sinus infections & lice… oh my!
The past week and a half or so it seems like one thing after another keeps coming up. Last week, I got really sick and was out of ministry for a few days! Thankfully, it was just a fever and sinus infection…but it really made me think!
Oh and then yesterday, we found out that I have lice…we thought we killed and combed it all out after two treatments. So I got all my bedding and clothes together and sealed it all in trash bags. Then to our surprise, one of my teammates found more crawling today…so I had to do another treatment…and take all of my new bedding and seal it in a trash bag too…(now need to go hand wash all my clothing and multiple things of bedding).
Today I felt a lot like Job (of course on a MUCH smaller scale). But I was like, Lord, are you testing me?! I feel like I can’t catch a break. It just seems like something keeps coming up.
A few days before I got sick, I started asking Sameer (our ministry host) lots of questions about the conditions in the slums. I asked about the access to medication and sanitation in the specific slums that we serve in everyday! He said that most people cannot afford medications and would rather use the little money they have for food most of the time. Sanitation is a huge problem in the slums…especially ones that are near water. Because of minimal waste disposal systems; the water ends up contaminated which makes the people living there very sick.
My brain was already spinning with ideas…I asked Sameer if their organization, The Agape Mission International (TAMI) has any kind of medical fund established for the slums.
He said they had always talked about it…but it had not been set up yet! (The organization is involved in multiple kinds of ministry, so they are very busy).
I asked if I could help!! He was super excited about sitting down to talk to me about it…
But then of course, I got really sick.
connection made; Holy Spirit Moment
I chuckled to myself after making the Holy Spirit connection when lying in my bed, coughing my head off for I realized the Lord was giving me even more motivation to complete this medical fund project for the slums. He was opening my eyes by allowing me to endure the same struggles as the children in the slums.
Just as I was lying in bed, feeling awful…I realized so many children in the slums feel the same way but do not have the money to buy medication or go to the doctor like I do! I knew I had to make this a priority before we leave Nepal! Actually just over a week ago, a man died from diarrhea in the slum that we teach in every morning. Diarrhea…a treatable illness…
A medical fund could help in times of need just like this in the slums and show the love and kindness of Jesus!
So all of that to say I’m SUPER excited to tell you all about…
“The Rapha Project”!
“Rapha” is the Hebrew word for “healing”. It is used in the Old Testament as a name for God- “Jehovah Rapha” which means “Healer God”! It is one of my favorite names for Him.
Sameer and I thought it was a very fitting name for this project (I also have “Rapha” in Hebrew tattooed on me–so I am a bit biased haha), for the ministry is dedicated to bringing spiritual healing into these places. Now the ministry will also be bringing resources to help in physical healing as well!
The Rapha Project is dedicated to bringing healing to the three slum schools (Sinamanga, Balkhu, and Jadibuti) in Nepal through health, sanitation, and nutrition initiatives. I will be posting another blog soon with more stories and details about all three slums!
“…pure and faultless religion is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” James 1:27
Sameer and I’s vision is to build a sustainable, ongoing effort for these communities! We want to give and love like Jesus.
Our goal is to raise $300 in monthly support to fund The Rapha Project! My hope and prayer is for the project to be FULLY FUNDED in the next 7 days! I want it to be ready to launch and put into action by the time my team leaves Nepal (which is just over a week or so away)!
Also God is just so cool when it comes to timing as well!! We were supposed to have already left for India but because of visa issues, my team is the only one still in Nepal. We extended our visas, which is SO beautiful because it’s giving us just enough time to secure Indian visas and to launch The Rapha Project!
So friends, would you prayerfully consider joining me in partnering with this great organization and supporting the The Rapha Project?
You can sign up to become a monthly partner or one time donor to “The Rapha Project” here: https://james127.givingfuel.com/the-rapha-project
And you can also learn more about “The Agape Mission International” (TAMI) on their website here: http://www.tamiasia.org/#
I encourage you to pray about this, my friends!! There is no amount too small to give; $5 or $10 or $30 a month, any amount would be INCREDIBLE! I want to encourage you though if you feel called to sign up as a monthly donor. This will help the organization SOO much in building a sustainable program and building trust with the families in the slums! It is better to give a small amount every month, than to give a big amount one time when it comes to on-going initiatives like The Rapha Project.
Please reach out to me through private messages on Facebook or comment below if you have any questions at all! I would be more than happy to talk!
Blessings to you, friends!
Hannah
Photo Credit: Kati Simpson, check out her blog for more awesome pictures and stories at https://katisimpson.theworldrace.org/
