How the Care Centre got Started

HOW THE CARE CENTRE GOT STARTED BY: SR. LEONI HASLER, OSB


On January 6, 2000 I arrived in Tsumeb. Mother Pia Lansang, OSB asked me to see what could be done here.
I found out that to look for AIDS victims was the most urgent issue, because nothing was done for them yet. Deacon Johnson was happy with this idea and a lady, Franziska would join me. So we two went from house to house, greeting the people and told them that we would look for sick people and orphans. The people did not believe that this was our real intention, because other visited also their houses mainly with the intention to bring the people to their church. We saw that our start would need time, to build up a good working mission project.
Slowly, slowly the people started to believe that our intention was to help the ones who need help. We brought food, medicine and paid some school fees. As a nurse, I found many times the right medicine for people who came to our house and for those which I visited in their homes.
In the first two years, the people came mostly when the sickness was very serious and nearly all of those who came for help died soon. But even so, by the following visits, all of them greeted me with a smile, which was the best payment for me. One who was brought to the hospital, I visited but on the third day of confinement, she died. Her sister told me that the last thing she said was:”I would like to see the sister”. I believe that I was the only person from whom she felt loved.
In the first years I visited the sick ones with the car at their homes. Most of the time a family member came to me and I went with them to check on the sick one. Because there were not many people to take care of I almost went everyday to the Location for a visit.
On October 13, 2002, was an ecumenical prayer meeting at a Sport field. A lady told me that a man would like to help us in the same way Mr. Noske helped us. I said everyone who would help, is welcome. But for this month our schedule for distribution was finished. Ten days later, I called on Mr. John Brits. He came with joy and from this day on, John has been working with me, with us.
John, as a business man, made the distribution professional. He knows, where and at what time you get the best price. And he knows that he should speak to big boss and not to the cashier. We bought a trailer and looked for a store room. While I was thinking where and how, I got a visit from the president of the Liechtensteiner Entwicklungsdienst (LED). This organization helped me since I was in Brazil and Marie Louise said they came not to control, but to see what we are doing with the money. She brought the four missionaries from Lichtenstein in South Africa, from Umtata, Johannesburg, Angola and Tsumeb, to one table and thanked them for what they are doing for the needy in the world.
This visit was the birthday of Sr. Leoni`s Care Centre. John expressed his ideas: to use containers for making a centre. The LED accepted the proposal and gave the money. During my holidays in 2003, John found the old containers. When I came back, I was surprised to see what had grown during my absence.
John is not a catholic, but a man of prayer. At first, his friends asked him how he can work with a catholic nun. Later on, the people gut used to the reality and see us now working together even if we are not from the same profession of faith, but that we work together because of the need of the poor people to be helped. John works totally free.
The number of people who come to the centre is continually increasing. The only requirement to get help is a proof, that they must bring, is a referral card from the hospital certifying that they are HIV-infected. For orphans they must show the death certificate of their parents.
We help with Uwemba tablets. In Uwemba, Tanzania, the missionaries learned about a certain bush with leaves that could be made into tea and when people drink it, they don’t get malaria. The tea tastes very bitter. A Swiss man had the idea to dry the leaves and pressed them into tablet, so that it makes it easier to drink. Later on they tried to use them for HIV infected Patients.
Since we have been given out those tablets the situation changed a lot. Before, the sick ones said:”The doctor does not say what I have.” Never would anyone say that he/she is infected by the HIV virus. Today when I ask what brings them to the centre, they answer:”I heard that we can get help here when we are infected by the virus.” They don’t wait anymore till they are nearly death, before they come to ask for help.
The help consists mostly of giving out Uwemba, 1 tablet per day; E pap, a powder which was used by the soldiers as a food complement (Protein), and the monthly distribution containing maize, oil, sugar, soup and washing powder.
For the children we offer from Monday to Friday food to eat at the centre. For many children we also pay the school fees.
For the elderly people we bring soup and bread to their houses. For many of them, it would be too difficult to come to the centre and if another person would fetch the soup, we would not know if the needy one would get the soup. For this we have mountain-bikes and trailer, so that the food can be brought to them in their homes.
Who is doing the work? We are three sisters and four ladies for the kitchen and four men plus John. The first years, all our workers where “volunteers” and got “pocket money”. Now they are all registered, with all rights and duties of an employed worker.
Now the most important reflection on the apostolate: all theses years, I could see that God blessed our work. I remember the story of the prophet Elijah, the oil jar did not run empty and the flour did never finish. Many friends from overseas and organizations help. Sometimes one who dies makes it a will not to have flowers for their grave, but instead, to give the money for the help of Sr. Leoni`s care Centre. Some don’t want to have a birthday gift, they rather tell their friends to give it to the centre. Lots of people help to make the centre a good place and recommend it. John is getting discounts at the gas suppliers and the staff and visitors make propaganda.
We are grateful that we have the opportunity to help so many people and we are sure that God will help us also in the future. This believe gives us the power to continue, even in hard times like the financial crises, cause God loves the poor.
I want to finish the report with our Monday prayer song: “What so ever we do for the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.”