Weeks Six + Seven

Last week was wild - I went to a village about 30 minutes outside of the city with a team of African doctors and nurses. The patients had to pay the equivalent of less than 50 cents to be seen by a doctor and receive medicine. Before they came to the pharmacy, the Gospel was presented and this village was “tough soil” to say the least. Every day we saw anywhere from 100 to 250 people with different ailments - many had malaria or some type of skin infection. Malaria is very bad this time of year so it felt like we were making a difference being there and at least filling those prescriptions. I don’t know if you’ve ever been around 200 impatient men and women that speak a different language than you and all want something from you, but it can be a bit frustrating. By the end of the week I was discouraged as we were seeing the same patients over and over and it seemed they were there just to collect pills. On Thursday I told myself I wasn’t going to come back the next day but then I was convicted about finishing strong - and I didn’t want to miss out on anything the Lord was going to do in this village. So, Friday I crawled in the bus and honestly was thankful that it was the last day. From morning until 4pm it was the same pattern - same patients, same ailments, same kids screaming my name. Until we got on the bus to leave...

I had hugged everyone bye, got a picture with the village chief and was ready to hightail it out of the bush. But then I heard someone say that we had to wait for one of the doctors and a midwife that was with us because they were about to deliver a baby! I ran out of that bus like the Prodigal Son’s father. Everyone was staring at me as I ran to the maternity with such anticipation because I knew this is what I had been waiting for. The delivery looked incredibly painful - the mother chose to deliver laying on the floor (obviously with no medication) and she was totally alone. After about 10 minutes, a beautiful baby boy was born. The coolest part was getting to hold him right after the umbilical cord was cut and the mother was still being examined. I got to pray for him and his mother and thank God for such a beautiful life. Seeing so many people in one village that did not willingly accept the Gospel then getting the opportunity to see a brand new life and pray that the Lord would care for him and he would bring change to his village was the perfect way to end a somewhat frustrating week.

After an exhausting yet fruitful mission in the bush, we spent the weekend resting and on Sunday took a river boat ride to hippo country! We saw about 10 hippos and one baby that our guide said had been born maybe one or two days ago - the same day as my village baby! 

Week 7 has been full of “last days.” We’ve eaten all the foods, gone all the places and spent lots of family time together. If I didn’t miss all of you people so much I would be totally okay with canceling my flight and staying here forever. I guess I need to finish school and all of that fun stuff too but I rest in the hope that I will return here soon. I’ve gotten along seamlessly with the family I have been staying with and leaving them will be the hardest part. Please continue to pray for me as I begin my travels later tonight. I will be in ATL Sunday evening and can't wait to eat... you guessed it, Chick-fil-A!

This is not an easy place to live. It's dirty and hot and there is poverty and oppression around every corner. I was questioning the Lord last night and He gently reminded me that He made this country and all the people in it beautiful. There is a purpose and time for everything!

It has meant the world to me to have your support and prayers as I have been on this mission. We are just getting started! Please continue to pray for the girls home - for provision and wisdom for construction and that the right helpers and girls would walk in the gates at just the right time. We are so expectant of what the Lord is doing here!