Missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, May 18, 2013

Date: May 18, 2013 3:50:13 AM CDT





BEAN BUYING FINISHED!!!!

101 TONS IN THE BARN!





Thank you all for your prayers for as you can see, we exceeded the minimum 80 tons necessary to keep the kids in food.

Monday, the team will join our 80 man hauling crew to start the processing so the beans can be stored for up to a year.
VISITORS JOIN THE BUNNY FOR A GOAT RODEO!

Breanne weighing with a "wrap-around goat weight tape, so Brenda can give the right dose of de-wormer.

Danielle gets lots of attention from a very friendly baby goat. If you put him on the ground, he follows you around so he can chew on your skirt when you stand still.

Emma and her new "baby".
Emma Clifford and Pastor Buzz Snyder took the photos and then wandered off to play with the babies

Pastor Buzz and Pastor Joaguim (goat barn manager)
After all, it does get a bit boring when you do the same thing to 70 goats in a row.

Our 8 goat wranglers did all the catching and holding. They are getting very good at it, and our goats are a bit tamer than last year, so all went smoothly.

Last year our “ Mommy goats” were really WILD!
The photos tell it all.
Our visitors arrived safely with all luggage on Wed. afternoon. When traveling 10,000 miles, getting here with all luggage intact is something to brag about!

Pastor Buzz has helped bring in the beans for the final 2 days while the 3 young ladies helped with children’s ministry.
Today, the team was up at 4:30a.m. to be at the goat barn by 5:30a.m. Best time to deworm since their tummies are empty, and it’s cool weather for everyone.


Love and Hugs from the Balama Team

Bush Bunny Brenda

Eric Dry

Linda Stanley

Visitors:

Pastor Buzz Snyder

Breanne Brammer

Emma Clifford

Danielle Van Zyl



I hope this post isnt all discombobulated, I think I messed up adding the photos.

Its a biggen

This morning when Hannah went to let Shiloh out and feed him she discovered this on the wall on our back porch.

That thing is pretty big.  If I still lived close to my friend Candy I would capture it for her and her gang.  They love studying creatures like this.  As it is I will just let it be until I find out if tarantulas are harmful or beneficial to the environment.  I do prefer it make its home elsewhere though.

Five little dresses

I finally finished the five little dresses I am making for those little sprites.  Now to make a couple pair of shorts for the boys and buy t-shirts.  Then I will make jammies.  I just kept getting distracted with other projects.  There just isnt enough sewing time in a day.

Here is why there isnt enough time.
I have been learing to piece quilt tops from you tube and came across a tutorial for jelly roll race quilt tops.  I cut some jelly roll strips, (they are too expensive for me to buy) and made a quilt top.  Its long and narrow so I am going to cut it into two crib quilts.  I hope to get the batting and backing soon.  My plan is to quilt the tops by stitch in the ditch method.

This top will make a great crib quilt.  I am excited to learn to quilt.  We need a quilt or something for our king sized bed and I thought I had better start with something smaller to get the hang of it. 

The first piecing I did are these two quilt blocks.  I joined a quilt block exchange so I thought I'd better learn to piece blocks.  I have until December to made a dozen or so of these.  They are easy to make using a tutorial on you tube.  I think I can make the rest up in just a day or so. 

 These pictures are not in the right order.  This is what the blocks look like after you sew both blocks and cut them.  Its a fun way to do it.  You stack them, mark a line down the middle, sew on each side of the line and then cut down the line and then you have two triangle blocks.

 These are the same blocks just turned a different way. 

This is what the blocks look like first.

Missionary update May 12, 2013

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, May 11, 2013

Date: May 11, 2013 7:39:55 AM CDT

To:



UPDATE ON OUR 2 BABIES IN THE HOSPITAL



Testing showed that both are suffering from CHRONIC MALARIA, which occurs when you have malaria and don’t get it treated. They were admitted to the Balama hospital immediately on Thursday. This family lived over 12 miles from a hospital. The granny is emaciated and has no energy to carry them. Nor did she have any money to buy the needed medicine when they first got sick 3 months ago, so she didn’t even try.

That is why we moved them into one of our homes near the mission station. The Granny has been nursing both babies, and her body has nothing left to give. Besides trying to save the 6 children, 3 are orphans, she is also carrying for her own mother, who basically needs total care.

Our Balama Doctor estimates the 2 babies have had malaria for 3 out of the 9 months of their little lives. When we saw them 2 days ago, they were in the last stages before death, so we got them to the hospital just in time.

Unlike normal malaria, the symptoms are masked much of the time as it runs in cycles. When they don’t have any fever, which is how we saw them 2 weeks ago, they don’t appear to have malaria. But when they can no longer hold down anything, even milk formula, then that is a sign that the malaria is ready to cycle again.

As of this morning, both are responding well to treatment, and are able to hold down small amounts of food and milk.

I’ll keep you posted on their progress.



SAD NEWS is that at 4:30a.m. today, our head Pastor, Fred, called me to tell me that the doctors managed to save his wife, but lost their baby.

Fred’s wife began to bleed yesterday at noon, (only 8 months pregnant), and was taken immediately to the Balama hospital. The Doctor transferred her to Montepuez Regional Hospital by 3pm, but they were unable to stop her labor. The baby was buried in Montepuez this morning, as Fred’s wife will have to stay in the hospital through the weekend. A body deteriorates rapidly in this heat, as there is no way to preserve it, so the burial has to be immediate.

Keep this family in your prayers, is this is her 2nd miscarriage in the last 18 months.



BUSH BUNNY TIDBITS



All the baby goats are doing well, so we dewormed our 30+, 1-3 month olds today, plus our 2 large males who service the herd. (I’ll do all the pregnant mommas next Saturday.)

Elvis, our big daddy goat, got his name because he grows a beard and has a super long MANE,at his topknot, above his eyes. The poor guy could hardly see, he had so much hair covering his eyes, so Mama Brenda was prepared with sharp scissors. Elvis got his first haircut and wasn’t too happy while I was doing it!

I won’t get any awards for this haircut, but at least he can now see. He seemed to like it once we let him go. Guess it gets old trying to find the ladies only by smell. Now he can see how beautiful they are!

BUSH BUNNY BRENDA A MAJOR BEAN BROKER!

Pray for continued favor for the Bean Harvest

We have 38 TONS of beans in the barn, and a “promised” 80 tons in the field.

We’ve given out sacks for that much, but are not sure the people will be able to fill them.

Once the Lord showed us where to look, the flood gates opened!

God is revealing His massive power to provide for his children when all looks bleak in the natural.

Our goal is to have all the beans in the barn by next Saturday.

Processing for long term storage will begin May 20th.

TEAM OF VISITORS TO FLY OUT OF USA THIS MONDAY

We pray traveling mercies for our Mission Team


Retired Pastor, Buzz SNYDER, TEXAN transplanted to Atlanta, GA

Breanne Brammer, Un. of Missouri

Emma Clifford, Concordia University, Austin, TX

Michele Davis, Concordia University, Austin, TX
From South Africa, we welcome 18 year old Danielle Van Zyl, from the town of Heidelberg. Her parents have their own orphanage called Shalom Children’s Home so Danielle has great experience in working with children of all ages.
This team will be with us till July 31st in order to help get the food into the barn and assist with our children’s programs.

Our thanks goes out to each of them for giving of their time and finances to help us rescue and evangelize in Mozambique.
Blessings,

Bush Bunny Brenda

Eric Dry

Linda Stanley

The Balama staff

Missionary update May 10, 2013

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Today's bean and orphan report

Date: May 9, 2013 8:26:10 AM CDT

THE BEAN BUYING RACE IS On

Our miracle village netted 162 bags (11.3 tons) today and have another 140 (9.8 tons) coming next week.
THE NEWEST FAMILY TO JOIN OUR HOUSING PROGRAM (GREAT GRANDMA NOT PICTURED).

The family who’s photo we used 2 weeks ago, and again above, had to be admitted to our
housing program today.

So we just gained 6 orphans (2 are the babies in very bad condition), plus grandma and HER mother (great grandma to the orphans).

PTL I had a house available that would hold them.

It’s my last empty house, actually.

Get this, Eric took Nilza, and 2 of our staff pastors to help bring in the family and the few things we gave them 2 weeks ago.

Eric drove into their remote village (3 miles from the main road) and then the team had to WALK 45 minutes into pure bush country to find their house.

So it took over 4 hours just to fetch them.

The babies are in very bad shape, and vomit every time they eat anything.

I’ve put them on rice cereal only till we can see if that settles their little stomachs.

With them here, the babies have a chance to survive.

It will still be a big challenge and I’ll be writing more about them this Saturday.

BBB
"Bush Bunny" Brenda

Missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, May 8, 2013

Date: May 8, 2013 8:26:57 AM CDT
HANDICAP EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE
Eric managed to get a child’s wheelchair for a little ZITO, an 11 year old boy who broke his femur 5 years ago in a soccer game. Due to the lack of any Doctor in Balama county, his leg was never set correctly and healed at an angle. His good leg has atrophied from lack of use, and will no longer support his weight. He struggles with constant systemic Staf. Infections, chronic anemia, and a weak heart. No matter what we do for him, he doesn’t gain much weight. Last year we gave him a set of aluminum crutches, but he was never able to stand due the pain in his good knee when he puts weight on it. His heart is too weak to undergo orthopaedic surgery, even if it was available to him.

Zito happily trades his crutches for his wheelchair.
So today, Zito happily passed on his crutches to one of the ladies in his church who badly needed them. She was badly burned on the back of one leg many years ago and has spent her life hopping around using a walking stick as a crutch. Since no hospital existed then, her leg was allowed to heal with excessive scar tissue in a BENT position. We took her in for a consult, but our Balama Dr. said due to her advanced age and the massive scarring, that the surgery needed would not be possible.

Crutches make our sister smile.
We decided to help them make the best of a difficult situation with the transportation devices we could provide.

Eric gets these items at a hospice store in RSA for little of nothing. The wheelchair cost $25 and the crutches were $10.

I wish we had video of this woman as she figured out her new crutches. When she got the hang of using them, she moved across the church yard at 5 times her normal pace, grinning all the way!

Zito loves his new “wheels” and since his area is hard packed dirt, he’ll be able to visit his friend’s homes that he’s not had access too for some time.

TAKING DOMINION OVER YOUR HEALTH
During testimony time at the Namara church, a woman came forward whose life was saved last year, after we took her to the hospital for treatment of advanced chronic Syphilis. She told everyone how the teachings I did on the AUTHORITY OF THE BELEIVER helped her through a crisis last month. Her body started breaking out in sores all over, but she commanded them to go IN THE NAME OF JESUS and all the sores left without any medications. Her skin was perfectly smooth and healthy looking. Teaching church members to use the Word of God is one of our major goals. It was a great encouragement to me to know that all those hours of teaching was taken seriously by some.

Bush Bunny Brenda and Nelson teaching at Namara church.
THE BEAN HUNT IS ON!
On Monday I was a bit disappointed as we only received 1.2 tons after opening our gates for public buying (vs. co-op buying in bulk).

BUT TUESDAY turned into a Bean Bonanza like I’ve never seen!
At our Balama warehouse, we received 3 truckloads of beans totalling EIGHT TONS in 8 hours!

Our workers and I were so beat after unloading, weighing and re-sacking all those beans, that we had to drag ourselves out of there at 2pm.

It happened just as God said it would. Everyone has a sack or 2 they can sell, but few have more than that. Four of those 8 tons were hauled in by a man whose business is to go from village to village with his 2 ton truck, picking up produce the villagers want to sell in town. He brought them to us, cause we pay a few pennies more than the local businessmen.
After I went and personally talked to all the road side buyers in Balama, telling them of our kid’s needs, all but 1 agreed to sell their beans to us. This is a FIRST and showed me just how much favour God has given us.

I picked up half a ton yesterday from 2 buyers.

These are the guys who buy the 1 to 10 kg portions that villagers bring in to sell for soap and other personal items. It’s very time consuming taking in these small amounts, and I’m thrilled they agreed to do it for our kids.

Capena passed out 1,060 feed sacks in 7 villages yesterday, that when filled will total 74 tons!

I was amazed that some of these tiny villages, whom we hardly traded with in the past, had this many beans to offer.

It looks like our bean quota of 100 tons will be possible.
As of today, Wed., May 8th, we have 10 tons total in the barn, and over 300 bags waiting to be fetched tomorrow.

These 300 sacks are the “21 miracle tons” from Namara village that I told you about 2 weeks ago.

The church members walked their fields claiming God’s blessings for a 100 fold harvest AND GOT IT!

GOD HAS DONE THE IMPOSSIBLE AND OPENED HIS FLOOD GATES OF BEANS.
Blessings,

Bush Bunny Brenda and the Bean Bashing Balama Staff
P S Please continue praying for the Bean Harvest.
Thanks to our Prayer Warriors we will see our barns
FILLED WITH BEANS.

Lonely laundry lady & Humble wife

Lonely Laundry Lady.
I was so excited to read your comment.  I miss you too.  I was thinking of you just the other day wondering how the greenhouse is going and garden and canning and so on.
If you get a chance can you tell me what all you've been up to.  We bought a dozen baby chicks from some Amish folks but 7 of them died within the first 7 hours.  Boo.  Then one more so we are down to just 4.  We heard there are some in Victoria so when we go there on saturday we will see if they have any and if they do I will buy a few more. 

Humble wife ~ my kids were not thrilled when I stopped coloring my hair but I was just plain tired of it and I kept reading about all the chemicals and so on so I just quit.  I had a sneaking suspicion that I had pretty silver hair and I was right.  I just make sure to use the shampoo with the blue color in it made especially for gray hair.  It keeps the yellow out of it.  Now that Ive gone gray I look around and I am sure not the only one.  he he

More little dresses

If you've been reading my blog for very long you may know that I love to sew. I also love to give. I found an excellent opportunity to do both the other day. A facebook friend mentioned that she was going to do some sewing for some little nieces and nephews who were living with their grandma. She didn't ask, I asked her if I could sew for them too. She said yes and gave me their sizes. I started yesterday and so far I have made three little dresses. I need to make two more dresses and then two pair of shorts. I think I will buy t-shirts to go with the shorts I make for the boys. Then my goal is to make nightwear for each of them. There are seven little sprites by the way. Now I am praying that the Lord will help me find cute fabric at garage sales so I can keep my fabric stash stocked so I can do projects like this when I want to.

Jeff and Debbie

Yesterday Jeff got a new cowboy hat so Hannah took his picture.  I happened to still look decent after church in the morning so I asked her to take pictures of us together as well as seperate.  These turned out pretty good taking into account what she had to work with.

Jeff and Shiloh

Jeff and his new hat.

First couple picture in years.

And there I am.

Locker hooked rug

Last week I learned of a new craft called locker hooking.  I watched a few you tube videos demonstrating the technique and thought it would be a fun thing to try.  Last Saturday I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a canvas and a locker hook.  Total cost was less than $5.00 because I used my 40% off coupon and so did Jeff.  We each bought one item.  I immediately began working on the rug after watching the tutorial one more time.  It was a blast.  In one week I completed a new rug for my kitchen.  I loved the project because I was able to use up scraps from my scrap box and the total cost was less than $5.00.  My kind of project.
Here are some photos of the tools and my project.
First the supplies needed.

Locker hook.  It has a crochet type hook on one end and a needle eye on the other.

Rug canvas.  I used a smaller one than the one shown.

Scrap fabric cut into one inch strips.  I cut some denim into half inch strips but they were too hard to work with so I stuck to regular fabric after part of one row of denim.

 Rug after a couple of days of work.

 Close up of locker hooking the rug.

The completed rug.  I am going to try t shirt yarn on one and see if I like that.

Missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"


Subject: Blog, May 4, 2013

Date: May 4, 2013 7:20:37 AM CDT
BOUNCING BABY GOATS KEEP BUSH BUNNY HOPPING!
Bunny just got in from our goat farm, where 117 Orphans Unlimited goats now live. I was out there taking care of baby goat number 8 for this week. On Thursday, the maternity ward of BOTH barns were literally overflowing with bouncing baby goats, all going BAAAA… as they chased after their mobile baby bottles!

SIX Baby Goats were born in 20 hours on Thursday. #6 was dropped into this world as I watched. #7 and 8 arrived on Friday.

Friday, I was accompanied by Linda Stanley, who got to cuddle one of the fuzzy little ones, as they are so soft and cute when only a few days old.

Within the first 24 hours after the birthing process, each mother goat receives a dose of de-wormer medication to prevent anemia from 1000’s of blood sucking stomach worms that are signalled to hatch due to hormonal changes during the birth process. Stomach worms are the #1 killer of goats, and our adult goat death rate has been zero since starting this routine.

It’s less trips on me when they all “bingo” on the same day, but it does stress the goat staff a bit. The babies stay in the nursery with their momma’s for 3-5 days before joining the herd. This gives the babies time to strengthen their legs and learn to run beside their momma when in the pasture. One man is assigned to do nothing but nursery duty when the birth rate is so high. Those first 24 hours are critical if a weak goat is to be saved. PTL most of ours are born strong and healthy.

ORPHAN BABIES ALSO ON THE RISE
NINE new orphaned babies were admitted to our program in the last 7 days. This is sad news, because it means that their mommas perished after giving birth.

Linda Stanley, and Nilza have been kept busy teaching new mothers how to boil water, clean baby bottles, mix formula, etc. These are things we take for granted, but which these grandmothers have never been exposed too.

These grandmothers grew up in 30 years of war, where a baby who lost its mother was doomed, as no formula or baby bottles existed.

So learning to bottle feed a baby is quite a challenge to some of them, especially when they’ve never heard of germs!
MY BLOGS MAY BE A BIT SHORT
the next few weeks.

Tomorrow we kick off the “public bean buying” program. I spread the word last week that I’d buy beans brought to our warehouse.

We have submitted documents requesting permission to buy early (before June 1st) in bulk from the villages. We hope to receive a positive answer this week.

But in the meantime, I’m free to buy whatever is brought to my door.

SO OUR THEME SONG IS “Bringing in the beans, bringing in the beans. We will go a praising, bringing in the beans!”

All that is sung to the well-known hymn, “bringing in the sheaves”.

We need all the beans the public can spare if we are going to feed orphans this year.
Blessings from Brenda, Linda, and Eric in Balama


"Bush Bunny" Brenda Lange
LOVE GIFTS TO:

ORPHANS UNLIMITED, INC.

11152 WESTHEIMER RD., PMB 391

HOUSTON, TX 77042


LOVE GIFT TO: ORPHANS UNLIMITED in RSA

Standard Bank-Hatfield

(branch code) 011-54515

Name: Orphans Unlimited

Acct. # 017743036
PERSONAL NOTES TO BRENDA

brenda@orphansunlimited.org

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES:

LINDA FERGUSON

linda@orphansunlimited.

Magic quilt block

I decided I wanted to learn to piece quilt tops and learn to quilt.  Today I cut out several 10 inch squares of fabric and a few strips 2  1/2 inches wide.  I followed the tutorial on you tube and this is what I came up with.
This is how the blocks looked when I first put them together.

Then I made a pencil mark down the middle diagonally with the blocks right sides together and sewed alone each side.  Then I cut along the pencil line and this is how they look. 

 The look a little different when you turn the blocks different ways.  This seems like a fun block to do.

I joined a Christmas quilt block exchange even though I have never pieced quilt blocks before.  I figured this would be a good time to learn.  Hopefully I will get pretty good at it by the time its time to exchange blocks.

One nice thing with this block is that the 10 inch middle blocks can be used when making the quick pot holders.  Tutorial here: http://www.doingmybestforhim.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-pot-holder-in-minutes.html And any extra strips can be cut down to use with the new craft Im in to called locker hooking.  I am almost done with my first locker hooked rug.  I will post a picture as soon as I finish it.

Missionary update

GRANNY WALKS ORPHANS 12 MILES TO BEG HELP
On Thursday, April 25th, 3 exhausted children dressed in rags followed by a frail granny holding 2 very malnourished babies, limped into our food give out area begging for help. The little boy, Mario, 4 yrs. old, was carried in my his 13 year old aunt, as the ALL NIGHT, 12 mile (20km) walk had exhausted him to the point that his little legs wouldn’t hold his weight. The scene was heart wrenching, knowing that these kids used their last strength to get to us.
Granny Feliciana, told us that she struggled through the rainy season, scavenging food for her own 2 children and her 3 orphaned grandchildren after her daughter died Jan. 5th from an unknown illness. Granny’s field of corn and beans yielded little in March, and she is now desperate for help. All of them are in different stages of malnutrition as well as anemic, and needing deworming.
After getting them registered, they were given a deworming medicine, and outfitted with new clothes, including sweat shirts as the weather is already turning cold here. When the kids got their “hoodies” we saw the first smiles hit their little faces.

Also given were the last 3 blankets we have, plus 3 grass mats, 2 cooking pots, plates/spoons/cups and food, including high protein cereal and formula for both babies for a month. Granny was told she must find a neighbour who can walk the distance to bring in orphan Baby Zinho for weighing every 2 weeks as well as pick up more food for them. She could hardly walk after this last trip, and there is no way she could do it every 2 weeks.

We loaded them up in our pick up and Capena, our office manager, took them to the local market to get them fresh bread rolls and the high protein

“bah-gee-ahs” (fried bean patties) and then drove them home. A package of sugar cookies brought the 2nd smile to their little faces.
This family needs sponsors to help Granny Feliciana, as she has a big job ahead of her if both babies are to survive.

$20/month is needed for EACH baby (the 2nd baby, Joiza is her own child).

Feliciana’s breasts are drying up from malnutrition, but she shares what she has with both babies.

The two orphans, Mario Tamino, 4 years and his Sister Messina, 10 years need sponsors at $30/month each.
Thursday was Baby Day for sure, as 4 other new babies came in needing formula.

One set of twins and 2 other single birthed babies.

This is your Love Gifts at work.

FAMILY PHOTO:

Mario, 4, is far left, then his 13 year old Aunt, and then Granny Felicana holding both 9 month old babies, Joiza on the left and orphaned Zinho on the right.

Feliciana’s son sits to her left and orphan Misssina, age 10 sits at his feet.

BABIES with Granny Feliciana and Mama Brenda

Baby Zinho, 4.2Kg (9.2 lbs) at 9 months of age. (held by Granny since he is so insecure he refused to let go of her.)

Baby Joiza, 4.9 kg (10.78 lbs) Feliciana’s baby held by Brenda


BABY GOATS ABOUNDING

Had 3 baby goats born this week.

One set of twins (boy and a girl), as well as a single birth (male) by a first time “mommy goat” which was slightly pre-mature.

The twins are lively and look like 2 fur balls on springs.

The little preemie goat (1kg or 2.2 lbs) fought to live, but lost the battle last night in his sleep.

We are now at 111 goats total.


Between the human babies and the goat babies, Nurse/Vet BBBrenda has been kept on the HOP!

Know we all love and appreciate what all of you do to help us via prayer and your giving.


BLESSINGS FROM BUSH BUNNY BRENDA AND HER BUSH BASHING BEAN TEAM

Keep those prayers coming, as we still need to locate about 60 tons of beans.

Happy Summer Time to all of you in the USA! Keep cool!

Happy Winter to all my South African friends! Keep warm, as it looks like it could be a super cold one.

Moz. nights are already around 65 F. (20C) That’s really cold for our kids with their light weight cotton clothing.

Time to hunt up sweat shirts and long pants for everone.

Bush Bunny Brenda

Eric Dry

Linda Stanley

And the Balama staff

cute

More dresses for Kastyn

I made a few more dresses for Kastyn so Mollie can take them with her when she moves to Missouri.
Three of them are made from bandannas and one is from fabric.  If these fit well I am going to make a pattern for a peasant dress.  I don't want to keep sewing until I know these fit her.
I hope mom takes a pix in each dress for me.

 They are not pictured but the camo dress has brown bloomers to match.

The last dress was made with fabric pieces not bandannas like the first three were.