The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Post Correspondent
NO one will ever be another Jesus. No one will ever equal Jesus’ mercy, love and Godliness. But some churches live up to the example of Jesus. They copy his divine love to pull orphans, the poor and the despised out of the valley of isolation, lowliness, pain and suffering.
That is exactly what happened recently when the Chikanga Phase 3 Seventh Day Adventist reached out to Delan Chavhi who lives with disability challenges. Delen is 13. He cannot stand, sit or walk. His only possible posture is slouching. His mother, one simply preferring to be called Mai Delan, says her son suddenly showed signs of disability when he was 4.
“The signs of physical challenges were gradual. We were shocked when the doctors gave up on him and reality starred into our face when we contended we would have to live with a son who would hardly do anything on his own. He wears pampers at 13 and needs being literally lifted to visit the toilet when that is needed,” said the crying mother.
“That was when the father chose to disappear, living me to this nightmare of looking after him single-handedly. As if that was not enough I lost another son. I am a single parent at the deep end of poverty and turmoil.
“I am an ordinary vendor who survives by selling vegetables and fruit. That would not be a problem . . . many poor women do. But when I think of Delan, I become hopeless,” said the mother in tears. “I love my wonderful son, but the weight of fending for him, as every loving mother must do, devastates me.”
Speaking to The Manica Post recently, the SDA Pastor, one Solomon Chipunza, narrated the heart-rending story of how the Church intervened.
“We were convening our SDA Special Needs Day on July 6 in Chikanga Phase 3 when we got wind of the plight of Mai Delan and her son.
“She lives in the neighbourhood of our church. There was no way we could overlook this special-needs case and be a church of God. We had to come in and do what we could. And so we did.
“The Church quickly raised funds to purchase a wheel chair for Delan, much to the relief of the mother and son. What remains now is to facilitate Delan’s education in a special-care institution or school and other general upkeep needs,” said Pastor Chipunza.
The SDA Church, not only in Chikanga Phase 3, but everywhere it is found, is a welcoming church.
It has a special-needs mission committed to uplifting the lives of the poor, the suffering and disadvantaged groups in their neighbourhoods and communities regardless of their church. The story of Delan and her mother, reminds everyone of Mother Teresa, a woman of God who lived her entire life for the poor, the forgotten and despised. She said, “It is not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.”
