This month in Tanzania has been what Africa has been like for me the past two months. I had no expectations for anything different and I got what I expected. We have been living with a pastor in a vacant home on her compound. We have had great accommodations and lucky us we have gotten to eat rice, beans and cabbage for most meals. They also eat sweet potatoes for breakfast. They have loaded us with carbs so we have great evangelism skills and energy. Some of the ministries we have done are house to house visits and sharing the gospel and/or praying for the sick in their homes, going to locals schools and orphanages and playing with the children and also going to the hospital and praying and encouraging the ill. Seems like a lot but I found something else to do. I am a relational person and I love getting to know those who I come in contact with on a daily basis.
We live next door to several families on a compound with children who are always home alone. They are unattended and I noticed that on the first day when I saw them outside playing. They were smoking cigarettes. Ages 4- 11 outside, not adults and smoking. My team and I immediately took note to that and took the cigarettes from their hands. Also they were filthy and this was during the day so I knew that they did not go to school. This was my ministry for the month.
Everyday when we come home from what we have had planned for ministry the children are all outside to greet us. Eight filthy, running and enthusiastic kids with smiling faces. They were my greeting committee. Oh how I loved to come home everyday. They try to climb the walls to try to see what the Mzungus (white people) were doing when they did not see them come outside for the day. They watch my team and I as we do insanity each morning from the back of the house. And last but not least each time I come out they raid my purse for candy when I leave for the day.
The first day I met Irene and Freydan.
They were immediately friendly.
One day as we were coming out I noticed that an 8 year old girl named Irene had a burned face. Half of her face was black. And yes she was already black but I mean dark as night black. I look down at her hands and she had black patches. I knew immediately that this child was burned. Knowing the kids are home a lone most of the day I fear for the things that they get in to. She obviously was in a fire and I had no idea how to communicate with her about how this happened. How in the world did this happen?? And then I find the 4 year old Freydan has blisters all over his hands from being burned. I knew I had to get these children to a hospital.
This is the moment I saw Irene burned.
We were busy the rest of the day but I made it a priority to take them the next day. I brought my pastor to meet their mothers and grandmother to make sure I would be allowed to take their children. Without any hesitation and tons of gratitude we were on our way.
We arrived at the hospital and I tried to the best of my ability to explain what happened to these children. They were also able to explain to the receptionist what had happened. Irene could not tell her what age she was. A child who did not know their age. Iv'e seen this more than once before. Not a shocker any longer. We sat in the room for about 10 minutes before we saw the doctor (nothing like America). We sang songs, they had a sucker and we played with the video on my IPhone. The doctor came in and said everything looked painful but with medication they would be okay. The medication would help with any infections and the burn cream would help with their burns.
The total cost for this ministry
30 cent bus ride per person to the hospital
2$ Doctor visit per child
4$ Anit-biodics with burn cream per child
= $ 12.90 for me to take the children to the hospital and they received the care and medication that they needed.
I was fully funded before people stopped giving me money for the World Race. I placed that money in a separate account and I do ministry things like this. With your money I was able to take two children to the hospital to be treated before they got any infections to their bodies. Thank you for being so willing to give. YOU saved two children because of your generosity.
This is Irene and Freydan on the medication and getting better.
They love their suckers.
God Bless!
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P.S. I leave May 31st from Africa and we head to Ukraine for month 10 of the World Race.
