You may have heard about the serious drought that is afflicting parts of Africa including Zambia - there have been a couple of news articles about it recently on BBC news, here, and here from 41:00 to 45:50.  They mention that Southern Province, which is where we work, has been particularly hard hit.

We have responded by increasing the food support that we provide to Muumba School, the malnutrition ward at Monze Mission Hospital, and the disabled unit at Monze School.  As a result, Muumba School is still open for business, unlike many other schools in the area.

But we would like to do more.  We'll be discussing what we can do at our next Management Committee meeting, and also discussing with our  partners n Zambia.

And the good news is that the World Food Programme has now got involved.

We'll make sure that you are the first to know what we are doing, but in the meantime please pray for the rain that they so desparately need.

Christmas Coffee, Cakes and Crafts at Stow Park Church Centre.

On December 14th, HHI hosted an informal get together for our loyal supporters.  Teas, coffees and tasty Christmas goodies were available and alongside our usual craft items from India and Zambia other items, donated by friends of HHI for the purpose of fundraising, were on sale.  Not only did our Merthyr friends bring handmade greetings cards, crafts and lucky dip items to sell, they also gave a £300 donation raised at their Croeso (Welcome) Club.  

And, as a background to the friendly chatter, Jute had created an informative PowerPoint showing some of the highlights of her recent trip to Zambia.

In all, we had a very pleasant, relaxing and profitable afternoon. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make it a successful afternoon and to those who couldn’t make it… there’s always next year!

Nadolig Llawen i chi gyd!

Happy Christmas to you all!

There's a couple of things that you may like to know about - one recent and another not so recent.

The not so recent one is that we are now on Facebook.  We've got about 100 people who view our posts from around the world.  If you can, please follow us, like us and our posts, tell us how we can improve our posts (we're very much still trying to learn), and share them with all your friends - that way we can spread the word about what we're doing to a wider audience.

The recent one is that we can now take donations and payments by credit or debit card - including American Express.  All you need to do is phone us, email us or contact us by Facebook Messenger, tell us how much you would like to donate or pay, your card number, expiry date, and security code, and, if you would like a receipt, where to email or text it to - and we'll do the rest.

A couple of months ago we received an email from Pastor Santhosh, one of our co-workers in India, telling us about a young woman who needed an emergency operation on her appendix.  But there would be a cost involved, and the family didn't have the money to pay.

We were able to send out Rs. 25,000 [just under £300], most of the cost of the operation.  The family has found the rest of the money somehow, and the operation went ahead.  So we were delighted to receive an email today from her father:

Respected Sir,

Greetings to you in the matchless name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

I hope you are doing great in health. I am writing this letter to you so that I can inform you that my daughters’ surgery has been done successfully. It is all due your kind help and support of financially. Without this I cannot be able to afford this much money for my daughters’ treatment. Thank you very much.

Once again i thank you very much for your precious sacrificial offerings have been great blessings for us. I pray and believe that God multiply and bless you richly for that you have sacrificed for His kingdom and his people. I pray also that what you have planted will definitely bring forth rich harvest of souls in His kingdom.

Yours in the Love of Jesus

Srikant Patnaik

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things : The Bible
If you love someone, don't tell it but show it. If you hate someone, tell it but don't show it: Abraham Lincoln

       HHI set up Asha Kiran Ashram about 10 years ago as a centre for helping disabled children in Tamil Nadu, India.  The latest Tidings tells the story of two children, but there are many others whose lives have been transformed by the centre.  One such is Ameerkhan.  Pastor Santhosh, the director, takes up the story:

       Ameerkhan joined in our ASHA KIRAN ASHRAM School on 13th March 2013. He is having a Disability of Cerebral Palsy. He got a lot of developments in his studies after coming to ASHA KIRAN ASHRAM. He got developments in Reading, Writing, Time, Money, and Number Concepts. He learned to write the names of his Mother and Father. He can correctly tell the time by watching Clock and wrist Watch.

       He got Vocational trainings like making Jewels with beads, Phenol making and also Poultry Training. Now he is able to start his own Poultry with 10 Chicks and also he is rearing 2 Goats too. If we can help him to develop little more, it will be help for him to sustain his Family. We are indebted to HEALTH HELP INTERNATIONAL for the Rehabilitation of Ameerkhan so far.

        A youngster with Cerebral Palsy supporting his family?  Now, that is an achievement!

Our regular readers will remember that Jute visited Dr Martha Phiri, a children's doctor, in Chipata, Zambia on her last visit.  Dr Martha is married to Dr John Phiri, whom we at HHI have known for many years.  She reported on her visit here.  Her work is vital in saving the lives of babies and their mothers.

She has sent us a list of equipment that the hospital needs desparately, in order of priority.  Two are at the top of the list:

1.  A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine - this keeps airways open, and prevents a patient from suffocating.  We have sourced one that is specifically designed for use in the developing world - simple and robust.  The total cost, including shipping to the hospital, is £1055 if we order it before the end of the year.  If we wait until next year then the price will go up.

2.  A hand-held scanner that will detect jaundice in a new-born baby, without needing a blood sample to be taken.  The same company will provide one for £1300 including delivery to the hospital.

And if we order both, we may be able to negotiate a discount!

Can you help us to raise this money?

As promised, the roof was put on the dining block at Naanga Special School before the rains arrived!  This has been funded entirely by HHI supporters like you.

The new building houses a dining room, store room and kitchen and if you look closely it’s possible to catch a glimpse of the old cooking area next to the newly erected kitchen / dining room.  The head teacher is now talking about the new room doubling as a recreation area.  At this end we are already exploring some possibilities as to how we can help.

So, having dangled that carrot and whetted your appetite, we now say…

Watch this space!!

For the last six months, HHI has been supporting a programme whereby destitute women are given training in sewing (tailoring).  The idea is that they will then be able to support themselves and their families.  Pastor Wilson, who oversees this, would like to continue it, and has just sent us a report in answer to some questions that I asked:.

Very respected Edmond sir,

Praise the Lord!

About the Tailoring Training

1.  Do you want to continue the training?

Yes. sure we want to continue this training programme 

2.  If so, how many people have benefitted from the training?

Around 25 women will benefited the new training.

3.  How many have completed the training?

20 women we give training. From this 12 womens got good benefit. Others need more training.

4.  How many are now making use of the skills that they learned, and earning enough money to support themselves (and their families)?

Seven women are starting work from their home.They are earning money for their daily life and also for their other family members getting benefit from this work.  Other some womens are waiting for starting work with their own machines. But they are not able to buy machines.  This is a sad.  [Pastor Wilson also runs a network of over 100 credit unions - these may be able to help.  A sewing machine costs about £100 new, less than this second hand].

More than 20 womens are waiting for their training.But if you will agree we will start 15th of December.

But the problem is our Tailoring Teacher is very efficient.  Good knowledge.  So, she ask  now a 10000 Rs [about £110] per month for her honorarium. 

Story of  Mrs.Amritha

The Proof is in the pudding!

Our regular readers will remember that the area of Zambia that we work in is in the grip of a serious famine.  Government efforts to address this may politely be described as insufficient.

On 6th November we reported that Mr Bbilika, headteacher at Muumba school, was very grateful for the support given by HHI during the ongoing drought and time of hunger. Otherwise, because no government funding was available to help feed the children, Muumba school would have been forced to close.  

So, we are very happy to share the Muumba mealtime photos that we have just received.   

Using the 4 large saucepans which we purchased for K 400 (£25), the parents are now able to cook cabbages, soya pieces, nshima and tomatoes.  In order to enjoy their meal, the children bring their own plates to school.

No doubt those of you who have followed the Muumba school journey will be delighted with both the pictures which clearly show the children enjoying their lunch and also the amazing changes that have taken place in the school.

Thank you friends for making this possible!