September 29, 2009

Dear Friends
I can't even believe I am going to write this but it is true, I am falling in love with Africa. The culture shock is going away now and I am beginning to see why people get addicted to a place like this. I am beginning to love this place because of the people. A small gesture of kindness doesn't go unappreciated. And just as I write that I have a glimpse of people in my mind who I have helped one way or another and to see a smile that says a thousand words is rewarding.
This week one of my favorite little boys Tony, had tears in his eyes. He is one I am always looking out for. I asked him what was wrong and he told me he was in pain with a bad headache and a fever which are the top two signs of malaria. Since it was late afternoon, and the lab closes at 3:00, I told him to come back the next day and I would take him to the hospital and have him tested. He lives with eight other children with his grandfather. His grandfather is one at the hospital that has been here forever that started out as janitor and is now doing surgeries. Very sweet guy and I really like him but I also know he struggles financially. The next day Tony did come back and as I headed toward him I found him with another boy that had a finger so messed up it looked like it was broken. I decided to take them both to the hospital. Tony did test positive with malaria so I got him the medicine he needed. The other boy (we call him "By") had an abscess so the grandfather of Tony removed it for him. But he had given By something to relax him then he slept outside on a gurney for an hour and Jamie and I took turns watching him. It was time to take him home so some of the other boys helped me walk him to his home. When we got there his father thanked us like I have never been thanked before. He had us sit down as honored guests. This man is a chef of the village. He has 9 children of his own. He looked at the papers and saw how much it cost. One of the boys interpreted for me and told him it was okay and that we had taken care of everything. He got up and had me wait. He climbed a mango tree and went up so high I thought for sure he was going to fall out. He handed me the most beautiful mangoes I have seen since I have been here. It is not even the season for mangoes. I walked away just knowing the value of the fruit and it just made me cry on the way home. He was giving me the best of what he had. The people here are simple and good. It was such a simple gesture. I loved it and it made it all worth spending the day at the hospital. Every day since, By comes to my house so I can go with him to the hospital to get the dressing changed. It is a very painful process. They have to pack the dressing inside the wound over and over. The poor boy is just pouring with sweat by the time we leave.
Something happens here every day that touches my heart. I feel like I need to toughen up. Today, last minute, my friend Annie invited me to go with her to "my Naomi's house" on a motorcycle. I have never been there because it is so far and I never knew where it was. God had a plan as to why we were to go. We got there and Naomi had another apt. so she wasn't there but her son Sampson was there with a cut foot. He stepped on a piece of glass and it was quite bad. Annie is a nurse and thought a Dr. should look at it and tell us whether it needed stitches or not. We were suppose to go back to her house after our visit at Naomi's house because Jamie had taken a new Dr. to her house to show him around. So it all worked out because the Dr. saw it he said it needed stitches for sure so we all took the boy with us back to the hospital. Sampson ended up having to have 8 stitches. I held his hand and held him close as he had shots put into his foot to numb it. After it was all done I gave him a pair of shoes and we were going to have to have him walk home. (That is just how they do things here) We prayed with him but as I was sending him on his way (about 3 miles in the dark) I began to cry and stopped him. I told Jamie I just can't do it and let him walk. Just at that moment James Appel came over to talk to Jamie so we asked if we could take him home with the truck. James was happy to let us so it all worked out and we took him as far as the road would allow. Divine appointments!
It is almost as though every time you leave the house you will always come across someone that needs help. I guarantee you I could write you a story every day. It is a wonderful thing but also really pulls at your heart.
I have had many friends e-mail me lately and tell me about the crazy rat race of the American way. I know exactly what they are talking about and I'm sure all of you do too. Satan has his hands in everything trying to get us to lose sight of the real fight going on. Keep us too busy for the simple gesture of helping someone and doing a work that lasts for eternity.
A friend forwarded me a prayer from someone, who I don't even know, who prayed for my family and I would like to share it for I felt the power in which it held.
"Dear God, thank you for protecting and healing Cory from the malaria. Thank you for leading Tammy and blessing her as she is your hands, feet, and heart for Your hurting ones where ever she finds them. Thank you for blessing and protecting their entire family, and all the ones they work with and minister to. In the Name of Jesus I rebuke and cancel every assignment of the enemy against them, by the grace and mercy of our Father God. NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST THEM WILL BE ABLE TO PROSPER! Your arm is not shortened that it cannot save, and Your right hand will hold them up and prosper and protect them. I praise You, Father God, for hearing and answering this prayer of faith." I don't know if you felt it, but I did. We are the ones that limit God as to what He can do. I just want to encourage those that are feeling weighed down by anything that is surrounding them in their world today. God can take it all away. God can refocus our goals. God is the One we all need to run to, to keep the enemy away. The enemy is the one who is overwhelming us. I found these words comforting in Isaiah 26:3-4."You will keep in PERFECT PEACE him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal".