17th of January

Wow, yesterday was an intensionally emotional day following a visit to the children's hospital, visiting a very poor housing compound and giving tickets out for large pieces of plastic for leaking roofs (we returned today to give out the plastic to those who had tickets - 50 only), and then a visit to a hospice.  But it was the final visit of the day that put it all together for me.  Our last visit was taking Mary, the Buseko Home nurse, home to her place on another compound.  (Being a nurse does not provide for the same privileges that I have at home.  Wages only pay for rent and family costs...no cars or owning even a small brick home!)

 

Mary provided us with a tour of her home.  Although she is a single lady, she has become mother to a few of her brother's children (5 in total). 5/8 of her sibblings have died and so she has taken on much of the responsibility of her immediate family.  Her younger brother also lives with her so her home that seemed large for a single person suddenly became small for the numbers of people living inside it. 

 

Mary told us more about her life and how she came to be at Buseko home.  She had initially been a practical nurse but knew that God wanted her to do more with her life.  She went on to became a diploma RN and also took additional courses on HIV AIDS.  After working in the N'dola Childrens Hospital (largest in Zambia) for 2 years she had a yearning to do more ministry work and to combine it with her career.  She found out about Buseko home in 2004 and felt that God was calling her to be there.  She interviewed and was accepted.  John and Susan, directors of Seeds of Hope, then brought her to BC for a full years course on further HIV training.  She now looks after the medical needs of all the children at the Orhpanage and the Grace Academy.  Right now there are 39/54 children who have AIDS and receiving treatment. 

 

Mary also told us that looking after these children now is her Ministry and she has accepted her position with Buseko Home as a partnership with John and Susan.  She has become a mother to all of the children at Buseko and Grace and loves these children as her own.  She cannot have children of her own and feels that God has now blessed her with the care of these 5 children of her sibblings as well as 54 children of the home and school.  For many years, she has had a similar vision as John and Susan have for Zambia and feels that with her Zambian heritage and understanding of the culture combined with Seeds of Hope resources, they together will make a difference in the future of Zambia . Her ability to show the love of Jesus to all of these children, and her extended work she does in many of the homes where these children have come from is a true testimony of how God can use her. She uses every opportunity to tell the children, people in her community about the love of God and that there is hope for them to make a difference in their and their children's lives .  I wish I could have retold her testimony as powefully as she had but I'm afraid I can't do it justice.  But for me, this was the "icing on the cake".  I could see in action exactly what the written vision is for the Seeds of Hope.  It truly is making a difference.  We have seen these healthy looking, vibrant, respectful, God loving children, have confidence in themselves and their futures.  They truly live out the mission statement of Life, Love and Laughter!   What a wonderful testimony Mary has been to use to see how one life can impact so many!

 

Love Kathie