Newsletter Summer 2019

Dear Friends,

OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR PRIORITY

In Africa, you can hardly ever speak of a grey, gloomy, rainy — or even depressing — winter day. But that comparison perfectly describes the day when doctors were fighting for a young woman's life. She had been admitted to the hospital to give birth. After a seven-month pregnancy, complications arose, and it was far too early for delivery. The doctors ultimately had to give up their desperate struggle for the life of the mother, whose name we do not know. Yet, the seven-month premature baby survived the ordeal of the past few hours. For reasons unknown to us, the mother's relatives never appeared at the hospital. Perhaps they live many miles inland, or there were other explanations for why they abandoned mother and child to their fate.

Laura, as we named the baby, has now been living in our orphanage for about three weeks. Our name, "Dunia ya Heri," is Swahili and means "Earth of Blessing." As a Christian orphanage, we see it as our mission to be a blessing to our children. And we want to be that for little Laura, who was brought to us by the responsible social worker.

It is truly not easy to care for a seven-to-eight-month-old premature baby in Tanzania without nutritional supplements (which are exclusively available abroad). Laura therefore causes us concern; her body weight is increasing only slowly. We cannot recall ever holding such an incredibly delicate creature in our hands. Any comparison with other newborns is out of place here. Following medical advice, we have now found two wet nurses who help care for Laura, ensuring she receives complete nutrition every two hours. Because she is also woken regularly at night, Laura now sleeps with us in our bedroom so that Beate, my wife, can devote more attention to her. Due to her increased fluid needs, she also receives supplementary nutrient-rich, pure, fresh milk from coconuts harvested from our own palm trees. Although she has gained a little weight in recent days, it is by no means as much as we would wish.

That is why we also have a prayer request. We hope and trust that Laura will be as strong and full of life as our other little ones in a few months.

Currently, we are looking after 16 children. Unfortunately, the change in weather — we are slowly moving towards the Tanzanian winter season — has also brought with it a few colds that are making the rounds. However, it is by no means as difficult as it was in the first year, when we had to fight various diseases with immunocompromised children for months. Most flu-like illnesses are overcome in a few days.

Measured by the number of our children and the government-mandated caregiver ratio, we had to increase the number of our foster mothers. We are grateful to have found enough suitable staff – which is certainly not something to be taken for granted. We now employ a total of nine "Mamas" who rotate in shifts.

Day-to-day activities still focus on smaller tasks. They consistently bring much joy and variety to the 10 older children (excluding our six babies). They also build self-confidence: washing dishes, feeding chickens, watering young trees, sweeping the terrace, washing a few pieces of laundry, wiping and putting away tables and chairs after meals, and so on.

In the afternoon, the program also includes a walk to the beach, riding Bobby Cars, or playing ball. In addition, puzzles are often done, drawing, singing, and memorizing take place, regular devotions are attended, and a short Bible story is gone through after breakfast.

Construction Measures

Intensive construction has been ongoing since the middle of last year. So, the second home for girls was completed at the end of December. The shell construction of the third home building (for our boys) is finished. We have now started with the interior work. Since December, a second water tower for a total of 40,000 liters (equipped with a solar pump) and the shell construction of two staff apartments have been completed. In addition, a solar park has been built to power two washing machines and two refrigerators, as well as the general electricity needs in the children's day care and the second orphanage.

Finally, Beate and I were able to move into our own "four walls" at the turn of the year. We greatly appreciate having our own bathroom and kitchen. The construction of the primary school building was also important to us. Classes are scheduled to begin (with government approval, of course) in the next school year – just in time, as some of our children will then be enrolled.

Acknowledgements

All of this was and is only possible because there are people who appreciate Dunia ya Heri and the work being done here. In addition to some generous private donors, organizations have also helped – for example, "Ein Herz für Kinder" from Axel Springer Verlag, "Restore a Child"/USA, ADRA/Luxembourg, Maranatha/Prague, a foundation of the University of Stuttgart, and the financial service provider "Regio Dienstleistungen" (www.regio-dienstleistungen.de). A very big THANK YOU to all of them. Especially given the many construction measures, we are grateful that we had sufficient financial resources month after month to pay our employees and cover ongoing costs. At the end of this year, we expect construction teams from Berlin, Nuremberg, and Poland. The start of construction for a much-needed canteen and the establishment of a playground are planned. Anyone who would like to join should please contact us at info@dunia-ya-heri.org.

Our greatest thanks continue to go to the one who commissioned us to care for orphans and widows. Without God — we are sure — "Dunia ya Heri" would not have become what it is today. If you ask us if we still need support, the answer is a clear "YES." The completion of the school, with its interior fittings and furnishings, which is a multi-purpose building to be used as a church or community building on weekends, remains a major concern for us. The building is also intended to serve the local population beyond the orphanage grounds. As our project develops further, general operating costs also increase, so regular donations help to secure our monthly expenses.

Thank you all very much for supporting Dunia ya Heri through your donations, prayers, and helpfulness.

With warm regards and blessings,

Yours

Thomas Küsel

Vice Chair
Dunia ya Heri

Yours

Judith Klier

Chair
Dunia ya Heri

PS: Since Laura wouldn't eat enough and developed fevers, we unfortunately had to take her to a hospital in Dar
es Salaam. We hope and pray that she will be well again soon.

Donations

To help as many children as possible, we rely on donations. Thank you for your help.