Emmanuel: A Hard Life and Only 15

Does anyone remember Emmanuel?  A couple years ago he was a patient at the hospital.  He was a 12 year old boy who came in with his mother to have a mass removed from his arm.  Jamie and I decided to be in on the surgery and observe.  We didn't know the boy but we were interested in his case.  A couple days went by and we really didn't give him too much thought.  

Naomi was in the hospital with her youngest boy Daniel because he had malaria.  I would bring her food every evening and Emmanuel was in the bed next to her. Naomi told me that she rarely saw anyone with him and when someone did come to help him it was a boy younger than himself.  She never saw anyone feeding him and so she started to share the things I was bringing her.  When she told me this then I began to visit him and develop a relationship with him.   He had complications with his surgery and the blood supply was not being fed into his hand and it started to die.  Dr Appel had to do surgery  to amputate his hand.  The healing of that was not going well and so Dr. Appel had to take it up even further because the infection was going to his bone.  He had to go through another amputation surgery above his elbow.  

Naomi eventually left with Daniel and I continued to visit him every afternoon.   I brought him food and drinks and eventually I wanted him to start using his one hand that he did have and so I brought him a notebook and color pencils.  I would draw him one picture and the next night when I would come visit he would have a picture ready for me that he drew.   And after a short amount of time he started to draw pictures that seemed to be ones that were therapy for him like a tree with one branch cut off and on the ground with blood on it.  I believe he was trying to process what happened to him.  

After time he did get better and his mother took him home.  But it was not long before she came back with him to talk to me and Naomi.  She is a prostitute and she wanted to go back up to Ndjamena and work.  She did not want to take him with her.  She flat out told Naomi that she didn't want him and wanted me to take him.  He was standing right there.  I couldn't believe it.   I took Naomi over to the side and explained to her that I can not take everyones kids.  I can not do it.  She looked at me and said that she would take him.  I tried to talk her out of it and said we would find another way but she insisted.  She said, "how can I stand before God if I do not take him"?  And that is what she did.  She took him home that night.  All the belongings he had with him fit easily in a grocery bag.  

Months went by, maybe over a year and Emmanuel was still with Naomi.  He helped her so much with all her kids especially the little 4 year old, Daniel.  He worked with them, played with them, went to church with them and prayed with them.  He was now part of the family.  But after a full year and after being a full year in the  Adventist school here, it was summer time, and Emmanuel sat me and Naomi down.  He wanted to know if we would give him our blessing to go and take care of his paraplegic father.  There was word on the street that came to Emmanuel that his uncle was tired of taking care of his father and was plotting to kill him.  He was going to poison him.  We agreed to let him go and sent him on his way with some money for food.  After a few weeks, maybe a month, he came back.  He mainly came back for money for food.  I wasn't surprised but asked him several questions about how it was going with his father.  He would say that it was hard but ok.  He would cry but we didn't understand why.  

More time went by and Emmanuel never showed up again.  School was getting ready to start.  Naomi began to ask people in the market, that were from the same village as Emmanuel's father, questions as to what they knew about Emmanuel.  We were starting to be concerned because we thought for sure he would show up again for school.  But then we started to hear about where he really was.  People were saying that he was taken in the forrest with the Lao people.  Of course I had no idea who they were but my first instinct was to go and get him out.  I was told that they were a very bad group of people, like satan worshipers.  If I were to go I would be putting myself in danger.  Everyone was very strict on not letting me go.  All we ended up doing was praying for him and every now and then we would ask people if they knew he was ok. 

I didn't know when or if I would see him again.  Then one day just about a month ago he showed up, he was back.   Its been over a year and he is home.  He went straight to Naomi's and asked for forgiveness.  She then talked to me about him and wanted to know what I think about accepting him back.  I told her we should take him back, we should talk to him guide him and definitely take him back.  

A couple days later Emmanuel and all Naomi's boys came to my house for a visit.  I was so surprised and happy to see him.  I went straight over to him and hugged him and didn't let go for a long time.   I talked to all of them and had them go to the back porch where I gave them all warm sugar milk and cookies which is a real treat for them here.  I visited for just a little while and asked a few questions.  I then had to tell them I had to get back to work but would come out to visit them soon at their house.  

A week went by and I took Brichelle and Hayley with me to visit at Naomi's.  I wanted Hayley to experience the village in the bush.  It is beautiful in a very raw way and so quiet compared to what we are use to next to the hospital with all the work going on around us.  I always tell Naomi that God paints a picture for her everyday in the sky.  I always appreciate the beauty in the sky when I am out there.  

Anyways, after our hellos and donations that we brought her family she had some scrambled eggs for us (to eat with our hands) and something else that I really can't describe.  We had a lot of laughs and visited for a while.  Then I asked if I could read a bible story to her kids and have her interpret it into Nangjere,their local language.  She agreed and I got out my blue children's bible story book.  I told the story about the prodigal son.  During the story Naomi had tears coming from her eyes.  After the story I asked the kids a few questions.  Then asked if Naomi and I could talk with Emmanuel alone.  As soon as all the other children rounded the corner Emmanuel just flooded with uncontrollable tears.  He said to us that he was like the son that left.  He was so sorry and asked for forgiveness.  We all were crying by this point.  And with my arm around him I told him that God has already taken his sins and put them down in the deepest sea.  We told him that after today we do not have to talk about this again.  I told him that I read him that story not to make him feel bad like he was the bad son but to look at what the father was doing.  I pointed out that the father looked for his son everyday.  That the father went out running toward his son.  Nothing needed to be said because the father loves His child no matter what he has done.  I wanted him to know that God is the same with him.  And that Naomi and I feel that same way.  We are just so happy to have him back.  But for right now Naomi and I are here for him and we want to know what happened to him if he feels like telling us.  

He began his story about taking care of his father.  Then after some time and trouble with the uncle he found himself being taken in the middle of the night by the people in the forrest.  The  uncle and the father had both been a part of this group or club when they were younger.  The difference was that the uncle is the one who set up the kidnapping and the father wanted none of this for his son.  After Emmanuel was taken the father crawled using his arms only to find his son in the forrest.  He knew where they took him.  Many people say that if you go there the people can kill you. 

I have heard of other stories since that back this up.  One women that I know that is about 70 years old went into the forrest to get her husband back that was a pastor at the time.  When the people caught her they beat her so bad that she passed out and they gave her bloody tied up body back to the family.  But after an hour or so after her being back with her family she woke up, they thought she was dead.  He husband was brought back too and was hurt so bad that he never walked right again.  

But to get back to Emmanuel's story.  Because the father went through the initiation when he was younger and has the same marks that Emmanuel is now scared with on his one arm, they didn't kill his father.  But his father begged them to let him go.  They wouldn't allow it and sent the father back home with some other people.  The journey to find his son wore on him that the father, being malnourished the way he was, began to wear down and his life was now limited. 

After Emmanuel's first part of the rituals and initiation they let him go back home to his father because they were told his father was dying.  After going to his father he was to come back to the group and do the second part of the initiation.   When he got to his home his father was so sick and dying.  His father begged him not to go back to the forrest.  He knew of the things they do in there.  He told Emmanuel to run back to Naomi and Tammy and stay in Bere and never leave.  He begged him and after that his father died in Emmanuel's arm.  At this point in the story Emmanuel has to take a break and walk away from us for his pain is so great.  

By this time we all are crying.  I felt so sorry for him.  I told him I wanted to know what happened in there.  What did they do to him?  He said that he was not allowed to tell of the horrible things that happened in the forrest.  He said that they made a potion and made him drink it as they cursed some spell on him. (so he is led to believe)  That if he ever speaks of the things in the forrest he would die.  

No one ever speaks of these things.  I just know from so many it is really bad.  Please pray for Emmanuel.  He just wants to be a kid that goes to school and plays with his friends.  I am afraid that the things that happened to him in there changed him a little.  He now even looks more like a man.  I can tell that he is internally damaged.  But I know that God can work miracles in him and has already.   

Emmanuel, a hard life and only 15

Does anyone remember Emmanuel?  A couple years ago he was a patient at the hospital.  He was a 12 year old boy who came in with his mother to have a mass removed from his arm.  Jamie and I decided to be in on the surgery and observe.  We didn't know the boy but we were interested in his case.  A couple days went by and we really didn't give him too much thought.  

Naomi was in the hospital with her youngest boy Daniel because he had malaria.  I would bring her food every evening and Emmanuel was in the bed next to her. Naomi told me that she rarely saw anyone with him and when someone did come to help him it was a boy younger than himself.  She never saw anyone feeding him and so she started to share the things I was bringing her.  When she told me this then I began to visit him and develop a relationship with him.   He had complications with his surgery and the blood supply was not being fed into his hand and it started to die.  Dr Appel had to do surgery  to amputate his hand.  The healing of that was not going well and so Dr. Appel had to take it up even further because the infection was going to his bone.  He had to go through another amputation surgery above his elbow.  

Naomi eventually left with Daniel and I continued to visit him every afternoon.   I brought him food and drinks and eventually I wanted him to start using his one hand that he did have and so I brought him a notebook and color pencils.  I would draw him one picture and the next night when I would come visit he would have a picture ready for me that he drew.   And after a short amount of time he started to draw pictures that seemed to be ones that were therapy for him like a tree with one branch cut off and on the ground with blood on it.  I believe he was trying to process what happened to him.  

After time he did get better and his mother took him home.  But it was not long before she came back with him to talk to me and Naomi.  She is a prostitute and she wanted to go back up to Ndjamena and work.  She did not want to take him with her.  She flat out told Naomi that she didn't want him and wanted me to take him.  He was standing right there.  I couldn't believe it.   I took Naomi over to the side and explained to her that I can not take everyones kids.  I can not do it.  She looked at me and said that she would take him.  I tried to talk her out of it and said we would find another way but she insisted.  She said, "how can I stand before God if I do not take him"?  And that is what she did.  She took him home that night.  All the belongings he had with him fit easily in a grocery bag.  

Months went by, maybe over a year and Emmanuel was still with Naomi.  He helped her so much with all her kids especially the little 4 year old, Daniel.  He worked with them, played with them, went to church with them and prayed with them.  He was now part of the family.  But after a full year and after being a full year in the  Adventist school here, it was summer time, and Emmanuel sat me and Naomi down.  He wanted to know if we would give him our blessing to go and take care of his paraplegic father.  There was word on the street that came to Emmanuel that his uncle was tired of taking care of his father and was plotting to kill him.  He was going to poison him.  We agreed to let him go and sent him on his way with some money for food.  After a few weeks, maybe a month, he came back.  He mainly came back for money for food.  I wasn't surprised but asked him several questions about how it was going with his father.  He would say that it was hard but ok.  He would cry but we didn't understand why.  

More time went by and Emmanuel never showed up again.  School was getting ready to start.  Naomi began to ask people in the market, that were from the same village as Emmanuel's father, questions as to what they knew about Emmanuel.  We were starting to be concerned because we thought for sure he would show up again for school.  But then we started to hear about where he really was.  People were saying that he was taken in the forrest with the Lao people.  Of course I had no idea who they were but my first instinct was to go and get him out.  I was told that they were a very bad group of people, like satan worshipers.  If I were to go I would be putting myself in danger.  Everyone was very strict on not letting me go.  All we ended up doing was praying for him and every now and then we would ask people if they knew he was ok. 

I didn't know when or if I would see him again.  Then one day just about a month ago he showed up, he was back.   Its been over a year and he is home.  He went straight to Naomi's and asked for forgiveness.  She then talked to me about him and wanted to know what I think about accepting him back.  I told her we should take him back, we should talk to him guide him and definitely take him back.  

A couple days later Emmanuel and all Naomi's boys came to my house for a visit.  I was so surprised and happy to see him.  I went straight over to him and hugged him and didn't let go for a long time.   I talked to all of them and had them go to the back porch where I gave them all warm sugar milk and cookies which is a real treat for them here.  I visited for just a little while and asked a few questions.  I then had to tell them I had to get back to work but would come out to visit them soon at their house.  

A week went by and I took Brichelle and Hayley with me to visit at Naomi's.  I wanted Hayley to experience the village in the bush.  It is beautiful in a very raw way and so quiet compared to what we are use to next to the hospital with all the work going on around us.  I always tell Naomi that God paints a picture for her everyday in the sky.  I always appreciate the beauty in the sky when I am out there.  

Anyways, after our hellos and donations that we brought her family she had some scrambled eggs for us (to eat with our hands) and something else that I really can't describe.  We had a lot of laughs and visited for a while.  Then I asked if I could read a bible story to her kids and have her interpret it into Nangjere,their local language.  She agreed and I got out my blue children's bible story book.  I told the story about the prodigal son.  During the story Naomi had tears coming from her eyes.  After the story I asked the kids a few questions.  Then asked if Naomi and I could talk with Emmanuel alone.  As soon as all the other children rounded the corner Emmanuel just flooded with uncontrollable tears.  He said to us that he was like the son that left.  He was so sorry and asked for forgiveness.  We all were crying by this point.  And with my arm around him I told him that God has already taken his sins and put them down in the deepest sea.  We told him that after today we do not have to talk about this again.  I told him that I read him that story not to make him feel bad like he was the bad son but to look at what the father was doing.  I pointed out that the father looked for his son everyday.  That the father went out running toward his son.  Nothing needed to be said because the father loves His child no matter what he has done.  I wanted him to know that God is the same with him.  And that Naomi and I feel that same way.  We are just so happy to have him back.  But for right now Naomi and I are here for him and we want to know what happened to him if he feels like telling us.  

He began his story about taking care of his father.  Then after some time and trouble with the uncle he found himself being taken in the middle of the night by the people in the forrest.  The  uncle and the father had both been a part of this group or club when they were younger.  The difference was that the uncle is the one who set up the kidnapping and the father wanted none of this for his son.  After Emmanuel was taken the father crawled using his arms only to find his son in the forrest.  He knew where they took him.  Many people say that if you go there the people can kill you. 

I have heard of other stories since that back this up.  One women that I know that is about 70 years old went into the forrest to get her husband back that was a pastor at the time.  When the people caught her they beat her so bad that she passed out and they gave her bloody tied up body back to the family.  But after an hour or so after her being back with her family she woke up, they thought she was dead.  He husband was brought back too and was hurt so bad that he never walked right again.  

But to get back to Emmanuel's story.  Because the father went through the initiation when he was younger and has the same marks that Emmanuel is now scared with on his one arm, they didn't kill his father.  But his father begged them to let him go.  They wouldn't allow it and sent the father back home with some other people.  The journey to find his son wore on him that the father, being malnourished the way he was, began to wear down and his life was now limited. 

After Emmanuel's first part of the rituals and initiation they let him go back home to his father because they were told his father was dying.  After going to his father he was to come back to the group and do the second part of the initiation.   When he got to his home his father was so sick and dying.  His father begged him not to go back to the forrest.  He knew of the things they do in there.  He told Emmanuel to run back to Naomi and Tammy and stay in Bere and never leave.  He begged him and after that his father died in Emmanuel's arm.  At this point in the story Emmanuel has to take a break and walk away from us for his pain is so great.  

By this time we all are crying.  I felt so sorry for him.  I told him I wanted to know what happened in there.  What did they do to him?  He said that he was not allowed to tell of the horrible things that happened in the forrest.  He said that they made a potion and made him drink it as they cursed some spell on him. (so he is led to believe)  That if he ever speaks of the things in the forrest he would die.  

No one ever speaks of these things.  I just know from so many it is really bad.  Please pray for Emmanuel.  He just wants to be a kid that goes to school and plays with his friends.  I am afraid that the things that happened to him in there changed him a little.  He now even looks more like a man.  I can tell that he is internally damaged.  But I know that God can work miracles in him and has already. 

 

 

Rat and Roach pics

 

 

 

 

Pathfinders

Thank you to everyone who gave toward the pathfinders this year when we were on furlough.  All of the kids and the leaders were very excited to get their flags, scarfs, pins and patches.  Thank you to all of you who gave some money toward the purchase of these items and to those who gave of their own.  There was a program with the Pathfinders in church a few weeks after we got back.  They had a whole program just for handing these items out to the Pathfinders in Bere and our neighbor village, Kelo.  It was a lot of fun to see the children so proud of the these items.   It is not possible to even buy these things in this country so they were very appreciative.   Thank you and may God bless you for your giving.  

 

 

Before and After school remodel

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overwhelmed

I can not believe that we have been here for almost six weeks already. I am feeling a little overwhelmed too. I knew that the work was going to be a lot. My first work has been to work construction on the school. Jamie tells me that I am on my own because he has all the new construction that is going on over at the hospital. The rain is not stopping this year and the flooding seems to surround us. We can not get out and many people have lost their houses. People come everyday that are hungry, dirty, sick and everyone wants a job. The language is still not what it should be with me and I am getting frustrated quicker. Money is running out and there is still so much to do here. I am already tired of the food we have to eat. I'm overwhelmed and as I type away I have that annoying lump in my throat that wants me to just let it all out and then maybe I will feel better. But I also wonder will I just feel worse if I let my tears flow. But my mind keeps the tears away because in comparison to the people here I have it great so I fight the tears. But when I feel like this I sometimes wonder what am I really doing here? Am I making a difference? Can I really do this for much longer? I shouldn't be feeling like this already!

Since we have been back we have fixed up a room in the house for Jamie and me. We have painted the ceiling, walls and added all the new things to make our room special. We decided during furlough that we need a place to escape and now we have it. It has been great.

I started all the construction on the primary school. For six rooms the little holes in the walls that they called windows have been knocked out and replaced with big metal shutter windows. This will not only help with ventilation in the room but also with light. The mud has been knocked off the walls and put outside. The mud walls have all been replaced with cement and every room has been painted white. Three of the rooms no longer have dirt floors but clean smooth concrete. Three other rooms are still waiting to be done. All of the cement chalkboards have been repainted with the black chalkboard paint. The office for the primary school is also finished with cement walls painted white and cement floors. All the brick benches for the children in each classroom has been either replaced or repaired. We have someone in the market making 7 new desks. One desk will go in the office and each classroom will get one for the teacher. I really want to show everyone the before and after pictures. But we are still working on wrapping everything up and adding the little details. I have had some people donate specifically for the school and while I was in the states I was able to purchase and bring with me several posters and different learning aids to put up on the finished walls. Thank you to everyone that has had a part in this project. I can not wait to see the faces of the children when they come to school the first day and see their new classrooms. I want each one to know that they are worth it. That God loves them and that they can dream and have a future.

I am also working with the public. I am still working with the baby formula program. Each month we are helping about 15 babies with almost 60 containers of formula. This comes out to about $350 per month that the baby formula program has grown to. Thank you for all those that have been supporting this program too. It has been such a blessing to see these little babies grow up to beautiful, healthy little toddlers. This again is just another way for us to build relationships with the people to help guide them to Christ, show His love and save a life. We continue to help each of these babies for a year. At six months they start to eat a little bwee which is a porridge made with rice and peanut butter which we give a little bag of each these ingredients to help them each week. I can just see how God is blessing each family. Thank you so much for your donations for this program. And may God bless each one of you for all you are doing for His children.

Another program is giving to the poor. I have many old people that have really no one taking care of them come to me for help. I will then give out a bag of rice and usually a few other things that I am led to think they need like soap or some clothes. I am also working with the women who are unable to take their children to the hospital when their child is sick. This continues to be a problem here. The women are always left with the children and the husband has left them and gone to a bigger town or they have simply left them for a younger prettier wife.


Right now we are all suffering from the rain. The people here have not seen this much rain for 30 years or so. The water is flooding many villages and their homes are being destroyed. Many of the rice fields that are planted are under water. If the water does not go down soon the rice will all be destroyed. Their rice is what sustains them throughout the year. Last year there was not enough water and this year it is just too much. The water is flooding the roads and we are unable to go to Kelo. At least we are not able to go with a car. If we take a motorcycle then we have to get our motorcycle and ourselves in a dug out canoe and go many miles. I know of two guys that just left the other day and what use to be a one hour drive took almost 5 hours. The other road out of this place going toward Lia was good until Friday when we heard that one of the bridges broke and now you are unable to take a car that way. Those that have been pushed out of there homes because of the water are now living in the school at the market. It is crazy to see all the people that have been affected by the flooding. The Adventist people here took up a donation and we were able to give soap to the distributing station to help the people that are left without anything.

I know that the flooding will eventually stop and the water will go down and we will eventually be able to go to a bigger town to buy supplies but for now we have basically whatever the people here have which is not much. I don't want to be playing our violin just yet because I do know that we have things so much better then other people here but I can say that it is for sure not what we are use to. But I guess there is always something to learn in uncomfortable situations. What does not kill you makes you stronger.

Jamie is really the one with a lot on his shoulders. The hospital has so many new buildings going up. Jamie is still the maintenance man for the hospital but he is also the one over about 30 guys that are doing concrete slabs for all the buildings that will be going up. Jamie is making sure they have what they need to make it happen as well as oversee the project and protect everything from being broken or stolen. There are 4 men here from Uganda that has done this work before. I want to tell everyone more about this whole project but I want to give all the details but this is enough information for a whole blog in itself.

Please keep us in your prayers. We are already tired and we are just getting started.

While in the States

Jamie and I have been in the states for three and a half months now. I can't believe how the time has just flown by. I am very excited to let everyone know what we have been doing since we have been here. We have traveled to many states that includes Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Florida. We have done many programs at many different churches all around. We have been overwhelmed by the response we have gotten. Everyone has been so open armed and treated us with an overwhelming kindness. God has blessed us with so many good people in our lives and I praise Him for that.

One of the most exciting journeys we took was our trip to Minnesota. There is a man by the name Garwin McNeilus that flew us out to Minnesota to talk about all the things that he wanted to do for the mission going on in Bere. Where it starts for him was when he took his adopted granddaughter and her friend to Bere to work as nurses at the malnutrition Center two miles from the hospital. He spent one day there but saw such a great need for help. He talked extensively to Olen about the needs at the hospital and he jumped on board. For those of you who do not know who he is, he is the founder of the "One Day Churches and Schools". That is just his mission. He is a very successful business man that has his hands in many different things. He wanted Jamie to come to his shop where he fabricates the "One Day" buildings to see if they could get their minds together to modify these buildings to become, a so called, "One Day Hospital". This was so exciting for us because as soon as we get back to Chad we knew that the first work Jamie had to do was to build a private ward and a new house for Danae's parents. They are in Bere now and are committed to at least 5 years. This is a great thing because not only does Danae get her parent there but her father, Rolin Bland is a doctor that does surgery. So now our hospital has Danae an OB doctor, Olen an ER doctor and Dr Bland as a surgeon. We now have the staff to expand and we are getting ready to double the size of our hospital with a new private ward, a maternity ward and new operating building. So back to Garwin, he is in the process of sending over 3 containers with all the buildings we need for our hospital but also quite a few volunteer student missionary houses. Exciting!!! Not only are we going to get these buildings but he is setting up for Maranatha to come and help put them all up. Also, he has a crew coming to Chad on our same flight from Uganda to help pour all of the foundations! God is so good!!! We got help.