Babies

Babies by Donna (Burris) Stroop

The greatest immediate need at the mission station where I grew up is to rebuild the clinic and upgrade the equipment, particularly for maternity.

As was the custom when I was living there in the 1970’s, women come to the clinic as much as a month before their due date. It is a chance to get away from the hard work and demands of village life, but also a time of fellowship with other expectant mothers. It is also an excellent opportunity for evangelism because the chaplain gives daily morning devotions and spends time talking to the women who come and stay.

At the time we lived there, my Dad built a simple building with ten 10x10 rooms using local fired brick for temporary housing. Equipment was very basic. If there were any complications, my Dadwould fly the mother and baby to our mission hospital at Mashoko. 

My first memory of the clinic was holding a newborn set of twins on the front porch when I was about eight years old.

I also remember the time that my mom brought home a newborn preemie and tried to save it with the rudimentary household stuff we had on hand. She wrapped the baby tight and placed her in a basket, then placed a hot water bottle in the basket to try to keep her warm. She tried to feed the little girl the mother’s milk with an eye dropper, but the baby was too tiny to swallow properly. We all grew attached to her just in that short time she was in our home, but unfortunately, she didn’t make it.

Another time I flew with my Daddy to Mashoko Hospital with a set of newborn twins. The mother was holding one twin in the back seat and I was holding the other one in my lap in the front seat of the plane. I remember trying to snuggle the baby close and keep him warm. He started to turn blue around the mouth and squirm, but I didn’t know what to do. I was about fifteen years old. It is one of those moments that is frozen in time in my memory.  I can still hear the hum of the airplane engine, see that tiny form in my arms, feel the sun shining in my lap as we flew East to Mashoko. When we got there, I stood in the doorway of the emergency room and watched as Dr. David Grubbs worked to save those twin’s lives, but neither one of them made it. We were too late! I cried and cried about that! We left the mother at the hospital to recover, but it was a very somber flight back to Dine’.

That is why I am so passionate about this project to rebuild the clinic and to upgrade the maternity ward! The life expectancy in Zimbabwe is one of the lowest internationally and one contributing factor is the infant mortality rate. But to me, it is not about statistics! It is personal!I don’t want another baby to die!

My Mom has always said “God doesn’t waste anything and He is always preparing you for the next thing.” In some ways it feels like God has been preparing me to take on this project since I held that first set of babies at eight years old

We believe so much in this project that my husband and I are personally giving the starting seed money and will be personally  making trips to Zimbabwe to partner with our dear Christian brothers and sisters in  blessing the kingdom work currently going on there. 

Will you join us in supporting this work? The estimated amount to complete the Dine' Clinic upgrade is $50,000. 

God bless you!
Donna

Ways to give:

1. Make a check payable to Hippo Valley Christian Mission designated for Dine' Clinic, P.O. Box 686, Grayson, KY 41143

2. Online Giving: https://hippovalley.reachapp.co/campaigns/dine-clinic