No beeps, no monitors, no funny clean smell, no private rooms….
Yes, this was the hospital in Selma, Malawi, one of the largest hospitals in Malawi. The place itself broke my heart, and the stories inside restored faith and love.
I was apart of a team that went to this hospital one afternoon to pray over patients. The hospital is nothing like what you expect in the States. The patients weren’t hooked up to any machines, there wasn’t any monitors checking their vitals, there wasn’t any air conditioning, and there wasn’t hardly any comforts. The Men’s Ward which I prayed in consisted of 3 open rooms with 12 beds in each room with just enough space to walk between them. There was only one “nurse” station that looked after all the rooms and not much staff was present.
There was faith and love present!
The faith that the hospital would be able to help cure them. The love of their love ones staying by their bed not just for support but to also keep the flies off. The faith to travel great distances ill to arrive at a place that could look after them. The faith that one day they are going to walk out of their healthy. The love of the nurses/doctors to provide the best care given all of the limitations. The love to accept a visitors presence and dwell with them during their pain.
God was ever present in that hospital. One 14 year boy we met had been in the hospital for over 3 days due to a snake bite….in a country where 95% are poisonous. It was an inspiring story to hear from the boy’s father of them waiting and praying for a cure. A cure that the hospital didn’t even provided but they had no idea due to the doctors haven’t seen them yet. The team I was with was able to pray with them, encourage them, and our translator was able to inform them the hospital can’t help snake bites. The translator was able to give them directions to the clinic and we could provide the resources for the treatment.
Our man we prayed over has ammonia. He laid their sleeping, grasping for air and trying to find rest. All we hear was a gargling snore. We were able to talk to his son to find out more and to further pray for him. As we were interceding for this man and his son, God stepped in. It was unreal. The man’s breathing started to calm down. The drainage in his lungs started to clear out. By the time we said “amen,” his breathing and sleep improved ten fold. Everyone could feel the calming soothing presence of the Holy Spirit.
Visiting the hospital was a stretching time. The weight of the environment, and of the suffering of people was one of the hardest things I have been apart of. Being their to share the Gospel, praying for people’s eternity, and healing was all the hope I needed. Going armed into an intense setting with God’s word makes it all worth while and possible.
Be Bold in sharing the Gospel and staying kingdom focused.
Be Intentional to pour out into those around you.
