Last week I went to the hospital with two of my squad mates who were not feeling well. We were not ready to for what we were about to experience. I helped Kayleigh write this blog, and it brings me back to the blood stained halls every time that I read it.
I walked into the hospital and the smell that filled the air overtook my lungs. All around me were people lying on the ground. To my right a man stood naked. Men, women, and children of all ages curled up on the floor. To my left a man had a small amount of gauze wrapped around his waist and blood covered him. I walked into the consult room and the hospital bed that was in front of me had a layer of blood pooled in the middle of it. As I entered the next room, a man curled up on a bed with eyes full of sadness and no hope lay gasping for breath. A baby not even two years old sat on the floor looking up at me and was unaware of what was going on around her. There was no crying, screaming, or wailing, but the pain and hopelessness seemed louder in the silence. As I looked ahead, there were trails of blood going down the hall. Bug nets hung from the ceiling in the maternity ward. bPeople smiled politely as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Sadness and immense pain surrounded me. The people around me weren’t affected, they were carrying on with their daily lives as normal.
My heart was breaking into a million pieces.
Thoughts were racing through my head and I couldn’t process what was going on around me fast enough. This is a place that people came for answers, and we were only left with more questions. What was happening? Should I even be here? Are the workers here oblivious to this? Will we get out of this hospital without catching something? How do I even help? This is a hospital where people are supposed to get help, is that even happening?
All we could do was pray. Pray for hope. Pray for protection. Pray for clarity. Pray for wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray for the people that I continued crossing paths with each step I continued to take in the hospital. Pray for answers. Pray for the kids that were curled up next to their moms. Pray for the people that were sitting in the chairs waiting for results. Pray for my team mate who wasn’t feeling well and seeking help. Pray for the anxious feelings to go away. Pray that the Lord’s presence would be made known. Pray for healing.
A few days later a few people returned to the hospital because we have had many people sick, and a dead body was rolled out through the waiting room for them to see. Pray for us, but above that- pray for Africa. This is three months for us, but this is reality for the people that live here.
I have already had malaria, bacterial infections in my GI tract, and parasites in the 40 days that I have been here. Although it has been hard physically, I am so thankful for the way that the Lord has prepared me for this. In the past two months about 400 people met Jesus for the first time, people got up to walk who could not, the Lord spoke through me, and my life is forever changed. I am confident that He will provide the funds to keep me out here. I missed my last deadline about a month ago. I need to raise the last $3000 to stay here on the field and continue the ministry. Please pray about partnering with me to bring the kingdom!
