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Dear
Congregations of the Sierra Pacific
Synod,
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In
our first email, you met a few of the many Africans touched by
the Zambian Lutheran church's micro-credit program. In
this 2nd letter, we'll tell you about other inspiring
initiatives we are part of.
My
wife Susan's (above at left) passion is Child Health.
Because of AIDS, literally millions of children in southern
Africa now grow up without
the needed parenting, nutrition, medical care, education,
social protection, and love that you give your own children.
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Infant
Crises |
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Susan
writes, "We recently received a plea from the main hospital
 to
help with
therapeutic feeding for a little girl named
Kapasa who has AIDS. Her body is very weak as she is
having great trouble tolerating food while being on
anti-retroviral therapy. Most HIV+ children do well if
they receive treatment early enough, but she did not.
She is 3 years old but weighs only 16 pounds. She
required a specialized formula, not available in
Zambia, which
allows her to eat despite having become intolerant to both
milk and soy products. This special child is a fighter
and has shown a very strong will to survive against the
odds. With offerings we purchased a supply of this
special Hydrolized Soy formula from South
Africa to carry back for
her. She is improving, but we know too well the
difficult road to health she is still on."
If you would
like to know more about Susan's work for HIV+ children, click
on the drawing above.
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Protecting
Childhood |
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Children
and youth make up a large portion of the population in urban
areas yet there are few child friendly recreation areas beyond
informal dirt fields. The value of safe play to healthy
psycho-social child development is well known. In fact,
play parks partially protect vulnerable children from high
risk activities and older boys who seek out younger
girls. In fact, keeping girls in school is one of the
best ways to prevent them becoming HIV positive.
Our
17 year old daughter, Chloe, has learned how to design and
coordinate the construction of such playparks.
Above is the first completed playpark
at Bauleni School. Chloe has
partnered with a 2nd needy school, Chibelo Basic. With
2000
pupils, the school leadership is eager to work with us in
providing recreational facilities. Our builders have
reviewed Chloe's new design, and procurement and construction
have begun. The children are so eager they even stand to
watch the builders in
anticipation. |
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Planting
Churches |
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Lay a Firm
Foundation
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia has only one true brick
and mortar church which is located in the capital city
Lusaka. The rest of the
churches are semi permanent structures made of mud brick and
thatched roofing. Your offerings are funding the
construction of a 12 x 17 metre brick & mortar church in
the distant northwest of Zambia! This
building will serve as the hub for the 15 congregations in the
region. Improving childrens' ministries is one of their
goals. Such support from you, as fellow Christians,
means so much to the members of this national
church.
If you wish to supplement this building
program, your church treasurer can send gifts to the
ELCA-Global Mission Chicago offices, writing "GM Level 2:
ELC-Zambia Church Roofing" on the check memo
line.
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As
your missionaries, we have many things to be grateful to God
for. Experiencing a different culture up close, watching
a national church work towards self-reliance, improving care
for HIV+ children, all while providing a loving home for our
daughters.
Admittedly, there are events which
can sometimes sap our hope and drive for Africa, including
friends dying from AIDS, the acute suffering in
Zimbabwe, and the
war in DR-Congo, both countries right next door to us.
However, despite all this, God has seen fit to bolster our
faith because of you, and your continued belief in this
work.
Gratefully,
 
Rev. Arden and Dr. Susan Strasser
PO
Box
39111
Rhodes Park, Lusaka, Zambia |
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