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Helping others makes you happy!
Dear friends and supporters,
Christmas – New Year’s Eve 2006: My first Christmas here in Madagascar, away from my home in Germany, and my first Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere will remain in my memory forever. Hearing ‘Silent Night’ at 35°C, sitting in the garden and feeling at a loss because the chocolate on the Christmas biscuits wouldn’t set, having a barbecue in the garden rather than a festive roast in a cosy living room – it was all new to me. And the missions with the team from Pro Interplast e.V. in Germany were new too. Since that first mission, we’ve carried out many more. At first, the team came once a year, then twice; eventually, a new team was formed, and for 2020 a third team has even been put together!
They’re always the most exhausting days of the year – lots of extra work, lots of extra people, different expectations, cultures and languages. And yet they’re always some of the most wonderful moments – because children are given a new lease of life! Pictures speak louder than a thousand words – see for yourselves!
MHM is more than just good medical treatment
. Our surgical patients often come from very poor families. Time and again, we have children who cry bitterly when they’re discharged – because they have to go home again, away from the lovely hospital. The children spend the waiting time with a carer in our chapel, which turns into a playroom. Our staff, and above all our volunteers, are simply there to play, comfort and help…
Njara ~ our boy whose foot was run over by a lorry!
We’ve now formed a close bond with Njara and his family of 11. His youngest sister, little Chantal, was born here and turned one in September. In the meantime, we’ve done some renovations to the house to make it more sturdy, and Njara stayed with us for many weeks. Unfortunately, his foot was amputated rather clumsily and the healing process is proving difficult. The German doctors have transplanted a piece of skin from his upper arm onto his foot, so that it doesn’t always split open when he puts weight on it. Once again, there were plenty of tears when Njara was discharged to go home. He’d rather stay with us.
After many long and difficult discussions, we have now strongly urged his parents that Njara must go back to school. We’ve provided the exercise books and pens and hope that the family will now see this through. He has a long way to go and needs help to be accompanied to and from school. It’s a harsh fate – having to walk on crutches all the time whilst everyone else is running about and playing…
Photo: Left: before – top: after
Photos: Left: before – top: after
Photos: Njara with us and, on the left, with his new school supplies
Madagascar has a new German ambassador: Mr Michael Derus. We were delighted by his visit last week and the positive coverage on the website of the German Embassy in Antananarivo!
And another MHM highlight:
our patient Emma was a very patient expectant mother. She had suffered three miscarriages in recent years and was hospitalised with us for a very long time, followed by a period at home. Last week, after almost 20 weeks of bed rest, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy: his name is Faneva Valimbavakam, meaning ‘Herald’ – an answered prayer! How lovely that names in Madagascar often tell stories!
And everything we were able to do for Emma and her family is so very special, because we couldn’t have done it before the hospital was built, and it stands as a symbol for several other families who have lost three, four and six children – and who, thanks to the new MHM hospital built by the villagers themselves, they now have healthy babies! We love seeing the broom trees in bloom!
Spreading joy:
because helping others makes us happy!
As Christmas approaches, we’d like to remind you of the Christmas gifts that bring joy not only to the recipients but also to the MHM patients.
Furthermore, each patient here is cared for on average for less than 10 euros – including medication! Giving the gift of health and care is a joy! If you’d like to make it a bit more personal, here are the options:
1) Sponsorships! Children who want to go to school, families in need, and pregnant women who want to give birth in a safe, clean environment with proper care! This can be achieved with just 25 euros a month
! And you’ll also receive a photo as a memento!
2) 2020 photo calendar by Maria Berlinghoff
Maria produced a beautiful MHM photo calendar at her own expense for 2019, and we are more than proud and grateful that she is once again investing her own money, her holiday time, and her heart and talent to support MHM this year. Please contact Maria directly to order the calendar: amberlinghoff99@gmail.com
3) Our fantastic MHM T-shirts are available here: http://shirtwaiter.com
! Every T-shirt sold not only promotes MHM and offers encouragement
, but also generates a 7-euro donation
from the person selling the T-shirt!
4) Caesarean section – the life-saving operation. Whilst in Germany an elective caesarean section is sometimes scheduled, here in Madagascar it is always a last resort to save one or even two lives. Where a woman has had more than five births, a caesarean section always carries a high risk and is only performed in the most extreme emergencies. How wonderful that we now have the necessary staff to go with the completed operating theatre! 250 euros per caesarean section,
and the whole family is happy and content.
Christmas. Often, when we visit the homeless, I think of the baby Jesus in the stable. “He didn’t have to do this, but he chose to. For us!” From the MHM Thank You Calendar, December 2020 – but just as true and moving today as it will be next year.
Yours,
can change the face of the world. [African proverb]