Beauty from Pain

I wrote this Saturday night, but have had some trouble posting it.  So here it is a bit late:

We've been busy as usual and I will blog about Friday this week- so stay tuned.

For now we had some fun with ol' Keira tonight.  This video pretty much says it all.  But I had to call our (only) doctor friend (whom I've never ACTUALLY met) tonight because I was really worried that Keira was having a lot of calf pain.  It was red, swollen, painful, and warm to the touch.  I just wanted to make sure she didn't have a blood clot as she is supposed to fly home Friday.  Dr. Johnson told us we needed to go to the hospital right away- that she might need antibiotics IV.  So we hopped in the car and drove to St. Mary's Mission Hospital (it's super duper cheap).  I'd only been there that one time with the kids, but we got there without any wrong turns and going a different way. 

We really didn't get any answers from the doctor on call.  He gave her some pain meds, steroids and cream. Then told us to come back in the morning to see Dr. Johnson if need be.  She may have to go back Monday for an ultrasound.  

The good news is that God totally used this situation for His glory.  We asked the charge nurse if we could walk around the ward and pray for the patients.  Some were so pitiful.  All 4 of us laid hands on each and every person on that ward!  We would like to go back and do something similar to that again. 

Update after writing this post:  God has really impressed upon my heart (and Joy's) to go back weekly and spend time on the women's ward praying over them and talking with them.  One patient in particular I cannot shake from my mind is a young girl about my age.  She's probably very close to dying with the debilitating terminal illness which we are all familiar with: AIDS.  I cannot get her suffering off my mind.  We felt like our purpose that night at the hospital was to pray over each and every patient.  Now we want to take it a step further and visit them to tell them about the hope that is in Jesus Christ.  Though they are terminally ill- they can experience the peace that passes ALL understanding.  

I will shamefully admit that in the past I have desired different spiritual gifts than what God has so graciously given me according to what He knew was best for me.  Now i have grown to LOVE my gifts of mercy and compassion.  I've shared with you all before I am thriving from my bible study "Get Uncomfortable" (partially about compassion).  Maybe this is where I have grown to embrace and LOVE my spiritual gift of compassion; as it means "to suffer with".  As I've expressed already, I literally can FEEL others pain sometimes when I put myself in their shoes.  My skin crawls, chills form, and my body aches when I see someone hurting.  The pain and suffering of others is one of the easiest ways to bring me to tears.  (Like it's that hard these days.)  

Now, I wouldn't take anything for my spiritual gifts.  I gladly take hold of them and attempt to glorify Him in some way with what He has considerately supplied me with.  

Look who showed up!

Joy brought all kinds of goodies.  Among those are the amazingly cool socky-boots.  (Chris got a pair too...but unfortunately declined the photo opportunity)

Oh yea!  For years I have wanted 2 things.  One: to go on a medical mission trip with my Mom.  CHECK!  Two: Serve in Africa with my BFF.  Guess what!  She's here and tomorrow it begins.  CHECK!  That's right guys- Joy Marie Ward is in the Hizz-ouse.  And here to stay for at least 2 months.  I couldn't be more tickled.  She arrived Tuesday night and of course I didn't allow her to recover from jet lag.  We stayed up till after 1:30 catching up on each others lives.  My mom calls us "Comma's" b/c we always seen to pick back up where we left off.  

For those of you who do not know her or have only met her- allow me to tell you a bit about her.  She's my twin I think... but so much cooler.  Joy has served in missions for the past several years.  She has lived in a tribal area of northern India as well as Singapore and Malaysia.  This girl has never been afraid to dive into missions and get her hands dirty for Jesus.  She is one of the most passionate people I have ever known.  She compliments me in ways I cannot explain.  She is strong where I am weakest.  She has boo coos of ideas on how to serve the poor, feed the hungry and stop injustice.  Her heart for the oppressed is like no one else I've ever encountered. 

..... And all this is FREE OF CHARGE!  Yea- she's not charging us a dime to use her talents, gifts and abilities for this ministry to help grow the kingdom.  

 

Is Joy excited to be here or what??  Every 5 minutes she says "Lindy, we're in Africa....together!"  

Making "Jazz's" for our dinner guests.

Our guests from South Horr. 

And to think- we met over a slice of cheese at Caswell just 8 years ago.   

Already today- we had our coffee, devo's, Joy had Kiswalhili lessons from Abe, we ran a couple miles, did some chores, cooked a time consuming yet yummy dinner, watched a Samburu wedding on video, fixed the toilet (well, rigged it) had more coffee and more chatting.  

Babies got back... from the doctor!

I finally got to take all my babies to the hospital today to get check ups!  

First of all, let me start by telling you about our car ride.  I dropped Chris off in Kawangware (which is a whole other story to be told by CT at later date).  When I went to pick them up, boy- they were so ready to go!  They jumped in the car laughing and smiling.  As we started toward to hospital, Meshek asked them if they'd even been in a "gari", or car, before.  They ALL declined.  They were treating our little old suzuki like a roller coaster.  It was cracking me up.  That was so much fun for them! 

On to the good stuff: I told you all that I would give you an update on their status.  I took all 4 of the siblings plus my sweet little Isaac.  (One day, I'm going to pinch his cute little dimples off! I should have a picture of him next week to put on the computer- Thanks to my sweet daddy!)  All 5 had upper respiratory infections and "slight flu".  Isaac had "strep" head- (I have no clue.  He has white spots on his head.  I didn't ask... I figured I'm a nurse I should know what a "strep" head is?? right??) Isaac also has thrush.  The little ones of course are malnourished - as we already knew.  They all have worms... no surprise.  We got some extra vitamins for all of them to take along with being fed 3 meals a day.  

I went ahead and made the decision to have blood work done on all of them.  Especially since we are unaware of dad's location and how the parents of Isaac died.  Sylvia was nervous and "fearing an injection" the whole time.  I kept telling her- she was going to be just fine.  I knew they would do pretty well b/c kids here are much tougher than American Kids.  Kenyan kids would probably tell the American ones to "buck up" as Becky would say.  Sylvia was first and started flipping out.  So I grabbed her up and held her in my lap.  I made her look right into my eyes and whether she could understand me or not I said "Sylvia, I will never let anything 'bad' happen to you.  You are okay... you are safe."  As she calmed down- still those big brown eyes with huge tears pierced my heart.  I never thought it would bother me one bit- but I just about lost it.  Tears started to well up in my eyes.  Just the thought of her fear broke my heart.  As many injections and IV starts as I've done to children in my 4 years of ER nursing... I never cried.  What is wrong with me??  Gez!  

Wow.  Any way- they all did great.  Isaac is such a sweetie pie, but doesn't seem to understand as much an Sylvia and Charles.  So he sat down like a big boy with a smile.  But when that needles went in- his face turned so sour and he couldn't have been more shocked!  Tears immediately streamed down his face.  I think it almost took his breath away.  Gosh.. my heart again...  Did someone just rip it out of my chest, throw it on the ground and beat it with a stick?  I swallowed hard... the next... and the next... and the next one.  ALL DONE!  Time for treats and snacks!  I'm pretty sure they all thought it was worth all the juice, nuts, and twizzlers (thanks to Auntie Pat!) afterwards.  Brian wasn't my best friend for about 4 minutes afterwards though.  His veins were bad and they had to stick his little hand.

But I'm THRILLED to report that God is Good ALL THE TIME and everyone was NEGATIVE!!!!!  Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!!!

My first haircut on an African.  Paul's first haircut by a Mzungu!

Update

Hey guys- told you I would give you an update after we went to the doctor as to what the status was on the kiddos.  BUT the doctor from the hospital we were going to see is not well today.  I'm asking you readers to please pray for the doctor.  He is a missionary from the states and an incredible man from what I hear.  I've heard amazing stories about him and his ministry.  He sounds like a very humble and hard working man.  I don't know what is wrong with him, but the great physician does.  Unfortunately medical persons are not invincible when it comes to yucky bugs of sorts.  Please pray for doctor Michael Johnson and for a quick recovery.  We are planning on trying to take the kids tomorrow or when he's better.  But let us have faith that the Lord will heal him quickly and that it isn't anything serious. 

Thanks for your prayers- my faithful warriors!

in her shoes...

First of all I want to thank you who left comments that you were praying for this situation.  You all will NEVER know what that means to us.  

I arose early the other morning to spend some much needed time on the steps of my soul before meeting with the children and mother.  I asked our Lord to prepare me as much as possible as He had already ordained that meeting time with her.  I asked that the enemy not get any foothold on my attitude so that i ONLY had the love of Christ oozing from me.  Not bitterness.  As I learned more horrific acts of mothers killing their baby girls in India last year, I came to realize that poverty does terrible, terrible things to people.  Something you and I can NEVER relate to and NEVER truly understand.   

I want to attempt to paint a picture of this mother and her life to you.  Though I may not be totally accurate on all the details- hopefully I can paint you a picture to help you grasp the depravity of her story and what she may have gone through.  Let us not judge her sheerly from the looks of her children.  

Imagine you are the mother of 3 with number 4 on the way.  Your country is being ripped apart from the inside out.  1.7 million people are being forced from their homes; you are among them.  Your children are hungry.  What do you do?  You've heard great things about Kenya.  It's stable, right?  Especially it's capital.  Maybe if your husband put a nice suit on- he could get a job there.  So you take your "savings", buy a bus ride for your family as far as it will take you.  Then you walk 8 months pregnant the rest of the way.  In his suit, your husband sets off to find a job- never to return.  You've never had schooling of any sort.  You don't even know how to spell your name, much less write it.  Who will hire you?  An uneducated pregnant Ugandan woman?  

You end up moving into the center of Kibera slums.  The cheapest rent.  A small stick structure with mud walls and a rusty tin roof.  Praise the Lord it's shelter during this rainy season!  Your children are still hungry but labor pains soon set in.  After a long hard labor with the smell of human waste in the air, you give birth to a healthy baby boy.  Now, time to get a job.  After searching long and hard you find a job washing clothes from 7am to 7pm.  You travel about 7 miles by foot daily with your newborn in tow.  Guess how much you make to pay rent, food, school fees and clothes?  $46. 15 per month.  That's 30¢/per person/per day.  You decide to attempt to break poverty chain in your family's history- so you attempt to send your eldest to school.  A little late... but at least he's in school.

Does this give you a better picture of what life might be like for this mother?  Oh Lord- forgive me for being so quick to judge!

Things are looking up for these children.  We got to meet that 4th child which we had no clue about- Charles.  He is the oldest and just as cute as the others.  Normally he is in school, but August is "holiday" for all the schools.  They are such beautiful children.  Charles is very smart.  We learned their true ages: Paul is 3; Brian 5; Sylvia 8; Charles 9.  Instead of going to the "school" where I met them, they will now be attending a registered form 1 school at Berith.  So now they will ALL be getting an education, 3 hot meals, and love from a precious family we partner with.  Tomorrow I will drop Chris off to do evangelism and I will pick the kids up to take them to the hospital.  A dear friend recently gave a generous donation to pay for their food and medical care.  (Her meekness and humility do not permit me to tell you her name.)  I can't tell you how excited I am about getting them well!  Soon their bellies will be rid of worms and the nutrients from consistent meals will have them growing in no time!  I feel God's excitement as well.  

Isn't God amazing?  We all need to be careful at making up our minds on situations we barely are aware of.  The next few days and weeks are going to be quite exciting as we have already had a preview.  You will be updated, don't worry.

        

Update

Please read the last post to understand this update.

Update (11:50pm):  I got a call tonight from Tafrosa.  I will be meeting with the mother in the morning at 9am (our time).  The kids are coming as well so I'm very excited to see them.  I'm a bit nervous as I'm not sure what to do or say.  There are many emotions I'm right now.  I'm starting to wonder if I might know a little bit about how Jessica was feeling in dealing with the parents of Baby D.  We really want the best for the children.  Pray we will be able to show the mom the love of Christ first and foremost: through our attitudes and actions in dealing with this situation.

a handshake goes a long way (from home)....

              (Telling stories of creation at the school with sleeping little Paul in tow.)

A few weeks ago I was walking through Kibera along the railroad on my way to the school.  It's not often there are Mzungu's waltzing through Kibera.  So it is very common for the kids to shout.  "Mzungu, how are you?" Only, the keep repeating "How are you? How are you? How are you?"  That's really all most of them know how to say.  And if they can't remember how to say that in english they just say "Wah-roo", which is a fruit.  (I don't actually know how to spell it).  They say that b/c it sounds like "How are you".

 Anyway, I was used to kids coming up and wanting to shake my hand on the railroad.  I usually ask them how they are in Kiswalhili b/c they know how to better respond.  I can remember one day I saw a young boy (about 11) in a red tattered sweater with huge shoes on.  He was really acting like he wanted to come up to me, but was very unsure of me.  So I walked up to him and asked him how he was doing in Kiswalhili and he replied appropriately with one word.  We went on our way to the school.  When we got there I went on in to see the kids.  I turned around and noticed that little boy in red from the railroad had followed us all the way to the school.  He was standing outside shuffling his feet and looking down.  I called this to one of the teachers attention and she began talking to him in Kiswalhili.  I figured out she was telling him to go away.  I asked her to please let him stay for the bible story and meal.  After all, there was plenty to eat.  So he came back in and sat in the back of the classroom.  He was so excited, but you could tell there was something about him that wasn't like the other kids.  No one could understand his name to know what to call him.  During play time, he sat alone.  I asked him to play, but he shook his head no.  So, I did what I had to do.  I grabbed his hand in mine and ran with him to meet with the other kids.  He laughed the whole way.  We played silly mzungu games i made up.  After school I walked with him and tried to ask him some questions.  I think he understood me, but I figured out that he has a speech problem.  Within about a minute of walking he grabbed my hand and we walked hand in hand until we ran into a lady that said he needed to go to his home.  Tafrosa asked the lady some questions about his home situation.  We figured out that he was an orphan who lived with his aunt.  He went home and I never even knew what his name was.  

Fast forward a week or so to when Chris and I were taking our 22 month old friend for a little joy ride around Kibera in the "Gari".  Chris stopped to talk to someone he knew.  Next thing I knew there were some tiny black arms flying through my window at me.  It was my little red sweatered friend!  I wondered what he was doing so far from home.  What were the chances that I would see him out of 1 million people in Kibera.  Definitely a God thing.  I tried to talk to him a little, mostly just wanting to make sure he knew how to get home.  It was time to go and Chris had to take off.  As we drove back toward the pastors home, my friend was running as fast as he could behind our car.  He followed us all the way to the Pastor's house.  Long story shorter- Meshek (a supported pastor/ son in law to Tafrosa and Indiazia) went to his home to find out a little more info about his home situation.  Apparently, his name is Isaac Rabin and his parents have been dead for some time now.  He lives with his aunt who is a seamstress and is gone from early morning to late night.  When there isn't food in the house (which I heard is often), Isaac leaves very early to find some.  I learned he is usually unsuccessful as he is shilling-less.  We told Indiazia that if they will feed him, we will pay for it.  He had the option of having the food brought to their home, or coming to Indiazia to have food and fellowship.  He wanted to come to Indiazia's for the family type meal.  

Friday- Chris, Thomas, and Noah all went to the new bible college and helped Indiazia and the group renovate it.  It is in need of a lot of work, but looks so much better after Friday.  Chris said he must have seen our car and recognized it.  He came to the college and I they got the feeling he was hungry.  As the guys took a break for lunch they told Isaac to "sit right there until we get back."  45 minutes later they returned with a meal. Chris said Issac had not moved a muscle.  He had not and would not turn around or anything.  He was so tickled about his lunch!   

I looked out over Kibera and look at Isaac, Sylvia, Brian and Paul and think "And this is only two stories of so many..."  A spiritual mentor recently said to me "Their [Sylvia, Paul, Brian's] story is just one of millions of children in Kibera, Kawangware, Calcutta- all over the world"  To which I replied, but even if I only help one... it's still better than not having helped any."  We had better start now because there are a lot of people and children who need to see our loving Savior.  These people need to see us showing true biblical compassion [meaning: to suffer with.]  Are we ready and willing to suffer with them?

Hopefully I'll have an update about Sylvia, Paul, and Brian this week.  (I couldn't keep from putting all 3 of them on our blog header.)  Please pray for this situation (I cannot possibly explain all the details of it- as there are so many.)  It is such a heavy burden on my heart.  I do not know what to do, where to go, nor how the "system" works around here.  Pray that God would put someone in our path who knows Kenya's "system" better than we do.  Pray that we do not do anything without His permission and guidance.  Most of all pray for these hungry, mangled children and their mother.  As I mentioned before we do not know her story.  All I know is that they are from Uganda (which is another challenge with the "system" and the father left when she was pregnant with Paul.  She really needs to be loved along with these children.  Thank you for your prayers...