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

I am writing with a sense of urgency to make known a situation that I am hopeful will stir those with hearts of compassion to action.

I will first state the desired outcome - to see Filomena Salmo Tomas get the medical treatment that she is in desperate need of.

Filomena is a 9 year old girl, the daughter of Pastor Salmo Tomas Fernando who serves with Iris Ministries in Munza. He is married and has 6 children. He brought his daughter to the hospital in Beira a city a few hours from his home in early November. They have now been there for 3 months. Filomena has a rapidly growing tumor on the left side of her jaw. It is now approximately the size of a lemon and has shifted or crushed her jaw so that her lower teeth are now in the center of her mouth. The hospital in Beira is unable to do anything for her and they are not offering other options. They do give some medicine for pain but she is still suffering much. She is unable to eat anything except that which is the consistency of soup. Hospitals here do not offer food to the patients. It is the responsibility of the family. Imagine the extra challenge this creates.

Pastor Salmo has not been able to go home to see his family since arriving to Beira. This has put hardship on his wife and five other children as well.

I found out about her and met her just over two weeks ago. God has burdened my heart to see this precious girl be attended to. I have been praying. I sent an email to a church in Zimbabwe that is affiliated with a hospital. I did not hear back from them but two days later I got a ride home from Beira (30 minutes from where I am staying) with Nido and Helene, a Brazilian missionary couple from another organization. In the conversation in the car I found out that the school they serve with also has a hospital in Zimbabwe. I really feel this could be the connection I have prayed for to get the needed surgery for Filomena but there are still many things that need to come together for this to happen.

Action Steps and Prayer Points –

1) Prayer!!!

2) Pastor Salmo needs to get a Passport

· Gather all the necessary documents required. He may have to go back to Munza to get some. To do this needs someone to stay with his daughter.

· Needs Passport photographs of himself and his daughter for application. He will need to get special permission to take Filomena from the hospital to get the Passport photo taken. He will try to do this today Feb 8^th.

· Favor with the immigration office. He will try to go there tomorrow Feb 9^th.

3) Favor with the hospital. Nido is also a photographer. He has taken the x-rays and will photograph them to produce a jpeg image. He will get these and the contact name for me at the hospital. I will send the x-rays and a photo of her along with the email requesting assistance. I have been told this hospital has done many surgeries like this. I pray they would be able and willing to make a way for this Filomena to be treated there.

4) For timing of all related things. If the hospital is able and the passport is attained quickly, Nido and Helene will be traveling back to Zimbabwe sometime next week. It would be very nice for Filomena and her father to get a ride there in a quality car. The other option is a chappa (sp?) In the loosest sense of the word it is public transportation. (Think extremely overcrowded mini-van packed with people, packages and sometimes even chickens with more packages and possibly goats strapped to the top.)

5) Finances for all needs.

Pastor Salmo has been unable to work for the past 3 months. I am praying that there are those who will feel the desire to help him with the expenses related to the above. At this time I do not know what the amounts may be and where to donate but I wanted to get this out ASAP to begin the urgent prayers. I will send more information as I get it.

Thank you very much,

God bless you for anything that you can do to help!

Laura Eubanks, serving in Dondo, Mozambique.

The days have been very full. By the end of the day I have much to share but not the focus and energy to be able to convey the emotions of my heart from all that I have encountered. I am well and I am so satisfied in my spirit to be “home” in Mozambique. I have been able to do so much that blesses me from doing devotions with our kids, to time spent with our kids, to preaching at the jail, to painting the front gate, to just walking down the street and stopping to love on the little children who wave and giggle and say hello. Ah yes … this is life abundant for me!

Yes, it is very hot and I sweat almost constantly. The gate I am painting is a strong metal and I have to wrap my hand in fabric to keep from literally burning it as I steady my hand against it to paint. I think it has been in the mid 90’s but so that I do not get horribly sunburned I wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, socks with my sandals and a long scarf draped over my head to protect my neck and the sides of my face and I hold that in place with a baseball hat. I am sure it is a comical sight but it allows me to get the job done. Needing a long ruler I took a slat from my bed which I forgot I had not replaced until I crawled under my mosquito net. There are regular visits from the giant cockroaches, the flying termites invaded after the heavy rain soaked the ground and their mounds, the oversized spiders occasionally show up and the rat made its rounds tonight. The power goes off whenever, sometimes to return in a few minutes but one day it was off 12 hours. The water needs to be filtered before drinking. There are no “cushy” chairs or couches to sit and relax on. I could say more but the point I want to make is this – this is still the abundant life for me!