Wreckage Redeemed Part Two
Our team had slum ministry twice a week, so I was confident in knowing after our lunch concluded I’d be back to see Binita throughout our time in Nepal.
Before we left lunch we invited her and her friend to church that Sunday. Sunday came and unfortunately when we called, Binita’s brothers voice was on the other end saying she found work for the day and couldn’t go with us.
Tuesday rolled around and our team was headed to the slums….this was my chance to see her again, I thought. I searched up and down the streets of Pritibicho, but Binita was nowhere to be found. I was asking people about her, showing her picture if they didn’t know her by name, and as the feeling of disappointment overwhelmed me, her BFF (from our lunch date) turned the corner and indicated she was at work. I’m sure to some I seemed like a crazy lady, potentially a stalker, but I pray to God she sees Jesus through me. Because isn’t that exactly what Jesus calls us to do? Search for the lost. Share the gospel. Feed His sheep. Take care of His sheep.
Going back a couple weeks to the very first day in Pritibicho when we met Binita, she took me on a tour of the neighborhood starting with where she sleeps some nights. Right next door I saw an extremely frail old woman laying on the floor. I saw an image never to escape my mind. I didn’t capture a photo, but it was permanently stamped, so during our lunch, I asked Binita if she knew this woman….she said it was her grandmother.
Later, when I was describing this image to the team, my emotions stirred when Jess said “that is the exact image I remember…because I captured it”. It was overwhelming enough for her to get documentation.
When Binita said it was her grandmother more questions ensued….is she sick? “Yes, she had leprosy and has been throwing up blood”.
My heart broke at the thought of her being sick but unable to do anything about it. She’s powerless. She’s hopeless.
Furthermore, witnessing her family being fully aware of her sicknesses but unable to do anything because they can’t afford a doctors visit or the medication(s) is such a prevalent issue within the communities we are visiting. And my heart breaks every. single. time. For every single soul.
In the days following, Jess and I returned to the slums looking for Binita to no avail, but we saw her grandmother. She would either be laying down or squatting near a bucket (assuming it was her puke/spit bucket). We would sit with her and even though we couldn’t understand one another, we would motion and try to communicate in any way we could. Sometimes there would be children around and we’d ask if they could help translate, but we never got further than the basics.
Then on one of our last days of ministry we headed to Binita’s house in hopes she‘d be there. We turned the final corner, knocked on Binita’s door, and she was there!! I had been praying for this moment. This was the first time I’d seen her beautiful face since our lunch date at the beginning of the month!!
I was overjoyed and so grateful the Lord allowed our paths to cross again. We all started talking and it quickly became evident that her grandmother was in much worse shape than a couple days prior.
We asked what was going on with her grandmother. “She has a fever and isn’t feeling well”, Binita said, but no one seemed to really care.
It was like Binita answered in passing. I’m not sure anything would’ve been mentioned if we didn’t ask. Jess and I noticed how the people living in close proximity had to pass through this alley to get to the main dirt road. It was evident this was a highly trafficked alley. Over days we got to observe people that would ignore her and just step over her body while she laid on the ground sick without saying a word. And the same was happening this day. We asked a few more questions and I felt a very clear nudge from Holy Spirit that led my jump to ask if we could take her to the doctor. Sanju gave the okay and before I knew it, Jess and I were on either side of her helping her walk.
Once we maneuvered through the back streets and got to the main road, people just stared, and their looks said enough to make it apparent this woman was an outcast. Not only in the neighborhood, but in her family as well. It was even noticeable that Binita didn’t want to touch her.
Grandmother was struggling to catch her breath so we took a couple breaks as we walked. Sanju pointed out the hospital we would be taking her to…it was just across the street, but quite a hike for this old woman.
As we entered, the nurses were seemingly shocked by us and our patient because we hadn’t reached the desk before they suggested for us to go to another hospital. I was confused, and a little baffled as I felt like they were dismissing and/or rejecting this woman.
My intention was not to be rude, but to advocate for this woman and get her the help she deserved. No one was willing to fight for her.
In that moment, I broke. I felt so heart broken sitting in a hospital where the people trained, and are paid to care for people, didn’t even want to try. As I wiped the tears, I got up and went to the hospital bed where grandmother was laying. Rubbing her back, I looked up at the doctor and nurses standing there as they began giving directions to the government hospital; and although I didn’t understand their logic or reasoning, we respectfully packed up and left.
As we regrouped outside, we discussed a plan. We knew the government hospital wasn’t too far, so we split up into two groups and off we went.
We successfully found our way to GMC hospital, and as we entered it became apparent we were in for an eventful ride……
To Be Continued
In Love,
Emily Cate
