We heard today of how Mbambu and the team at the Compassion Orphanage in Butembo have helped save the life of a small premature baby. Mbambu wrote to tell us of how the baby was brought in from a small rural health centre that was attacked by an armed group. A nurse, a watchman and three patients, including the baby’s mother, were brutally killed. This is a grim reminder today, on Holocaust Memorial Day, of the conflict and intense suffering that has continued for more than 26 years in north-east Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mbambu is at the hospital caring for the baby, who has put on 300 gms since arrival. She will bring her back to the orphanage once the danger from infectious disease is lessened, but of course that will just be the beginning of the intensive feeding and maternal and medical care the child will need in the next year. She wrote to us saying ‘thank you Lord for saving this child‘.
Other news we heard recently was that two teenage boys have finally been reunited with their families, one (see photo below) who had been at the orphanage since he was aged four. This takes a lot detective work, partly carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and also cost the orphanage $850 most of which Semiliki had provided. We also heard that another 6 children had been taken in by generous local families in Butembo. Our aim has always to be to support Mbambu and the team to find permanent homes for the children, including family reunification whenever possible.
Do continue to support the great work of our partners in Congo! And please do share our stories with friends who you think would like to hear about us!
