Another Child, Another Day….

Today, Saturday, we met with a four year old child who was an absolute delight.  He can’t walk, or sit alone, or crawl, and has a variety of physical issues that were “different”, including an interesting head shape, bent legs, and hands with very low tone.  We worked with him educationally, and, on first observation, it seems he is not very cognitively delayed, if he is even delayed, at all.  He was very shy and quiet, but clearly engaged and interested in our toys and books.  He was able to copy patterns we made with pattern blocks, and loved playing with us.  He definitely needs supports for his feet, since his legs and feet turn in so completely that he stands on his inner ankles.  We are going to go with them to their next Physical Therapy appointment, and will need a US supporter for his supports, and shoes to go in them.  From what they told us, this will cost $150,000 Kwacha, which is approximately $32.60, plus the cost of the shoes to put the inserts in.  We will help them, and try to be a support to them through this.  We sent them home with some toys, some books, and balls.  They were beyond thrilled, and seemed, in the understated way of a Zambian, very moved.  We will follow up with them this week.

Next, we went to a carpenter to see whether he could handcraft a Rifton chair for support for the two boys we met with on Tuesday of last week, boys who both have Cerebral Palsy.  Rifton chairs provide support for a body that needs structure, and help to just sit up to eat, or work, or even breathe well.  They are wonderful, but are fairly expensive, and then we would need to add shipping, so if we could have a Zambian carpenter make them, we could customize the size for each child, get them within a week or two, provide jobs for Zambian workers, and have less US to Zambia shipping of things.  So, for about 1/4 the price of a true Rifton chair, we’ll see what happens.  He will make us one prototype, and we’ll see how it works out.  If it works, we’ll be so excited, and will be in business, since so far, we have met three children who need seating, and we’ve only assessed three children! At this rate, we couldn’t bring enough from the US to keep up!

The last part of our day was a trip to the compound called Mtendere, where our first little boy lives.  We surprised his family, since their cellphone wasn’t working (which happens often here, because you buy cards worth about $10, and depending on the number you call, the minutes are used up fast, faster, or lickety-split!), so we just went.  They had left his shoes at our home the other day, and since he only has one pair, we didn’t want to keep them too long.  He can’t walk, but, still, they have so little.  We had some books, balls, and toys for him, and they were so pleased to see us.  He has no friends, and sits (lies, really) on the couch all day.  His Mom said that since he had come to our home the other day, he has been asking to go back.  So, the thought that he now has friends that come just to see and play with him was very novel and exciting for him.  We completely filled the room.  All six of us entered, where there were already four people, and the room could not have been bigger than 6 ft. x 7 ft.  We had a great time, and then made sure we left before they would feel the need to offer all of us dinner, which is the Zambian way.  They, as most people we’ve met, are extremely poor, and eat nshima for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Nshima is a pulverized cornmeal that is cooked with water, and then a “relish” is put on top, depending on the meal.  Breakfast might have milk put on top, lunch might have dried fish, and the relish is any mixture of greens sauteed with tomatoes, onions and other veggies.  I made it yesterday morning, and the faces around our breakfast table were memorable.  Our kids don’t turn their noses up at anything, but the texture of this wasn’t like polenta, or grits, it was a little bit like sandy-textured cereal- a bit gritty.  They would have a hard time eating Nshima at every meal.  But some folks don’t have an option.  A huge bag of mealie meal, which is used to make nshima, is between $4-10, so you can see why everyone eats it for every meal.

So, a new child to serve, a new family to minister to, a possible answer to the seating/positioning issue, and a follow-up visit to our first family.  A good day.  Exactly two weeks from our exhausted arrival, and God is bringing kids.  We haven’t gone looking, they are finding us!  Please continue to pray for wisdom for how we care for each child.  These families are lonely and hurting, so the ministry is to the parents, almost more than the children.  The children are clean, loved, and cared for, but the parents are isolated, with no supports.  Please pray that we would have wisdom, and that they would be encouraged.