A letter from Darlene and Paul Heller in Malawi
January 23, 2009
Dear Friend in Christ,
It was a routine follow-up visit. Wongani had been “home” in the bush for several months, and it was time to check on his progress.
He had returned to the village as a healthy little 14-month-old baby. But the Wongani who greeted us this day was a crying infant with skinny limbs, reddened hair and empty eyes.
Wongani at home being carried by his sister.
His 10-year-old sister had been pulled from school by her father in order for her to care for the family, which consists of five other siblings and dad. Only a child herself, she cooked and cared for the entire family, including her older brother. Being the oldest girl, her father had decided this was her responsibility.
The “house” was of mud with a cement floor. No water and no electricity came to this dwelling — just the hot African breeze. Water had to be carried from a tap in the center of the village. Wongani was carried on his sister’s back most of the time because he was getting too weak to walk. She fed him nsima (white maize flour porridge) once a day, along with dirty water to drink. Starvation is a painful and miserable process, and clearly, Wongani was starving.
On our return trip to the nursery it was decided that we had to take Wongani back. He was only 15 months old, which means that he was still young enough to avoid permanent damage from his period of deprivation. We had one crib open at the Nursery. So, we contacted Social Welfare, and they agreed to let us readmit him. A few days later we went back to the village and brought Wongani “home” to the Nursery. Dad was nowhere to be found on either visit.
Wongani at the Nursery playing peek-a-boo.
Wongani has gained five pounds since he came back to us. That’s a lot for a 20-month-old. He is thriving. He smiles, he laughs, he plays — especially “peek-a-boo.” He loves to eat. And his smile would crack the hardest heart.
However, he has stopped speaking. No words come out now, whereas, when he was discharged, he had been developing language. We trust speech will come with time, but admit we are concerned.
Wongani has only 4 more months to remain here with us. At age 2, children must be placed elsewhere. The father will not agree to have Wongani fostered, but is more than willing to have him sent to an orphanage. However, an orphanage usually requires that neither parent can be alive, because sometimes, after a few years, the parent will change their mind and want the child back. It can be heartbreaking.
So we’re working on finding Wongani a home. An important part of that effort is prayer work. That’s where you come in. Please pray that God will open a bright path to the future for this healthy, happy 20-month-old named Wongani.
Your partners in Christ’s mission,
Paul and Darlene Heller
Urgent prayer request
A recent email from Ministry of Hope in the United States addressed some financial challenges that lie ahead:
The Ministry of Hope finance committee met tonight to go over the end-of-year figures, and the financial crisis in the United States is having its impact on Ministry of Hope. Giving is way down, and we have to reduce our monthly allotment. This is impacting the Mzuzu Crisis Nursery because we thought we had a five-year commitment from one church, and it appears that we do not. We found that out last week. At this point, we will need to fund the Mzuzu Nursery from the reduced undesignated pot of money that Ministry of Hope receives every month and is shared among two crisis nurseries and five orphan care centers.
As you can imagine, this creates some formidable challenges. Nevertheless, we are convinced that it is God who has called this nursery into being, it is God who has called us to Mzuzu to help guide this vital ministry and it is God who will see to it that these vulnerable babies are cared for.
Thank you for your continued prayer and care for the least of these member’s of Christ’ family.
Though my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will take care of me. (Psalm 27:10)
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