Today we went to the hospital here in Dondo to pray over the sick. When we got there our translator and leader took us to the children’s section of the hospital. My heart was instantly broken. All the children were at least between the ages of 1 and 3 and they were all sick, some dying, with either malaria or AIDS. I know this is something we hear about in the US all the time, the AIDS epidemic in Africa and everything, but it seriously felt like a veil was being pulled back from over my eyes and I was hearing and seeing this for the first time. These children were like nothing; just skin and bones.
One of the little boys had such a serious face on so I went to go and try to make him laugh. He was a year and a half old and he seriously looked like he was maybe 6 months. His arms and legs were like twigs, but his stomach and head were a regular size for a child his age. There was another little girl who was also suffering from AIDS who was so fragile I was scared to touch her; she looked so brittle. A heaviness fell over me as I watched these mothers lay on the floor with their little ones waiting, just waiting for things to get better.
This whole time we’re there our team is continuously praying for healing and just blessing these children and mothers. I was keeping myself emotionally together until I thought of the kids at the daycare I worked at this past year. I just about lost it. Any of those kids could be them. They’re the same age as Sam, Brock, Luke, Hollis, Malachy, Ava, Sophia, Abraham, Elsie, Rylie, Alex, Gracie, ALL OF THEM. I just couldn’t hold back the tears. I just kept picturing all their faces being skin and bones and sick to the point where they couldn’t even hold up their own bodies. I just about lost it completely. It began to go even further than that. I then thought of all the parents I got to know and become friends with over this past year. Picturing them hurt and fighting for their child’s life just wrecked me inside. Gosh, I have such a heart for children and my heart breaks to see innocent children suffering in such a way that looks like it’s hopeless.
But there is hope and that’s ultimately why I’m here on the race, isn’t it? God sent me halfway around the world to pray for people who have little to no hope. Through praying for them, sharing testimonies, and letting them know how much Jesus loves them I can help shine at least a glimmer of light into a mother and child’s life. Giving hope to the hopeless!
I love the kids at the daycare I worked at so much and I think today was the first day I fully recognized how much God has blessed me with them and used them to affect my life. It’s crazy how he works like that, in his own timing. There is hope for these children here and that hope only comes from Jesus Christ.
God, I pray that you bless the children and mothers in Mozambique. You love them Lord and you are in control of their lives. I pray a covering of hope over them, Lord. Amen.
This is baby Maria. She is suffering with AIDS.
