All the work that we do to support our widows is essential and urgent. Currently we have 120 widows/disabled men or women that we care for monthly with a care package to help them through day to day life. In addition to food and household items we provide help with the maintenance of their homes when needed. This includes new roofs or even the construction/re-construction of a new home. The houses are made of bamboo and mud which allows us to build them in a few days and provide security and shelter to those in need.
A couple of weeks ago, we were notified that one of the walls of mama Laura's house had begun to fall off. We went to see her and look at the house to see just how bad the situation was. There in the center of a developing neighborhood of new block homes stood a small dilated mud house with one wall almost washed away by rains from the past wet seasons. In the condition it was in it would not survive the rainy season that would start in the next couple months.
Mama Laura was a sad, weak woman who barely spoke. She worried about her house collapsing on top of her and had not means to repair it, let alone the strength: she was suffering from malaria and had not eating well for a few days. Immediately we took mama Laura to be examined by the doctor here on our base and she began to take medication to get rid of her malaria.
Today, mama Laura's house is in its final stages of being completed, she received a new house that’s slightly larger than her last one and a new door. Mama Laura’s appearance and the expression on her face has changed. Even having the only mud house in her neighborhood, mama Laura is proud of her home and says that it’s the most beautiful one.
Our hearts are filled with joy to be able to offer a little comfort and security to our widows, and even more important than that: joy and peace.