Stories of Hope: Alphonsine

Alphonsine’s parents were killed in the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Alphonsine, who was only six at the time, was struck over the head with a club studded with nails. She survived this brutal attack but was left with serious ongoing health issues.

Alphonsine and Naomi

Following the genocide, Alphonsine lived with her sister and brother in an orphanage until it closed in 2003. With nowhere to go, they lived as street children in the market, but soon realized it was too dangerous and began living in the bush.

At age 15, Alphonsine heard a noise and discovered an abandoned baby. Though hungry and homeless herself, she refused to let this baby die. Alphonsine took the baby as her own and named her “Naomi.”

Giving Hope built a home for Alphonsine soon after she joined the program. Within two years, Alphonsine became food secure and was equipped with life skills that allow her to provide for her family.

Through a Giving Hope grant early on, she began three income-generating activities that allowed her to hire labourers to do work she was unable to do.
Alphonsine’s health is improving as well. Giving Hope assists her with costly medicines that must be shipped from Europe. The treatment she is finally receiving is helping, enabling her to joyfully participate in some of the work on her farm.

The other orphans in Giving Hope have become her new family. When a ZOE team visited her in her home she shared, “…with the group I feel like I have a big family with lots of brothers and sisters.”

Alphonsine’s favorite scripture is Proverbs 30:7-9 which says:

“Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die; Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Faithful disciple, business woman, and inspiration to all, Alphonsine embodies Giving Hope.

Naomi is now six years old and doing very well.

Stories of Hope: Chipo

Chipo was carried by a friend
to see a ZOE medical team.

Chipo, whose name means “gift,” was nine years old when a ZOE Medical team met her in Zimbabwe in the summer of 2007. She was very small for her age because she suffered from HIV/AIDS-related illnesses.

The team would have been unable to treat Chipo because she was too weak to walk the long distance to the school where they were working. However, when three of her friends saw the medical team arrive, they asked permission to go and get Chipo. The three girls took turns carrying Chipo on their backs so that she could receive medical care.

Shy and listless, Chipo was too weak to smile, but she was able to receive medicine and vitamins. As the team traveled to other locations during their 10-day trip, Chipo was carried to see them by friends and family so that she could receive more medical attention and food. The ZOE doctors met her mother, who also has HIV/AIDS.

On their last day, Chipo came to tell the team goodbye. After receiving food, vitamins, and antibiotics for just those few days, Chipo was standing and smiling on her own.

In February 2009, ZOE’s executive director Greg Jenks traveled to Zimbabwe and learned that Chipo died in June 2008. The pastor of her district said, “She struggled so much with life.”

We mourn her suffering, yet celebrate her life and the witness of the girls who lovingly carried her to receive medical care and support and hope.

In life and death, Chipo’s story remains in every way a gift.

Stories of Hope: Louis

Louis lives in the Misisi slum of Lusaka, Zambia. He is five years old and has a wonderful smile. A ZOE Medical team met him one day as they were working in the summer of 2008. He was playful and loved being held.

A day later, however, Louis came into the clinic by himself, and they saw that his smile was overshadowed by something else. He lifted his pant leg to reveal a large burn just above his ankle.

Louis - Smiling Despite the Burn on his Leg

Despite the language barrier, Louis seemed to understand that they could help him. Short on space in the simple stone church where they had set up the medical clinic, they placed Louis on the same altar that had been used for communion during worship days earlier.

The medical team had to clean his burn without benefit of anesthetic. Throughout the painful process they held his hand, shared lollipops, and sang songs. When he was finally bandaged, they lifted him to the ground to join his 8-year old brother who had wandered into the church.

Louis was in pain and found it difficult to stand on his injured leg. Silently and without hesitation, Louis’ brother turned around and Louis climbed onto his back.

Struck by the beautiful witness of Louis’ brother, a ZOE team member wrote in her journal, “If only we were as willing to follow the lead of the Good Shepherd, to lift the injured sheep and to stretch him across our shoulders. If only we were as willing to reach out when a brother or sister is hurting.”

Stories of Hope: Anthony

Anthony attends school and he helps his grandmother take care of the family. Both of his parents are dead, so he now lives with his grandmother and sister, Faith Mukiri.

Anthony stands at his kiosk

The Giving Hope Empowerment Project and his Working Group are helping Anthony raise chickens, as well as open a small kiosk to sell cereal, potatoes, tomatoes, and green vegetables. The money he earns at the kiosk enables him to provide food and other necessities for his family.

Anthony is Giving Hope.