June 2011 News & Update

Our Neighbours Ministry Incorporating Isaiah’s Homes of Love
Newsletter : June 2011

General Ministry News
Our Neighbours would like to express sincere thanks to you all for your support through this year, 2011. We regret that as the months have passed we have not been able to keep you all updated with the happenings, we would love to be able to do this on a monthly basis as daily we see and can testify to your support.
We are grateful for you all who have stood by us in prayer, for all who have sacrificed financially so that others in Zimbabwe can be blessed, and for all of you who have encouraged us to continue being those on the ground who are able to help others.
Our project director Martin Barrow was able to visit Australia in April and share in person the amazing work which continues here in Bulawayo through the commitment of you our sponsors, donors and friends. Martin had some wonderful “coffee & convo evenings” at a few churches, did some great interviews and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all who made these evenings of sharing the great success they were. Through your support our work here continues giving God the Glory for these, His, Ministries. Thank you for these times.

The Babies Home in February seemed quiet for a short bit with seven toddlers moving to their new home in Morningside. It was not long before the next batch of leaders took their places in the Home, and for a short while the toddlers asked of the whereabouts of their older “siblings”. Taking them a few at a time to visit Ebenezer Home they are now more settled and seem to comprehend the move. Our numbers in December 2010 were at their highest with 26 children, 5 of which were “out” in the process of fostering for adoption. After the Ebenezer move our numbers dropped down to 15 children and at this point I reflect back and wonder how in the world we managed to love so many toddlers and babies all in one go. Of course we managed and loved every minute of it !!
Isaiah’s statistics at present show 81 children having come into our care since operations began 2006/2007, 3 “out” fostering are still in progress, 15 fostering have been finalized to individuals/families, 10 are in process of fostering at the first of our Forever Homes, 18 children are in placement at our second and third forever homes, 14 have been reunited with extended families and sadly 5 have passed away. It is encouraging to note we have had another 3 children identified for fostering with the intention of adoption.
Rehoboth, the first of the Forever Homes which was started in partnership with Mind The Gap Africa in October 2008 is now fully independent, and we would like to extend our congratulations to them for this achievement. They are in the process of finalizing fostering for all the children in their care.
Windles, the second of the forever homes continues to provide a loving and homely environment to 10 children between the ages of 4 and 12, seven of these children are girls.
The seven toddlers from Isaiah’s were joined by another 2 toddlers from Sandra Jones Centre at Ebenezer. The eldest girl from this forever home has been identified for fostering. All eight children under the age of 4 have settled well into this new home.

Our Neighbours Team continues to work together with the poorest of the poor in Bulawayo in an endeavour to empower them to self-sustainability. We are seeking to empower both individuals and disadvantaged communities with small business opportunities, chicken and pig-rearing projects. We ask you to continue to pray with us to be able to assist them in such a way that they will sow diligently, harvest and reap the rewards of the labor.
Winter is upon us and many of us have the comfort of warm clothing, jerseys or jackets and blankets to cover up in the cold. Our babies have been blessed with many jerseys, woolen hats and blankets so kindly knitted by folk. There is a great need for more adult woolen hats, blankets and warm clothing which can be distributed to the destitute who attend Soup Kitchen and our Health Information Service. If you are able to assist please feel free to email us at your convenience. ourneighbours@yoafrica.com

More Babies Home News
Now safe in the arms of Jesus
Baby Rachel was discharged from the Hospital at the beginning of June, and her desperate father brought her to our Home asking us to help take care of her. Her mother had died a few weeks after her delivery and he was struggling to take care of her properly. It was clear that Baby Rachel had been very sick for some time because although she was six months old she was the size of a newborn baby. She had spent a lot of time in hospital with her father at her side.
Baby Rachel came into our care on Monday 6th June and because she was so weak she was syringe fed 10ml at a time at almost each waking moment. She groaned a lot in the beginning but these soon became less frequent as she became accustomed to be loved, held and cuddled.
Again the other toddlers were in awe of another small baby in the house, and in particular Nobuhle, Tadiwa and Noma took more notice of our Baby Rachel’s presence. The first night after she had arrived at Isaiah’s Noma sat with the family before dinner and in giving thanks she prayed “Dear Jesus, thank you for our new baby, touch her where it is painful and heal her, thank you for everybody else and thanks for our food, Amen.” Tadiwa loved to touch her tiny hands and head whilst Nobuhle let everyone know there was a new baby in the house.
Sadly Baby Rachel did not recover and passed away early hours of the 11th of June. We are sorry we did not have time to let our newsletter friends know of Baby Rachel’s arrival. In memory of Baby Rachel we share...
It is always difficult to understand why a small child dies – so innocent and helpless and so we share our little Rachel’s fairytale, we know now she rests safely in the arms of Jesus...
“This is a story of a very precious baby girl who was very sick, her mommy was also sick and she died when the baby girl was very small. I think the baby girl was very sad when her mommy died but she knew that Jesus loved her. Her daddy loved her a lot and he wanted her to get better. Her daddy gave her a real cool name – it was Rachel. Rachel’s daddy asked some people if they could help look after his baby girl so she could get better. Now Rachel had lots of people around her who cared for her, loved her, prayed for her, fed her, bathed her and they kept her warm in blankets and laid her to sleep at night in her special bed.
God could see that Rachel was very sick and was struggling to get better so he decided he would bring her into Heaven where she would have no more deep pain. God had a special job for Rachel, even though she was a tiny baby.
Heaven is just like it is on Earth except that there are lots of beautiful things all around – there is no more pain and no more hurt. God’s special job for Rachel was to be one of his precious baby Angels. God needs angels of all ages to care for those He loves on Earth and when He saw just how much Rachel was suffering, he knew he could make her into a beautiful angel to care and comfort other sick babies. Do you know that God has mommy and daddy angels, grandma and grandpa angels. He has boy angels and girl angels and even aunty and uncle angels.
Jesus is holding Rachel in his arms right now and explaining to her how much he loved her and what a special job he has in store for her. There are lots of children all over the world who are hurting and babies like Rachel will be angels to care for those babies and children. I think Rachel’s mommy is also an angel and so she will help Rachel to be a beautiful, loving and caring baby angel.”

Arrival of Baby Talent
Baby Talent was placed into our care at the end of May 2011 and is said to be about 6 months old. He has a gorgeous smile which he willingly shares at the slightest bit of attention, he is a very content baby and is seldom heard crying. He feeds and sleeps well and has settled into our Home where he is currently on a Place of Safety.
This precious baby boy was brought into our care as he has no extended family willing to care for him whilst his mother is being treated at a local facility for patients with mental disorders.

Baby Count as at 18/06/11 :- 16 beautiful blessings from God
6 girls
(Nomalanga/Faith/Nobuhle/Blessing/Jessica/Darlene)
10 Boys
(Pride/Mthandazo/Craig/Keith/Tadiwanashe/Samuel/Christopher/Matthew/Brandon/Talent)

Banking Details
If you wish to support us by making a financial contribution, kindly email us for the applicable bank details and tax deductible options relevant to your country of origin.

Website
Our website is up and running, if you wish to view this, visit www.ourneighbours.org
If you would like to check out our regular updates - we are also on Facebook. Our Neighbours

Other Newsletters
Should you be interested in receiving Martin’s newsletters for Our Neighbours Ministry and Isaiah’s Homes of Love and/or the Financial Reports, please feel free to email him on martinbarrow@hotmail.com and he will add you to this mailing list.
If you would like to receive the Ministry Prayer Partners Newsletter kindly email Charmaine on ourneighbours@yoafrica.com
If you wish to unsubscribe to this newsletter, simply send an email to isaiahs@yoafrica.com with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line.

Thank you for your time in reading of our news.
Luv ‘n’ friendship in the Lord always
Belinda

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Mrs. Belinda L. Wilson
The Administrator
Isaiah's Umuzi Wothando
57 Heyman Road, Suburbs,
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
P.O. Box 2361
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-9-64474
Mobile: +263-777-773719
Alt: +263-712-212378
Email: isaiahs@yoafrica.com
Alt: ourneighbours@yoafrica.com
Website: www.ourneighbours.org
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Psalm 37 vs. 4 :- Delight yourself in the Lord
& He will give you the desires of your heart.