Hello from Dondo, Mozambique,

This is a combined update covering the latest news about Filomena, about what I have been doing and what I believe the Lord is calling me to.

Filomena-

Communications regarding Filomena in Zimbabwe continue to come in by phone call and text message. God’s blessings are so apparent with Filomena, her father and Lavimo’. The biopsy confirmed the tumor was indeed Burkitt’s Lymphoma she was scheduled to begin chemotherapy but first needed to be completely healed of the infection in her arm. She began the chemo three weeks ago and although they said it most likely would make her feel sick and unable to eat she was totally fine! This was such great news. She is supposed to have the treatments on Tuesdays but last week and this she has been unable to receive it because her blood count is too low. I am not clear what is causing this or what is being done to address it. I have asked and am supposed to get more information today. This past weekend she had what sounds like a seizure. Again, not a great amount of information was given but she recovered quickly with prayer. We still do not know how long she will need to stay. They have been in Zimbabwe for almost 2 months. I do know that she continues to get stronger and is able to participate in little activities at the hospital. Thank you Jesus! There is a Pastor Kwarramba who with his wife have taken a very personal ownership in ministering to them in practical and spiritual ways. They even offered a home free of rent. The house gives Pastor Salmo and Lavimo’ a place to shower and prepare food and trade off who is sleeping at the hospital. One of them is with her at all times. We paid to remove items that were stored at the house and needed to purchase necessities such as an electric burner for cooking and sleeping bags and such. Other people have offered many of the basics like dishes and cooking supplies. We are so thankful that when we sent our friends off to Zimbabwe that God provided a “family” for them so they would not be alone in a new country. We have not been able to get any new photos but missionaries we know here who serve with a ministry based out of Harare, Zimbabwe will be going there this weekend and may be able to trade out the data card for the camera and bring it back for us. I am so eager to “see’ her even if just in photos. Thank you repeatedly for all of the financial and prayer support that so many have given for this amazing miracle girl! What a powerful story she will be able to tell as she grows up! Please continue praying for her complete healing and that the day will soon come for her to be reunited with her mother and siblings.

Laura – Past and Present-

I attached the March newsletter for our base that was put out by Susan Collmorgen. She and her husband Jason are the acting base directors until June. I was given a great write-up! J It covers a broad overview of some of the things we are involved in here.

The boys –

My life here is very full, both in having plenty to do and in it being rewarding! I have found Dondo a much better fit for me than Pemba. It is a smaller base with less children and so there is a greater intimacy. My “volunteer job” here is art but a great portion of my time and heart is invested in what comes down to “mothering”, especially with the younger half of our boys who range in age from 8 to the young teens. Three mornings a week I do devotions with them. They are such sweet times of being able to communicate the heart and wisdom of God. Each of our boys have backgrounds of pain and loss and some also abuse to different degrees. I trust that God is bringing healing and strength to them during our time together. During the day and night they stream in and out of my house. I give cups of cold water, offer paper and supplies so they can draw, help with homework, fix broken toys, apply band-aids and pray for wounded bodies or hearts. At night I join another missionary as she reads a Bible story and there are lots of hugs and good night wishes before they go to sleep. About two weeks ago we added a new little guy to our family. His name is Alberto and we think he is 8. It is pretty common here for people to not really know their ages. Births are not documented as formally as in the US so with all of the early deaths and broken families much information is lost. When Alberto came it was because his father was taken to jail for stealing. His mother died some time ago and here he was in need of a home. They lived way out in the bush and so he did not speak anything but Sena, the tribal language, and had never seen much of what surrounds us here. What a transition for him in all ways. After we finished the Bible story on the first night he was here I asked him (with assistance) if he had ever heard of Jesus before. His answer was no, never. What a priceless treasure we have been entrusted with. He is adjusting so well and learning so fast! He already understands a lot of Portuguese and is even picking up some English. He is a very smart and happy little boy who loves to come and hang around the house, loves to dance and is quite a good drummer on my table!

Art Ministry -

Early on I painted the entry gate with our name, “Center of Love”, with supporting verses on love in Portuguese. I am currently in the homestretch of painting a mural on one of the exterior walls of the Bible School. It is approximately 21’ x 8’ and gives a pictorial overview of the Bible from Creation to Acts and has children (because we are supposed to be like childlike in our faith) in a field of flowers as a harvest focus. There is also a child reclining on a lion next to a lamb. This is to signify intimacy with Jesus who is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God. I recently have had one of our middle aged boys helping me paint. He is a natural artist but came just last August out of terrible abuse at the hands of his father who then kicked him out and threatened to kill him if he came back. He is very sweet natured but very shy. It is precious to me to see him paint. He is doing a beautiful job but I see that what God is doing in him is even more beautiful.

Since being here I continue to hear words of thankfulness for the work I am doing. As I painted the entry gate and as I currently work on the large wall mural people comment about how beautiful it is but more significant to me is that many times people say how much it changes the atmosphere of the place. I have been teaching art 3 nights a week to a group that is a combination of our boys, boys from the community and some of the Bible School students. I have been taking them through foundational art knowledge. We have also spent focused attention on drawing the face and worked some on the human body. I am so thankful for all I was able to learn from Jerry Thomas while I was in the US over the last year! My students here are eager to learn and are especially grateful for the opportunity. Our Mozambican leaders often tell me how good it is that I am here to teach this. I have been told by a number of people that a person here in Mozambique who has artistic talents, especially as related to mural work and sign painting can make a very good income. I taught the “step by steps” of mural work last week and will work with a smaller group to allow them to put it into practice.

On Saturday mornings I teach art at another location that offers classes to children who are AIDS orphans but live with extended family members.

Other Ministry –

I have been able to participate in other areas of ministry as well. Some of these include preaching at a church in Beira where I spoke on being in “one accord” and looked at it from the perspective of how it was used for harm and how it was used for good. I have been able to speak at the local prison and had a creative way of using Noah’s ark in relation to those who are in prison but have surrendered their lives to the Lord. A few weeks ago I was able to speak about “preparing for the bridegroom” at a conference for girls on purity. One Saturday before I began the art classes I was able to help out with food ministry to the widows and was also blessed to take a bike tour through the villages to visit some of the widows that we are helping with their homes. That was a highlight.

Future Plans –

I have never been to this location in Mozambique prior to this trip and I wasn’t sure what I would find but believed it was where I was supposed to go. I really felt that is would be “a fact finding mission” for things God had put in my heart. I came with a vision to establish and facilitate a school or studio of art which has as a foundation a desire to train and equip artists who will in turn glorify and reveal God through the excellence of their work and the integrity of their character. It will be a place of mentoring, a place of mothering and fathering. It will offer a life skill or trade that can be a source of financial provision. As I mentioned above I have been told that an artist here who is skilled in mural work and sign painting can make a very good income. I desire to impart the understanding that if you are able to do very well it is not just for you individually to grow greater but for you to turn around to serve, help and equip others. There is a unused empty building on our center that would be perfect for this. I am waiting for final approval for this to be released to me for use. I will then need to begin the process of looking into grants and raising support.

Shortly before returning to Mozambique I was researching some things online and found the sight “Artists for Humanity”. Artists For Humanity’s mission is to bridge economic, racial and social divisions by providing underserved youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts. I was so excited to find this! It is so similar to and is a “live” functioning example, of the vision I carry for Mozambique. Just before returning to Mozambique I was able to go to Boston for three days. I spent time with Susan Rodgerson, who is the founder, and her amazing staff as well as some of the the students and observed the place in action. Susan was above kind and gracious and I continue to be in touch with her.

Prayer Requests and Needs-

Filomena – Blood count to stabilize, to be able to continue with treatments, no more seizures. Total healing! Overall care, provision and endurance for all three who are there.

Laura –

Prayer Coverage –

• Knowledge for specific placement in the body of Christ. After much prayer and time of consideration I withdrew my membership at what was my home church.
• Clear direction and connections both here and in the US for all things related to establishing this art school.
• I need a Mozambican “partner” for this program. I have very specific qualifications I am looking for. I think God has shown me who this could be. I need confirmation and will need provision for his salary.
• Health – Overall I have been very healthy but was sick for about a 2 week period. There are many extra concerns here and the combination of sickness and full days and extreme heat can really take its toll.
• People who would be willing to assist in practical ways, especially someone who would be willing to act as sort of a business or administrative manager in the US.
• To better understand and get the legal/business side of things in place so I can market my artwork for sale.
• Financial partners – Monthly supporters or one time gifts

Financial Support –

I have been very negligent to share my financial needs. On one side it is because I very much want to walk by faith and place my trust first and foremost in Jehovah Jireh – my God who provides. There is another side and God is making me deal with that. Although “I know that I know” that God has called me here to Mozambique I struggle with breaking free from the fear of communicating it and feeling like it is not quite good or valuable enough. It has been an issue for me for some time and there has been grace but God wants me to overcome this. He is allowing me to see that if I am unable to share and offer people the opportunity to partner in what is being done here it does not affect just me. It affects all of those that I am supposed to be here to touch. So – Here are my current financial needs.

• I have gotten behind due to my lack of sharing so I do have some immediate needs.

• My monthly bills in the US come to $224.00 a month.
• My housing is provided for here but we contribute $30.00 a month to pay for internet.
• At this point I do not have it but need to get emergency heath and evacuation insurance.
• My additional expenses here are for food to supplement the basic diet of rice and beans and etc, for personal needs and to have extra to be a blessing to those around me.
• I would like to have a minimum support of $550.00 a month.
• Finances for the art school and supplies will be separate and I will detail those in a future email. (This will include the salary mentioned above)

Thank you so much for anything you do to support this labor of love. Your greetings, words of encouragement, prayers and financial partnership enable me to do what I do.

Much love and God bless you – Laura

Links –

Donations

Tax-Deductible – (Takes approx 1 month to process. All support comes to me.) In the “Gift Notes” box please indicate that it is for Laura Eubanks – Dondo, Mozambique

https://www.irisministries.com/get-involved-giving.cfm?

Non Tax-Deductible – (Available Immediately. I incur a 3% fee). The yellow “Make a Donation” button at the bottom of the page. This takes you to PayPal.

http://laborofloveforthenations.com/donate.html

Artists for Humanity

A great video interview with Susan - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Artists-For-Humanity/94976170572?ref=ts#/video/video.php?v=52560676376

www.afhboston.com/index.html

I highly encourage you to become familiar with them even if you are not an artist. They are changing lives!

Iris Ministries

http://www.irisministries.com/

My web sites

www.laborofloveforthenations.com – Ministry and blog

www.laborofloveart.com – Future site for art work

This is a quick post to show the progression of the mural that I have been working on. The wall is 20′ 9″ Wide and 7′ 8″ high excluding the top area which is white. The mural is an overview of the Bible in picture form.

March 10th - Initial drawing and beginning paint

I am writing with amazing photos and news regarding Filomena!

In my last update on February 23^rd I gave the details of Filomena and the amazing response that came in for her to be able to be flown to Zimbabwe. I was also able to share some of the exciting improvements to her health in just the first few days that she was there. We had a few missionaries who had to leave the country to renew their Visa’s and so they went to visit and brought home some photos. The reason for the title of this update is that the reduction in the size of the tumor is nothing short of astonishing!

These were taken Feb 27^th the only treatment she had received was for pain and infection.

Here is a timeline for what has been happening since my last update. It has been quite a challenge to get clear information. Lovemore calls regularly but the connection is always bad and he has a heavy accent. We feel as if we actually understand about 25% of what he says on average and there are the rare occasions where it might be 50%. Our best method of communication is by text message. They have no access to a computer or email there. Clarity in communication is an ongoing prayer request!

Feb. 22^nd - Filomena had a biopsy done and it was sent off to a lab for diagnosis.

She has been on antibiotics and a strong medication for the pain. The medications are causing her to have stomach problems and diarrhea. This causes her to not be able to eat enough although she is now physically able to eat.

Feb. 27^th – Three missionaries were able to visit and brought back these photos. We sent a camera for them to document her improvements but we will not be able to get those until they return or someone else makes a trip there. The photos speak volumes! The reduction in the size of the tumor is drastic! She is somewhat groggy from the pain medication and this shows in her photos.

Mar. 4th – I received word that her arm was swollen and that she is still battling with some fever. They are going to give her another type of antibiotic to address this.

Mar. 6th – This days news was that the new medicine was working powerfully and that Filomena was now able to eat enough.

Mar 8^th – Results came back from a HIV test –NEGATIVE – Praise God! I did not know that they had taken this test but I was very relieved to hear it. In my research on the suspected diagnosis of Burkitt’s Lymphoma it was mentioned that these tumors often affect HIV positive children because of their compromised immune system. It also said that a great deal of the time it is with children who have had many cases of malaria which also compromises their immune system. Filomena is covered with scars from what appears to be mosquito bites. I do not recall if this was noticeable in the photos I have sent in the past.

Mar 9^th – I got a text saying that Filomena is feeling better and can now do some things on her own such as going to the bathroom, eating, washing out plates and cups, and that she is drawing pictures and etc! (As an artist this makes me smile. I brought her pens, pencils, colored pencils and paper as a gift when I met her at the hospital here in Beira.)

Mar 10^th – They received special assistance from the Mozambican Embassy so that they would not need to return to the border to renew their Visas. They only had 30 days on the one they got when they left the airport here. They will now be allowed to stay up to six months without returning to the border. This is a great blessing in many ways but first in that they will not need to leave Filomena behind to travel to the border or possibly need to take her from the hospital to the border also. It also is a blessing in that they will not have the trouble and the expense of having to cross out of the country.

I was also informed that the infection in Filomena’s arm had gotten very serious although previously I was told that the new medication was working powerfully. They did some type of surgery to clean out the wound and stop the spread of this infection. From what I can understand this was at the site where she has the needle inserted that allows for IV’s to be hooked up. She is on more or is continuing on antibiotics.

The results came back from the biopsy. It has been confirmed that yes she does have the Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Here is the link that I posted in the last update. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkitt%27s_lymphoma We have been told by the founder of the KidsCan program at the hospital that this is a very treatable form of cancer and that it responds very quickly to the treatments. Once the infection in Filomena’s arm is healed she can begin to receive the chemotherapy/radiation treatments! I will emphasize at this point that she has not had any cancer related treatments yet, just antibiotics and pain medication. This again is the reason for the title of this update.

Natural and Supernatural Healing?

It certainly appears that there have been both types of healing at work thus far!

Mar 11^th - I got a call first thing this morning from Lovemore. He said that they have found a place to live. It was offered to them at no rent for 6 months but they have to pay to have some items removed first. It comes completely unfurnished so they will need to get all basic necessities. This is a great lead in answer to prayer. They have been sharing the room at the hospital with Filomena thus far. They (Pastor Salmo and Lovemore) will now have a place to alternately retreat to as well as a place to prepare food.

Thank you so very much for all of the prayers, financial assistance and continued inquiries about her. I can not say enough how very thankful I am to see her being helped, to literally see this precious little girl snatched from the door of death.

Prayer Requests-

• Please continue to lift Filomena up in prayer. She has come a long way in a short time but there is still more that needs to happen for her to be an overcomer in this situation.

• I ask for prayers also for her father, Pastor Salmo and our dear friend Lovemore as they support and encourage her and live out this undetermined temporary life in Zimbabwe.

• Please pray also for Pastor Salmo’s wife and other children as they too have extra difficulties in having their husband and father away for such a long period of time.

• Please pray for KidsCan in Zimbabwe and Andrea Whatman the founder. Her inspiration for this endeavor comes from being a survivor of childhood cancer at a time when the survival rate for what she had was 4%. She is another real treasure in this amazing story of Filomena’s journey back to life.

• Please pray that there will be clarity with the information that needs to be shared.

• Please pray that we will get all things in order to be able to make the payments from the special fund for Filomena with Iris to the hospital in Zimbabwe. This has been another area where there have been great challenges in communication with those in Zimbabwe.

Thank you so very much!

God bless you!

Laura

(Short on time? Drop to the bottom-line exciting details at the bottom of this page)

On Tuesday Feb 16^th I sent out the urgent request for help for Filomena. I had been to see her again at the hospital the day before and was alarmed at the change in her in just the 4 days since I had last seen her.

Some off you have gotten partial updates since then and others have not so please forgive me for the parts of this update which may be repeats.

People responded to the email with overwhelming love and support! The amount needed to cover the flight was committed to in about an hour from the time I sent out the request. I was able to call MAF back and schedule a flight for Thursday. This meant that the pilot would need to fly here to Beira the next day. We planned to have Filomena flown to Harare and then there would be one bus ride to Karanda Hospital where I had been in contact with Dr Daniel Stephens. Tuesday evening I got an email back from the doctor saying that after looking at the photos I sent him from Monday and seeing the rapid growth of the tumor he was pretty certain that this was Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He told me that they do not treat that at Karanda Hospital but told me of Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare and that they had a cancer treatment center there. He gave me the contact info for Andrea Whatman and a program called KidzCan that is sponsored by a local church. http://www.kidzcanzimbabwe.org/ I contacted her the day before we were due to fly Filomena out and she was most gracious and helpful. So we had a change of plans for Filomena’s destination but the flight arranged was already going to the right place! We

So, Wednesday the 17^th we were at the airport to pick up the pilot. He was going to be staying at our center and then the flight was due to go out at 6:30 am. While we were there we got word that Pastor Salmo’s passport was not issued and that immigration was closed for the day. Yes … this could be a huge problem but we continued to prepare and pray and then headed back to the center. It was pretty inspiring to see a beautiful rainbow in the sky just after we got here. All evening were pursuing contacts who may be able to assist. After all was said and done there was a plan but really no promise of help or assurance that it could be done in the necessary time frame … but God!

At 5:15 am Thursday Feb 18^th we leave to drop the pilot at the airport to prepare his plane. (At this point we were shooting for a 8am departure.) We left the airport for the hospital to pick up Filomena and her dad. They were ready and in the car pretty quick. I was holding Filomena and could not believe again how much worse she was in less than 3 days time. The swelling in her face had increased, her eyes were noticeably more swollen but more frightening to me is that infection had set in. She was hot with fever all over but the swollen area of her face was very hot to the touch. There was a putrid smell coming from her mouth and there was puss visible. An area on her chin was red and looked as if it was about to burst open.

I later when researching Burkitt’s saw a photo of a child whose face had ulcerated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkitt%27s_lymphoma

We arrived back at the airport and then had hours of waiting and praying. There were offers and assurances from immigration that they would expedite help but it still left us running later than the pilot needed to leave. He had to refuel and return to Nampula the same day. He was so very patient and really wanted to get this child to help also. Finally everything was approved and they were able to take off. I had a good couple of hours with Filomena while waiting for everything to come together. It was precious to see her eyes trying to looking around as she lay there. I kept telling her “today you are going to get help, there are many people praying for you around the world, you are going to get well and be able to play again, to see your mother and brothers/sisters again” I sang to her and dripped juice into her mouth from the end of a straw. Just before it was time to go I brought her in to use the restroom. After I washed my hands I picked her up to carry her back out and she motioned and mumbled something. I asked her what it was and she said “agua” (water) so I cupped my hand and let her sip some water out of it. I was so excited because she had never spoken with me before.

Andrea from KidzCan sent someone to get them from the airport and take them straight to the hospital. We got a text later that day saying that Filomena was talking again. Wow – what a surprise! Apparently she had not spoken in quite a while. I did not know this. The first time I met her I figured she was just she and the later times she was really not doing well. So my excitement over the word “agua” was warranted more than I knew.

The most recent and amazing updates –

Thursday (the day she flew out) Filomena begins to speak again!

Saturday (2^nd day there) Filomena can close her mouth again and the swelling above her eyes has gone down!

Sunday (3^rd day there) Filomena picked up and began to chew a piece of gum that Lovemore purchased and left on the table by her bed!

(That totally shocked me!) Pastor Salmo is so grateful for the help and progress he sees in his daughter in such short time.

I received this in an email from Andrea “We have had extremely good results with Burkitts Lymphona and we often see drastic results within 2 weeks. (i.e her face should pretty much go back to it’s normal shape. This is just with chemo drugs however i am not medical and don’t really know about all the follow up treatment. But be encouraged. I have a photo on our presentation that shows the drastic result after treatment which i will show to Salmo so he will be encouraged.”

Monday – (4th day there) A biopsy was done. This was painful for her but she continues to make improvements.

Tuesday – (5^th day there) Text from Andrea, “Filomena is improving very fast but facing problems of diarrhea and stomach pain because of medicine.

There are some missionaries who have to leave the country to renew their Visa’s and will go to Zimbabwe to visit. I will be so eager to send out pictures of her progression back to health rather than the rapid digression from health!

This morning at devotions with our boys I was speaking about the Tower of Babel. The people of the earth said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves …” The Lord said, “The people are one … nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them” Gen 11:4, 6-7 This is where their languages were confused so they would not understand one another.

I feel like thus far this has been an occasion where “people have been one” and because the thing which was proposed was not to make a name for “ourselves” but to reflect God’s heart to this dying girl, that “nothing was withheld”. It has been a huge blessing to me to see so many come together on behalf of Filomena. Seemingly great impossibilities became possible! A child left with no options has hope for a future again! Even the diagnosis of this curable Burkitt’s Lymphoma is a blessing after having to come to terms that she was going to need surgery which would have left her seriously disfigured.

Thank you for your part in this miracle story. I know it has made a great impact on our local Mozambican church and I also know it has moved the heart of God!

May God bless you!

Much love, Laura

More information and pictures will come soon but just wanted to share my great appreciation for the outpouring of love and support for Filomena! I had commitments of finances to pay for the flight within one hour of sending out the request!! It has been so amazing to watch seeming  impossibilities become possible through goodness of God through the help of so many.

I am writing right now with the very latest on Filomena. Her need is now critical.

Please continue with the prayers but here are the practical ways that you can help.

I am going to work backward because the immediate need is for finances for travel to Zimbabwe.

The first need I will list here is immediate but it is not our only option so I in no way want to imply any pressure. I am just making the need and opportunity known.

1) – Last night I contacted a pilot who serves with Iris but he and his wife are currently in the US. They referred me to MAF, Missionary Aviation Fellowship, which is based in Nampula, Mozambique. I was able to talk with them just in the last hour and they do have a plane and pilot who are available to transport her. The missionary cost would normally be US $2400.00 but Dave, my contact there, spoke with his boss and he wanted to help and said they would charge only $1000.00. I know this is still a great amount of money for many but for some it may not be, or together it could be doable. I would need to let them know today or possible first thing tomorrow morning, and we are 8 hours ahead of Central Standard Time. They would need to fly down here to Beira tomorrow, overnight and then fly her out early Thursday morning. MAF can accept payments made by credit or debit card over the phone. I will include that info at the end of this letter. If you desire to make a payment to help cover this maybe you could email me 1^st with the amount and I would email you back to confirm we had enough before you directly contact them unless it is something that you feel led and are able to cover individually. (Is there a business you know of who would like to do this.)

2) Our other option is to send one of our Mozambican drivers to personally escort them there. His name is Sergio. He has a servant’s heart and a passport and is just a good guy. He also happens to be a great driver and a mechanic. We will send him in out best vehicle to provide the most comfortable ride possible for Filomena for what will probably be about a 10 hour trip counting the delays at the border. The cost with this option is the gas (approx $150.00 – $200.00) and a $120.00 fee for bringing a vehicle into the country.

Even with this option we want to get them out of here on Thursday morning. The money for this option can either go through Iris or a second account I have that is not used for anything else. Details on these will be given at the end also.

A report of praise is that a young man named Lovemore, who is our main translator here at the center, has volunteered to accompany them. He is very appropriately named because every time there is a need he always has more love to give! This is a huge answer to prayer because English is spoken in Zimbabwe and Pastor Salmo does not speak English.

We have somebody going to Immigration with the photos from yesterday to try and ensure that Pastor Salmo’s is ready to pick up, maybe even this afternoon.

Pastor Salmo will then leave this afternoon or very early Wednesday morning to go home to see his wife and 5 other children whom he has not seen since arriving at the hospital in early November. He will return either the same night or very early the following morning to leave for Zimbabwe.

I was able to go and visit Filomena yesterday afternoon and she is in very poor condition. The tumor has increased in size pretty significantly since the photo taken Feb 4^th 2010. It shows greatly in not only the size but also in her mouth area. She no longer closes her mouth. Her teeth had previously been shoved to the center of her mouth but now I think part of the white area showing in the photo is actually part of the tumor. It has been at least 2 ½ weeks now since she has been able to eat and is only taking in juice and water. She was much more lifeless yesterday lying mostly motionless on the bed. The pain medications she is receiving are not adequate.

I have included all the correspondence with the doctor in Zimbabwe in an attachment if you are interested in reading that. They are very willing to help treat her if at all possible. They have done other surgical procedures like this if it is a Mandibular Tumor. They will not know for certain until they see her in person to examine her. There is a possibility it could be a form of cancer and that will require other treatment.

3) The estimated cost of the surgery is $300.00 and the approx. fee for the hospital stay is $150.00. These again are estimates until they see her in person. They also have a place where family can stay for $1.00 a night but they will have to purchase cooking utensils, food and possibly bedding. She will need follow up visits and the best option we have is for them to stay in Zimbabwe while these are necessary due to the distance from here and the cost of travel. The expenses for the hospital can be made directly to the parent organization. Details will be below.

We will need to send them with the money for the extras because it will be very difficult to get additional funds to them once they are there. Details will be below.

DONATION DETAILS –

1. MAF – Missionary Aviation Fellowship - Immediate need of US $1000.00

Contact Number – 1 (208) 498-0800 extention1692

Contact Person – Pam Ficke

Invoice Number – 100217 – Mozambique

Remember please contact me 1^st unless you are able to make the whole amount. If through multiple people the $1000.00 is available I will respond and ask that you go ahead and call in the donation.

I really need to know this today for this option to be implemented.

2. Transportation by Vehicle and for Food and Other Upfront Expenses –

Donations may be made one of three ways –

First Community Credit Union – For those in the St. Louis area (This is a secondary, unused account I have at my bank. The benefit to this is that all money put here will be accessible immediately and is totally separate from my personal funds) –

Website to find branches – www.firstcommunity.com

Account Number – 920172722

My Paypal Account – Accessible Immediately but not as ideal due to mixed with personal funds and there is a 3% fee. Make clear notification that this is for Filomena and all funds donated for her will be used for the purposes surrounding this situation.

http://www.laborofloveforthenations.com/donate.html

Use the yellow “Make a Donation” button at the bottom of the page

Iris Ministries – In the gift note section please specify that this is for “Filomena via Dondo” – https://www.irisministries.com/get-involved-giving.cfm?

3. Karanda Mission Hospital, Zimbabwe – I do not have specific info on making payment directly for the surgery yet but here is the link to their site –

http://www.teamzimmoz.org/kmh.html

With any of the options please drop me a note so that I can thank you and keep you informed of how the money is spent and of Filomena’s progress.

Thank you so very much on behalf of this precious little girl!

God bless you abundantly for any and all prayers and assistance in this situation!

In His service,

Laura Eubanks

I was able to go visit her again yesterday and she has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. In the time that has passed her tumor has grown larger and is even evident from inside her mouth. Her energy level has drastically dropped and her breathing is labored. The twinkle I could see in her eyes the first day I met her has gone.

I have been in contact with and have agreement from Karanda Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe to treat her if at all possible. Her father’s passport is supposed to be finished tomorrow.

The biggest prayer issue right now is for her life.

Other still unresolved issues are -

…the passport actually being finished with no complications

…Transportation – we are trying to coordinate one of our drivers to drive them all the way there as she is in no condition for hours of travel on a crowded bus. I am also looking in to the option of having her flown there by MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship)

…Translator for Pastor Salmo – English is the national language of Zimbabwe and he does not speak it.

…Finances for the travel, hospital procedure and stay, extended stay and supplies and for his family here in Mozambique while he is away.

This past Wednesday I had the wonderful opportunity to visit 6 different homes in the villages surrounding us. Four of the homes were of widows and two were older married couples whom our center is or will be assisting. I want to write more devoted to this but one of the special encounters that day was this couple who have been married for 43 years. That is at or above the average entire life expectancy for Mozambicans.

They were so precious and full of joy.

What made this joy even more amazing was this.

Here is a photo of their home. Make a careful examination of the roof … or lack of one. The back is in even worse condition than the front.

Not a whole lot has changed yet but I want to give a quick update and ask that prayers will continue for this child and her father.

Pastor Salmo was able to get the release to take Filomena and go and have the passport photos taken on Monday the 8^th. The plans to take him to immigration both Tuesday the 9^th and yesterday the 10^th were not followed through to my great disappointment. The people who were going into the city and were to help him were detained with other “emergency” issues. This morning it looked again like it would not happen today. After much prayer, conversation, some tears and persistence a plan was put in place to see that this would happen today. I find it hard to describe the manner in which the situation of this little girl has gripped my heart. I feel I can say that I have not “taken it on” in a unhealthy way … as if I have to figure this out. Rather I feel I have been given the burden of the Lord for her. I still have other things that I am doing after trying to ensure things are addressed on her behalf but while I am doing them I cannot forget her and the situation she is in. She stays with me.

Yesterday morning and this morning her father tells us that he thinks that there is additional swelling and she is having trouble sleeping due to the pain.

I just received the contact name of the doctor at the hospital last night so I hope be send the email requesting assistance in the next couple of hours.

I still have not been able to give attention to where the best place would be for sending donations specifically for Pastor Salmo and his daughter. I will try to address that today or tomorrow.

Again please continue praying for her and for all situations to come together to get her the help that she needs.

Thank you very much and God bless you,

Laura