Security Changes, Community Involvement, and a Pain in the Back

Update on Charles (our security guard and local manager) 
We have not seen or spoken with Charles for more than a month now. The last time we saw him he had finished his 90 day treatment but was still not doing good (although better than when he first went) and needed to go on another 90 day treatment.

When he went for his TB treatment the first time,  I (Jako) asked him to bring me a letter from the doctor upon when he comes back stating that he was now healthy and no threat to the children here. We encouraged him to stay at the hospital until all of his treatments were over but when he returned stated that he had left before his treatment were done but the doctor could not give him his letter yet.  The next day I asked him to stay somewhere other than the orphanage property out of concern for the children here (some which are sick and some are HIV+).  He  understood it and said that we will go and stay at his home in the village. His wife Brenda got very upset with this and the fact that I had to question him about using the tractor with out any permission when we were in South Africa (and which he was given clear instructions not to).

In response they packed up their whole house and left. We keep on praying for Charles and his family that he will be healed but are sad to see that he now has a “dark” look in his eyes and seems to be trusting in the local witchdoctors and their ways now.  I asked him to return when he is strong and healthy again so that we can go from there but to be honest there is a lot of things that happened that he was dishonest and the trust is broken now.  Please pray for both physical and spiritual healing for Charles and his family and for God’s wisdom in how to continue from here.

Security Issues and a New Fence

With Charles’ departure, we felt it best that we not have someone live so near on the property anymore (to remove the tempting thought of what is yours is mine and vice versa) but  without a full time “security guard” we had to quickly come up with a plan of how to  best care for the things that God has entrusted to us here.  While we feel quite safe in this area, theft is a reality anywhere and the different roles and responsibilities that each of us have often have us away from the property at different times. 

  Hence – operation “build a fence” started and after 2 1/2 weeks of 3 men working we were able to fence in a 2 hectare area around us.   Not only does the fence keep out locals who are intent on doing “evil” but it protects the ones who are here for good from our dogs.  Now no one has to fear coming here for all they have to do is ring the bell at the gate and they are welcomed in by us.

Community Involvement

When Charles left and we decided to put up the fence, one of our fears was that it would have a negative affect in terms of community involvement and the way that the community viewed and approached us.  Interestingly enough, for reasons we can’t explain (except for God), we have been very happy to discover community involvement and visitors actually increasing!  People still come to us for medicine, prayers, asking for assistance, and just visiting and in the past month we have seen the community rally behind us and the project more than we have in the past few  years.  To God be the glory for His marvelous and mysterious ways!

Jako - and a real pain in the back

At the end of May my back began to pain so much that I could no longer stand and spent several days in bed, flat on my back.  I initially hoped that after a bit of rest, I would be “back” on my feet soon but when it persisted we realized that something was seriously wrong.  After x-rays in Livingstone showed that things were not good I was flown to South Africa and spent a week in traction, on strong pain killers, undergoing MRI’s, X-rays, physiotherapy and getting a consult by a top neurosurgeon/back specialist.  It was found that I have several compressed disks and damage but the hope is that with rest and home physiotherapy I can build up the muscles enough to support the damage that is there. 

Currently I am doing better day by day but I have to take it slow. According to the doctor I am not allowed to pick anything up for six weeks (which is almost over) and the specialist said that at leased for the next year till I have my back and stomach muscles strong that I can not pick anything heavy up. It is a big frustration for me because i cannot do any physical work not and there is so much to do but hopefully if I heed the doctors orders (and with lots of prayers) no surgery will be necessary.

Please pray for me that God will give me strength, wisdom, discretion, and peace during this next year and that He will send the right people, with the right skills, at the right time to meet the physical needs and work that needs to be done around here.  Thank you for all of your prayers for me during this recovery time.