RAINBOWS for Nothando

Greetings, this will be short as it is quite late again. This morning I was awakend by a call, I THOUGHT our caregiver for Nomusa (Grace) now in the government hospital, Fikile, I thought she was sick. I was worried about Nothando getting her TB meds, she had been released Friday from McCords the Christian Hospital after a 5 day stay, and appeared to be doing much better. I was a bit worried as she was in a home with about 8 small children but they were caring neighbors.

I called Prince to tell him I thought Fikile was sick throwing up and running stomach, but he was just dialing me. He said she figured I didn't understand her, as the news was that the baby had passed away. I was shocked! We had taken her to the other hospital where her mom was and we wheeled the mom out to see for herself how Nothando was doing. Both mom and baby seemed good, I hope to attach a picture taken in the lobby of the two of them.

Have you ever been so glad you did something? Well taking the time to take the baby there was the best thing we did. I actually sat there and thanking the Lord and thinking this was going to be a happy ending both would recover for a bit longer.

But now on this cool and cloudy and rainy day, I made my drive up to the township, embraced Fikile, she is such a great caregiver, we greeted the neighbors and waited for her brother to come. Then we went in to see the baby. I have seen lots of death in this line of work, but never a three month old little girl. I was grateful it was dark and there was no electricity.

Prince went to a church where the Pastor is a mortician and negotiated the rate (you see they have no funeral policy and no job even the brother is without a job, so no money to bury the baby). Rl000 a bit over a $l00 US. Phew! We left the brother to wait with the body for the hurst, and the neighbors went to town getting the house in order and the yard trimmed so with a sickle so the hurst could come in.

Prince, Fikile and I loaded into the car to go to the hospital to tell the mom. I was DREADING IT, When we got there, the nurse said, not to tell her. She was so weak, they were afraid she couldn't handle it now and her mourning would upset the ward. Well it was different, but honestly I was relieved...we will go back Tuesday and she will get a pass to go home and we will tell her then, and the funeral will be Wed. We think she might sense it in her spirit as she was so good Friday and today so sick again.

It was hard...we then drove the brother to inform a few relatives.
But through it all, I sensed the presense of the Lord so strong.
We couldn't promise to pay the funeral, but we got a break.
The neighbors were so grateful for the medical help they both got,
I was amazed at the neighbors pitching in and serving...it spoke so much to me of community and what that looks like.

As we drove the brother and an aunt back to the "shack", we saw a HUGE rainbow over Ntuzuma.... then a double one, whenever we turned a curve there it was. Always in front of us. I think I know what "chasing rainbows is". I said... maybe Nothando is learning to color! They were the biggest rainbows I'd ever seen and vibrant.

I guess all I can say tonight is Thank You Lord for loving us, Thank you for life, no matter how long, you gave that little girl life, and you knew she probably couldn't have handled all the strong ARV's she would start come Monday morning. She is with you Lord and you Love the Little Children. We trust you to comfort those that mourn and be with Nomusa...give her the Grace, she is named for. Thank you for your Promises and the beauty you create around us when we can be in the darkest storms, you Shine Through!

Amazing Grace!

I guess this is more of prayer request, asking you to pray for this family. Oops! I just typed pay first. Okay! If anyone wants to send support!? I am thinking of starting a "Gifts for Grace," that allows me to do the things I am already doing, like stepping out in faith to take someone to the hospital. When you put yourself in their place, you can't help but be like Jesus, "moved by compassion." Trust me I know the difference between emotion and pity, and "compassion."

I just read an article in last years, “Bodylife,” by Wayne Jacobsen, (there is something about those paper copies still ministering long after we turn off our computers). It was entitled "the power of living in love." In the June 2008 issue, he writes:

"The meaning of compassion is right in the word itself: ‘come to passion.’ Passion in the old English meant suffering. Thus compassion means “to run to suffering" to be there at the worst moment because someone we love needs us." - I will add, because someone GOD loves needs us. (I love that too Wayne).

Here is my "Amazing Grace" story:

I was taken again to a shack; but, it was the cleanest shack I have ever seen. The walls are built with timbers and cardboard. The tin and thin pieces of wood are tacked around to create the walls. There was a refrigerator, but no electricity. (Is it hopeful thinking?) I saw some wires and asked if they buy their electricity with cards like airtime for phones. I thought maybe we could have power in the house. There was an extension cord used to borrow from a neighbors, but the neighbor couldn't afford to supplement them.

The shack had two rooms: a "lounge" and a sleeping room. On a big bed lay a thin woman of 33. She was very pale. I would say yellowish in color. In the middle of a heap of blankets there was a small, about the size of History (see pic from previous blog), three month old baby with a head of dark curly hair. The Mom, Nomusa, which means "Grace," was coughing and had labored breathing. Fikile, an amazing home-based caregiver, told us of this family. We bought formula and porridge for the family. (Thanks to Amy and Mark, we have designated your monthly gift to a fund that allows us to have formula and disposable diapers for sick babies with no food and diarrhea.) After we saw the need Deb and I had two new requests. We took another financial gift that had come in and went to buy groceries.

Wednesday, we took a large box to Grace and her baby because they both were in need of diapers. (Remember one has to haul water in a big plastic bucket that is filled at a tap down the road.) I carried in a smaller parcel with the diapers, a few baby pampers, formula, porridge, and wipes. A little squeal of gratitude came from Grace when the other four carried in the food, oil, rice, mealy meal, beans, long life milk, butter, etc. You'd have thought she had received a million dollars.

By this time it was about 4:oo p.m. and it was starting to get dark. While the others were bringing in the food, I asked her how she was. She spoke in fairly good English, with bouts of coughing. She explained the coughing doesn’t stop and that she has been on TB medication for 3 months. A caring neighbor was giving the baby a bath next door. It was then "Auntie Fundi," a woman who works with us at Ukukhanya, stopped by because she needed a ride somewhere. Before we left I asked Welcome, another Zulu volunteer, to ask her if it was okay to pray, because I wasn’t sure how much English she understood. There was a hesitancy, so I asked her, "Do you know Jesus?" She ducked her head as if she was embarrassed. I didn't know if it was because of the question, or her circumstances. She said we could pray for her, but “What do you pray?” You invite Jesus into the room and the situation. You speak of who He is and How well YOU know His Love for us and you ask Him to show her, Grace, His love. Then you believe He will. You don't feel eloquent sometimes you even feel awkward and rushed, but you speak and believe - it is by faith.

I thought about Grace all next day. That Friday I was determined to talk to Fikile about placing her in a hospice. My heart was aching because we couldn’t take her immediately.

Friday at the caregivers meeting I asked about hospice for Grace and her baby. Fikile said, something had to be done she was "too sick." In addition, she has a 13 year old son, who has been stealing from neighbors, not going to school and out of desperation. (Hmm! Makes me think differently about my own robbery.) Anyhow the son told Fikile he would go to school if he had the fees, uniforms and shoes. (Shoes you guys?) Friday afternoon I was "moved with compassion." We went to the house and gathered Grace and her baby.

The Folks.....the scene...first community.

Fikile goes in to tell Grace we’ve come and helps her to a sitting position. A neighbor is in the living room trying to calm the crying baby. I take the child and Fikile begins dispatching. One neighbor comes in washes her hands from a bucket, pouring a small portion of water into a basin and using the dish detergent we had brought. After she washes her hands, covers the basin and takes the baby from me to prepare her to go to the clinic. Fikilie walks over to another older lady, who comes in with a mask on her face and towel around her waist. The older lady just came, leaving her own agenda, and begins to help dress grace. As Fikile draws water from the tap I am in the car with Prince making a plan; but, I don't miss the community effort to ready this family (might I say - an opportunity for help)?

We load them in the car. Grace is so weak you almost hate to move her. Fikile carries the little pink bundle (I think they keep their babies too warm. The Zulu would freak out at how we let kids just lay in T shirts in the open). Our Dr. friend, says the mom needs to go to the hospital. In my mind, the two options for hospital is McCords or Ghandi. Ghandi is where they wait hours, almost days at times and don’t get much treatment and usually die there. McCords is quicker and efficient but, you pay up front for your services. My mind is made up we are going to McCords. The Dr. tells us the baby probably won't be admitted but is likely to be positive and needs ARV's, AIDS medication, and a chest x-ray to detect if she has TB. Grace is diagnosed with TB and AIDS. I think her CD4 count is around 40 at last count. She’s not on ARV's but very jaundiced. So her liver is either reacting to her disease or the TB medication. The baby gets a shot of antibiotic and we go back to their house. We pack diapers, formula and Grace's blanket. We tell the neighbor and Grace’s son we are going to the hospital.

I wanted to tell the Grace to speak or hug her son, knowing she might not come home. Instead she instructs him to bring something, he is shy around us, but obeys. There is no way I could have left my l3 year old alone for a weekend in the house with no electricity, and fearing for what remains of his family. Again, I am moved with compassion for this young man that I don't know YET.

On the way to the hospital Grace asks why McCords? Why not Addington, another government hospital? They tell her she wasn’t referred to Addington and it would take to long. She knows this will cost her money and can’t understand why we are doing this.

We arrived at McCords, I take Baby to the pediatrician side, and Fikile goes with Grace. Meanwhile, you pay everything up front. I knew I had a support check coming in; but, Mike, the NJM staff handling my accounts state-side, hadn't deposited it until that afternoon - it was still A.M. in Kansas. Deb, the volunteer from Switzerland, pitched in as we paid the $70 for both to be in the ER and get the chest x-ray. Baby was treated and released with medicine. We are to bring her back for tests to get her on ARV's. We wait with Grace, it’s about 3 hours and still no word on admittance and it is 8:00 p.m. We pray and feel certain she will stay, so I write a note and take Fikile and baby back to the township. A neighbor volunteers to care for the baby. It is late on a Friday night so if we are brining Grace back, I would need Prince to go back with us for security. If not I can go back and pay for her admittance. Fortunately, the call came while I was dropping off Prince - she was being admitted. We go back to McCords and pay the R4700, about $500 USD, for her to stay in the hospital. If something happens, or she gets discharged they refund the balance. The doctors want to find out why she isn't responding to TB treatment.

I’m reminded of Someplace Else, the group home I worked in Kansas, knowing this is what I am created for - to show His Love as best I can. Earlier, the baby had thrown up on her clothes. I sent Prince and Deb to buy a blanket and dry outfit. Deb went wild and bought 3 outfits, a lovely blanket and some shoes and outfit for Dana, the 2 year old sister of History. When Fikile, proudly beaming, showed Grace her baby, she giggled and said she looks lovely. She thanked them for doing this.

Again, I said, “Jesus loves you and your baby.” Grace said, "I know... it is ONLY HIM." By this time she was so hungry. We got her a toasted cheese sandwich and orange juice which she immediately scarfed up. This was a good sign. The doctor’s hydrated her with two units of fluid and she was ready to chat. I squatted by the gurney and we talked in good English. She asked how much this is going to cost. I told her don't worry, God always takes care of it. I explained that we pray, and if God says to bring someone to the hospital we do, and trust Him for the rest. I expressed concern for her boy. I told her I would ask someone for uniform money to get him back in school. She asked, who told you? I told her Fikile shared. She was beaming, it’s amazing that food, water, and clean environment, can bring such hope to a sick person. I told her we took her baby back home and came back to admit her and that we'd visit over the weekend while they ran tests. She looked better, like her color was coming back. I can't tell you of the gratitude...

It is God's amazing grace that allows us to move beyond our own desires, comforts and sacrifice. I know for myself I don't always do it. It was around 10 p.m. as Deb and I drove home. We were feeling exhausted (I guess with the emotions and the decision-making it drains you - and the DRIVING, so much DRIVING). The peace we had, knowing we'd prayed God's peace for her and she was in a dignified place being cared for, gave our exhaustion purpose. I am reminded that His Grace is sufficient for us, and He is the Peace that surpasses ALL understanding.

Bless you this weekend and may you pray for Grace, her baby girl and teenage son when the Lord puts them on your heart! We are THE BODY bringing LIFE!

The Cross

I found myself last Sunday about a week after my intruder had come into my home, scared me to death and robbed me. I was looking over my calendar and wondering, is this normal? One day you are at a lovely game park seeing amazing scenery and animals. and the next day you have people in the ER.

Then you are starting a baby on TB medicine, and next day you are giving a tour to a friend at a traditional restuarant... good, tragic, fun, frantic....praises and victory, frustration and warfare.... amazing the ups and downs. Then I remembered we are to identify with Jesus....how must He have felt.....Sunday Praises and Welcome, Friday the Cross,..... ahhhh but Sunday. He OVERCAME IT ALL so we could have LIFE....eternal, beautiful, and with HIM. that is Victory, that is extreme ups and downs, why should I expect any less. I wish you all a joyous Easter weekend. Be blessed and Loved,
Penny

History the baby is doing much better on tb medicine and starts ARV's in a week, and his sister (2) got her results today.... Negative we are thanking God.