Saturday, January 31, 2009

+ Kenya...

I will also be going to Kenya in February!

I leave tomorrow for 2 1/2 weeks in Mozambique- arriving Feb 3, leaving Feb 20- and then I'm heading to Kenya from the 20-28th. I'll be working at Huruma Children's Home- see link below! I'm thrilled to add this to the itinerary because it will be a true Kenyan experience- eating all kenyan meals, living with kenyans, working with kenyans. Much less westernized than Iris in Mozambique will be. I'm so excited to leave tomorrow, broaden my horizons, and expand my comfort zone!

http://www.hchngong.org/

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Africa Bound!

In a little over two weeks, I leave on my first adventure in Mozambique!


Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a population of 21 million, of which 1.6 of these are orphans. Because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the number of orphans is constantly on the rise. 54% of people here are living below the national poverty line, and 44% of the population are malnourished. I'll be visiting from February 2-25, which is in just a couple of weeks! I am serving at Iris Ministries, headed by Rolland and Heidi Baker (they have several books out, check it out!) Iris is an AWESOME organization! Iris started in Maputo and is now in 25 countries all over the world, heads up 6000 churches, and reaches thousands of children. 29 international missionaries serve in Maputo and over 175 Mozambican part time and full time staff are emplyoed.

Check out my location at: http://www.irismin.com/ministryLoc_zimpeto.cfm.

Videos about Iris:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_ZLloNMuKg- On the Zimpeto Center, my location!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6oB0UTwNK0&feature=related- Documentary on Iris

(Also see the many youtube videos on Iris, including countless interviews with Heidi Baker and documentaries of visitors from all over the world)

MOST IMPORTANTLY...I emailed the Zimpeto Center asking for a list of donated items or needs. I am listing them here to ask each of you to please consider contributing to these needs! With the flight and all the expenses, I can't afford very many of these items! Anything you can contribute is amazing- contact me to give them to me in person OR mail them to me (remember I leave Feb 2). THANK YOU!!!
For the bigger items that I can't fit in my suitcase, consider making monetary contributions instead and write what they are for in the notes line on the check. Checks can be made to Iris Ministries. SEE LIST BELOW. And contact me for my address to send supplies to.

Also please PRAY...pray for the orphans in Mozambique and pray that God will use me to serve and love for the three weeks I'm there.

Love,
Mychal


Suggested Donation Items

Urgent Needs:

Baby mobiles or crib toys for 0 - 6 months

Baby bouncer or seats

Premmie or newborn clothes

Triple antibiotic ointment

Disposable diapers, new born to 12kgs

Baby liquid soap

White Permanent Fabric Pens

New Single Sheets (flat and fitted)

Girls clothing ages 4 - 12

Boys and girls underwear ages 4 - 7.

Baby wet wipes

Baby shampoo (any brand)

Hand sanitizer

Boys shorts age 6 - 18

Boys T shirts age 6 - 18

Disposable latex gloves size medium or large.!!!!!!!

Paracetamol.


Current Needs:

Craft sponges

Craft scissors for 5 - 10year olds.

Triple antibiotic cream (lots)1% hydrocortisone cream

Baby bum cream like sudacream, bepanthan

bandaids

wet wipes for babies bums.

Hand sanitizer

disposable gloves

used but good educational baby toys ages 6months to 5 years.

used but good baby bags for mums to carry their baby gear in.s

imple jig saw puzzles ages 5 - 10 years.

DVD used good movies for kids from 8 years to 15 nice stories!

Disposable diapers for anyone who has room, premmie, new born, 6 - 15 kgs
Instruments- Second Hand Guitars for youth/children to learn onGuitar Strings for acoustic guitars - as many as you can bringGuitar Strings for electric bass guitars


Baby House:
* Priority items: * Diapers (especially disposable newborn and small sizes) and plastic pants
Clothes for premature babies

Crib Sheets

Good Quality Fisher Price Type sturdy toys

Baby Dolls - particularly black skinned

Chunky cars and trucks

Underwear - size 2 - 4

Laundry Markers

Instant Hand Santizer

One Piece Sleepwear - specially large - size 2 - 4

Spill proof training cups


Boys:
* Priority items* :- Shorts: especially age 12-18; good quality, prefer darker colors, "three quarter" / long length.

Long pants, prefer baggy-style

Underpants - small mans sizes- Belts
Other boys' items:Shirts, T-shirts, ages 6-18 years (not white)Jeans/trousers ages 7-18 yearsUnderwear: all sizes from 4-18 yearsLight Jackets for boys/girls: ages 5-18 Linen: Single Bed sheets, and blanketsSchool shirts - white School trousers - navy blueSports socksShoes: Size 2-10 ( ages 7 - 18) Sports socks Deodorant, shampoo, tooth brushes and toothpaste.Balls: soccer, football, basketball, etc.Frisbees and other toysPlaying cards.Curtains for windows


Clinic:
Single use, non-sterile gloves in sm/med. (boxes of 100) all you can bring!Oral Rehydration solution (ORS) powder packages for 1 liter of waterTriple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin or polysporin), Rolled Gauze,Cough syrup; Children’s chewable vitamins; regular multi-vitamins; iron supplements; Tylenol; ibuprofen (200 mg); Paracetemol (500 mg); Doxycyline, Cotrimoxazole, MetronidazoleIntravenous solutions: Glucose 5% Ringer 250ml, 500 ml, 1000mlHartmann 250ml, 500ml, 1000mlNatrium Chloride 0.9%Intravenous linesband-aids; elastic bandages; bandaging tape;cotton balls; Q-tips.IV or Syringe capsDiabetic candy (hard candy and chocolate)
Girls:Girls wrist watches for Christmas.Thin, lightweight sportsbras, the type you pull over your head that have no cups. In all sizes (please, no lace or underwire bras).Underwear sizes 4 - 7Clothing in nice condition. Girls wear dresses at or below the knee, nothing short please.No shorts or spaghetti strap tops for girls over 12 or so.School shirts - white School trousers - navy blueShoes in all sizes, especially sandals and flip-flops.Black baby dolls or Barbies.Combs.Nail Polish/RemoverDeodorant, shampoo, tooth brushes and toothpaste
GeneralPlastic tubs or old suitcases for under bed storageSunglasses for Christmas.Back packs for Christmas.CandyPortuguese Bibles Balloons Curly ribbon or fishing wire Colored paper Streamers Scissors Glue stick TapeBeads and thread (boys enjoy making necklaces etc as much as the girls!)
Hospitality: Sheets for single beds Mosquito Nets Tents Pillows Towels DishtowelsKitchenware including cutlery Tape: scotch, masking, duct Dry erase & Permanent Markers
PreschoolPuzzlesSimple preschool activitiesGlueCraft SticksQuality educational toys
SchoolEnglish/Portuguese dictionaries. English dictionary.Books/teaching materials for a local English Language School PencilsPensNotebooksScissorsGluePaper
YouthSoccer BallsBaseball CapsShorts - Size 14 - 18Jeans - Size 14 - 18