I think
I have had my most challenging day on the race so far. It wasn’t challenging
physically but emotionally. It was hard
because I saw the realities of the loss of life for no good reason.
First
we were asked to attend a funeral of one of the church member’s sister. Of course I wasn’t eager to go but Pastor
Gideon pointed out we are to mourn with those who mourn. We really didn’t know the situation but when
we got there we found out it was a 13 year old girl. Her death was a snowball effect of misfortune
and lack of resources. Thursday when she
arrived home from school she had told her parents she had had an accident at
school (she said she had fallen into a desk).
She was given some pain medication and the next day was taken to the
hospital as the pain wasn’t better.
There the power was out so no tests could be done but there was thought
of her having Malaria so she was given Malaria meds instead. Saturday she didn’t improve and somewhere
between Saturday and Sunday she died of internal bleeding. At the funeral no one really cried. I wondered if they weren’t crying because
they are desensitized to death or if culturally it is not something they
do. After asking it sounds as if it is a
little of both. I was angered that this
young girl died due to a power outage.
Later
that day we went to the hospital again to pray with people. I was delighted to see Chris up moving around
not listless like I had seen him Friday.
His mother said he had Meningitis. But as I glanced around the ward
again I saw so much hurt. A little baby
burned head to toe from a lantern lying on dirty sheets, a three week old with
swelling pushing out of the skull, the feverish, the malnourished, the list
could go on. I began to see with my physical
eyes and not spiritual. My hope and
faith were running low. We went bed to
bed and then I heard a commotion behind me I turned around to find a little
toddler taking his last breath. The
nurse pumped his chest twice lifted up her hand and stepped back. He died because of malaria. What is there to
say? It isn’t right, he could have
easily been saved with the right medicine.
So
where do I find hope in death? First I realize God has never changed, He is
never surprised, and He grieves with us as we grieve. Nathan my old leader who battled cancer twice
says sometimes we get so focused on the pain we forget Jesus is in the room
suffering with us. The pain of this
world will not cease until the Lord returns.
God sits on His throne crying over His beloved children. We live in a broken world but the Lord’s mercies,
peace and love are unending. My hope
rests in the reality that I serve a just God that is Holy and is bringing
Kingdom to earth now. He brings Kingdom
through His people, His word, His Spirit and His creation.
Why are you in
despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I
shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 43: 5
