As many of you know, Richard and I have been involved with a ministry in Zambia–called Wiphan Care Ministries – www.wiphan.org. As you may know, Zambia is a small country in the center of Africa–hard to get to and one that we have had quite a time getting folks willing to move to! Currently we have teams that go in to serve our Zambian staff–and we also have STACY an amazing grad in her 20s that has served us in big ways in the last year! We have 2 schools with 450 orphans in our program and 150 widows in our skills training. We also have homes for our children where we hire widows to care for them–so many widows there have joined us in serving the orphans and have a job now for themselves too. We simple visit them–love them–encourage them–equip them and pray the Lord will raise up others to serve with us…and maybe even one day go there!
Zambia has a large HIV/AIDS problem where statistics puts the infection rate at over 40%. This is a major reason life expectancy is only 31 years. There are now 1,000,000 orphans in Zambia.- This is one tenth of the population.
Today I want to introduce you to a double orphan that attends our school. (Double orphan simply means he has lost both his mother and father).
Meet Shadrack Musonda!
Shadrack’s parents are deceased, and he lives with his uncle near the Mapalo compound. He is 18 years old, in the 10th grade and has been a student at Wiphan since the 1st grade. Shadrack is a bright and determined young man with perfect attendance and one of the top students in Wiphan’s Inshila (Discipleship and Accountability) program.
Recently Shadrack discovered a lump on the left side of his neck. He approached Wiphan’s Nurse Becky, who referred him to the clinic for a biopsy. The biopsy results revealed that Shadrack has Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. While the diagnosis is scary, the doctors believe the cancer is still in the early stages and are hopeful about the outcome of his treatment.
A cancer diagnosis is never easy, but we are encouraged by how the Lord has gone before Shadrack. The first cancer treatment hospital in Zambia was recently completed in Lusaka, a city about 4 hours away. This new medical facility will allow Shadrack to receive treatment in his own country. He will undergo 6 chemotherapy treatments in the coming months.
The good news is that chemotherapy is free to Zambians, and we praise God for this. However, there will be additional costs for Shadrack’s medical care. He will likely need an MRI and CAT scan as he begins treatment, and the government does not cover these costs. As many of you know, chemo is incredibly tough on the body and Shadrack will require a strict diet and a clean environment to help his body fight this disease. Maintaining both will be big challenges while living in the compound. These costs, plus the cost of travel to and from the hospital, will equal $5000. Wiphan will be working with Shadrack’s uncle to provide the best care and assistance possible.
There are two ways that you can help Shadrack: the first is by praying for him, his uncle, and his doctors as they begin this daunting journey. Secondly, if you would like to help cover the expenses of Shadrack’s treatment you can donate to his care fund at http://www.wiphan.org/donate/donate.html, and enter “Shadrack” in the Comments field.
Thank you in advance for considering helping Shadrack whether it’s contributing toward his medical OR helping us spread the word on this opportunity to help him! We are truly in this together!!!
Blessings!
Andrea
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