One Woman Stories
Vihemba
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Vihemba came to CEML accompanied by her daughter. At the patient village, she and her daughter quickly learned a few Portuguese words but most of the time they motioned with great gusto what they needed and made friends quickly! Vihemba is very outgoing and didn’t let her lack of language hinder her from enjoying her time and learning new skills. Vihemba so appreciated being with other women who understood what she was going through. She loved to make others laugh!
She was so pleased that her fistula repair was successful, with a small amount of incontinence that she can easily manage. She was so grateful that the cost of the surgery had been paid–her family could never have afforded it.
Maria
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Wuanumina
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Best of all, her surgery was a success. Her emotions overcame her and she began to sob as the reality sunk in; she was finally dry! She shook her head and repeated simply “ 23 years…” She was astonished to learn that books were written in her mother tongue. How pleased she was to hear the Bible read to her in Nyaneka. She had never been to school and here she could learn some of the basics. She enthused, “When you stay here awhile, you can leave prepared! There are courses so you can learn to sew. You can learn to read and write your name!”
The reputation of CEML being able to cure everything may be a bit hard to live up to, but thankfully it was every bit as wonderful for Wanamina as she dreamed it would be. She went home a changed woman, full of joy!
Josefa
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Josefa is the third sister we’ve lost since we started this journey in 2012. We do our work in honor of these sisters who have left a legacy of hope that others have carried and will carry with them.
Original Story: We met Josefa during our March 2023 trip to Angola. Josefa was an answer to prayer. Josefa was an answer to hope. Josefa was an Ambassadora, but her journey there was not an easy one. Josefa suffered from obstetric fistula for 10 years. She grew so desperate that she contemplated killing herself. One Sunday morning, she told her mom that she was going to end her life and her mom suggested Josepha go to church one more time. Josepha’s mom said maybe God has someone for you there. Much to Josefa’s surprise and eventual joy, Josefa met Natalia, another Ambassadora, at church that morning. Josefa learned that her leaking was a medical issue and that she could seek treatment and healing. This was new information for Josefa. Josefa had new hope. Due to a lack of funds and phone, it took Josefa a while to acquire the funds for the surgery, but when she did, she was healed.Most women with obstetric fistula are shunned by their families and communities. They are told again and again that they have no value, that they have no purpose on this earth. However, when our sisters like Josefa come for treatment at a hospital or fistula treatment camp, they are loved and reminded of their priceless value. When they receive healing, they cannot help but tell everyone about their experience. They become Ambassadoras.
Josefa was an answer to prayer and hope, because we have hoped and prayed for Ambassadors in Angola for many years. Implementing a program never felt right. But this organic growth, this natural development of Ambassadoras, has been a beautiful development in Angola. Having Ambassadoras is a critical step as we seek to prevent obstetric fistula. We also have Ambassadors, who are the husbands of our sisters.
We are so very thankful that Josefa did not give up. We are so thankful that Josefa was willing to give hope one more day. We know that every time Josefa shared her story with our sisters, those suffering from fistula and those at risk for fistula are encouraged to give hope one more day.
Rosa
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Maryam
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Bayarmaa
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Naneka
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Mwiani
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Promesse
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Leocadia
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Milja
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Binsa
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Gloria
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Tena
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