Saying goodbye to my friend at the Aids hospital was very hard for me. I fought hard to hold back the tears as the mother of the 37 year old kept putting her hand to my heart and then motioning to her heart. She thanked us again for coming and told our translator what joy it gave her and her daughter to see us, when we visit. I was broken when she asked us to continue to come see her. This time instead of holding my dying friends hands, I held the mothers. Our smiles are all we understand of each other. While holding her hands, I looked at her, and said softly, “Knhom Srolanh Neak” She understood and repeated it back to me. This was the first time I even attempted to say I love you in Khemi. My heart was full of joy. Reaching into my purse I pulled out two bracelets, I placed one on the mothers wrist and one on my friend. I showed them mine on my wrist and we all smiled. I fell in love with these women and praise God for the chance to meet them. I pray they will see Jesus and meet me in Heaven someday.
Heng Jeb Lee, the man I mentioned before that wept into his scarf, was there this last time. But this time he was sitting up smiling. We walked into his room and there was no hesitation on his part to tell us, he was better and going home that day. He rubbed his legs excitedly telling us, they were strong again and soon he would return to work. Why had I ever doubted God? He wanted this man healed and healed he was! As we left the hospital, Heng Jeb Lee was there walking around saying thank you again and again both in Khemi and in English. He looked free, like he was ready to jump, run or dance. He stood on the front steps waving as we drove away, all with tears of joy in our eyes.
