YOU .....
GOD BLESS YOU ....RITHA (15 YRS)LIA
GOD ISNT THE ELECTRIC COMPANY - BUT HE LIGHTS UP OUR LIVES.
GOD ISNT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY - BUT HE COMMUNICATES WITH US EVERY DAY.
GOD ISNT BAKHRESA, BUT HE GIVES US OUR DAILY BREAD.
GOD ISNT THE MOBILE COMPANIES - BUT HIS NETWORK IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE -
SO STAY CONNECTED WITH GOD - HAPPY DAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ....PASTOR FRANK (LIA)
>
With these wonderful sentiments we start a new year at Light in Africa.
I would like to express our most deepest thanks to all of the volunteers who came to our mission and made a difference in the lives of the poor.
I would like to thank all the wonderful people who made a contribution to our mission either with prayer support - financialy - food - medicens or with gifts for our children. We bless and thank you all for your wonderful compassion, I can not repay you, only GOD HIMSELF can reward you for your giving, as it is clearly stated in the bible, "it is better to give than to receive", and I can assure you that this promise holds true, that I personally have no wants or needs and yet God is feeding and providing in the miraculous for all of the children in and out of our care. MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU - WITH LOVE
MAMA LYNN
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