Just before we came to Bolivia we learned
some of the potential ministries we could be a part of. One of those ministries
is the Burn Unit at the hospital. Immediately my heart was drawn to this
ministry. I don’t know why, but my heart was there. Now I know and part of my
heart will stay there.
some of the potential ministries we could be a part of. One of those ministries
is the Burn Unit at the hospital. Immediately my heart was drawn to this
ministry. I don’t know why, but my heart was there. Now I know and part of my
heart will stay there.
Doctors on their rounds in the morning at the Burn Unit
Every Monday and Wednesday afternoon Kaitlyn and I go to the unit to visit with
and pray for the kids. Everyone in the unit is a child and many of them are
under 5 years old. They all have been pretty severally burned, some more than
others. Please keep them in your prayers. There is a lot of pain in the unit
and many people have a hard time even being there because of it. God has
blessed me with the ability to be there and He has sustained me emotionally and
physically.
Kaitlyn and I posing as the ninos take pictures
A few of the kids have parents who can’t
pay the bill so they are kept there as collateral. One girl, Scarlet, told me
yesterday that she had been there for 7 months. There are many things about the
system that would not be considered in the states, but here are acceptable. By
our standards things would be considered unsanitary, other things would be
considered cruel, but here it is their best. It took me a while to get over my
disgust of how things happen and while I still don’t like it, I know that my
purpose is simply to love on the kids, not to critique the system.
pay the bill so they are kept there as collateral. One girl, Scarlet, told me
yesterday that she had been there for 7 months. There are many things about the
system that would not be considered in the states, but here are acceptable. By
our standards things would be considered unsanitary, other things would be
considered cruel, but here it is their best. It took me a while to get over my
disgust of how things happen and while I still don’t like it, I know that my
purpose is simply to love on the kids, not to critique the system.
Scarlet at her first photo shoot!
Some other kids in the burn unit: Left to right: Josue and I, Reamer and I, and Reamer
Since I have been there I have seen some
kids, like Samuel and Erica, get better and go home. Others have come in their
place, and still others have been there the whole time and may still be there
after we leave.
kids, like Samuel and Erica, get better and go home. Others have come in their
place, and still others have been there the whole time and may still be there
after we leave.
Erica and I Erica and Samuel Samuel and I
One little girl in particular has been
there the whole time; her name is Sabia. I would guess that she is around 2
years old. She was burned around the waist, I cannot imagine how it happened,
and don’t want to. She is suspended, belly down, by a cloth that goes under her
armpits. Her upper body and legs are elevated on pillows; and her limbs are
each tied with IV line to the bed. She cannot move. She cannot wear any
clothes. She is helpless. I sat with her for about 2 hours on Monday and talked
to her. I showed her my ipod and she loved that you could see yourself when you
took pictures. I played her some music and put the it in her hand. She scrolled
through the pictures we had taken and laughed. This was the first time I have
seen Sabia smile at all this month. Most of the time she is crying in pain. I
am so thankful that God allowed me the opportunity to bring joy to her in that
moment.
there the whole time; her name is Sabia. I would guess that she is around 2
years old. She was burned around the waist, I cannot imagine how it happened,
and don’t want to. She is suspended, belly down, by a cloth that goes under her
armpits. Her upper body and legs are elevated on pillows; and her limbs are
each tied with IV line to the bed. She cannot move. She cannot wear any
clothes. She is helpless. I sat with her for about 2 hours on Monday and talked
to her. I showed her my ipod and she loved that you could see yourself when you
took pictures. I played her some music and put the it in her hand. She scrolled
through the pictures we had taken and laughed. This was the first time I have
seen Sabia smile at all this month. Most of the time she is crying in pain. I
am so thankful that God allowed me the opportunity to bring joy to her in that
moment.
Sabia and I on the first day we met
Top Lt: Sabia suspended in bed, Top R: Sabia’s best smile, Bottom L: Sabia enjoying the ipod, Bottom R: Holding Hands
Sabia on the last day I saw her. Sitting up and eating a banana!
Many Blessings,
Kim
