One quick stop by the local hospital and we were on our way. We ended up in the first ward and I can hardly describe what we witnessed. Bed after bed, plastic mattresses, filled with mostly children. Moms sitting next to them; some alone. Some beds had older women (although they may have been 18 years old or younger...you can't really tell here. Some of the young ones work so hard that they look so much older than they are). We started by talking to & praying for a girl that was in an accident. She had a leg injury. Outside of her bedroom window was her mom, her baby, & a few other family members. They hang out outside of the window, cooking for her, etc. We quickly noticed that the yard was filled with family members doing the same. There was a large sign that said "medical care is free-paid for by the government." What that means is you get a free bed, and a nurse who will come by periodically. However, that doesn't include sheets, or food, or medication. Basically, just someone to watch over you while you die. We realized we were on the surgical floor and saw a few residents who where checking a leg wound and talking over a patient. We saw one IV hanging from one patient. One young mommy had her breast wrapped; another had a leg splint (looked like nails drilled into a persons leg). Before I knew it one of the mommies grabbed me to pray for her baby. When she lifted up the mosquito net I realized it was a 1 year old little boy burned from his head down. All I can say is that he was lying under a net, flesh completely exposed. No bandages!! I looked to my left and there was an entire row of burned babies. Each mom lifted up covers & nets for me to see their often screaming-in-pain babies. The smell was almost too much to handle but the sight was absolutely devastating. These babies with open flesh wounds are lying on dirty sheets and the doctors are expecting mosquito nets to protect them! There were hundreds of flies trying to attack their tiny bodies!
I couldn't stop crying as I was holding my healthy little girl. Riley was so confused and started crying and asking me what happened to the kids. I tried to explain that they were burned and the moms shared that some had hot water fall on them, others homes burned and some had candle burns. One little girl is epileptic and during a seizure she hit something & caught on fire. Her entire face & shoulder were burned....almost beyond recognition. I looked around and saw so many of our team members just losing it. And then one started singing Amazing Grace. It was all we could do in that moment. Sing & sob. It was so hard to control sobs when we learned that these kids can't even get pain medication! Before I knew it Brett & our driver headed to the pharmacy. The hospital doesn't even keeps meds on-site! Brett returned with several days worth of burn cream with some pain medication but I couldn't help but think of every doctor I know...and how our hospitals are filled with drugs and so many other things that could stop the babies from crying and most likely save their lives. Becki said one of the moms grabbed her arm and said "it will be okay." She had the courage to tell our team that it would be ok while her baby was dying! The next ward wasn't much easier. A boy dying of sickle cell anemia, babies with malaria, hydrocephaly, stomach problems....Each mom wanted us to pray for their baby or child. Some seemed more hopeful than others. I wish I had taken pictures so there was something visual to my description and yet I just couldn't bring myself to take out my camera. It was almost too horrifying to capture. I kept thinking about how near the Lord is to the helpless & hopeless. The boy with sickle cell anemia had his mom, dad & sister at his feet. What a beautiful picture of unconditional love as they shared that they'd been in and out of the hospital for 5 years. They were so proud of him and he tried his absolute hardest to smile at me. I rubbed the back of one precious little one that was so sick. I kept thinking of how precious he is to the Lord. Not one of those patients isn't noticed by our God. They may have a very visible need for healing, for His touch. But we have the same longing in our hearts. We are all in need of a Savior! I felt honored to hold their hands and powerless to "fix" the problem. I'd love to convince the administration of St. John's Hospital, Cedar's Sinai or some major drug company to invest in these lives....but I'm afraid they'll never truly understand the need. And I know there are other hospitals with as much need. Tonight, I go to sleep wishing I could hold each one and know that our loving God is holding them in the palm of His hand. May they know His arms are wrapped around them tonight. Father, we cry out for a miracle on their behalf!
Our next stop was Mercy's Village, where we set up to "pamper" the village kids. It was one of the most humbling experiences. We set up stations (feet washing, drying, lotion, nail polish, new shoes). Before we were even set up, there were at least 75 kids in line. We let them in a few at a time and when they saw the buckets of water some started instantly taking baths! They scrubbed with the biggest smiles on their faces. I was stationed to help wash feet and ended up drying & putting lotion on (most were so confused by the lotion:) It was precious. I thought about the symbolism in scripture of washing feet. The human side of me did have moments of thinking about the disease many carry in their feet, sores, etc. But every time my mind went there, I thought about what it would be like to have someone not be afraid to touch you. You can tell that these kids are not hugged much (if ever) and were shocked that a white person could lean down and wash their feet. I'm pretty sure I was the one far more touched than they were though. Their smiles will be burned in my mind forever. As we finished, I looked into the field and saw Riley playing with a group of kids. Other than the hair & skin, she looked like she belonged. She was such a great helper today and mostly just loved playing with the kids. I'm so happy she's here witnessing this. I pray God continues to move on each of our hearts. My heart is so full tonight- praying for the lives we held, the lives in such great need, the lives that need to know they matter- Lord continue to move in this city. We pray for RESTORATION...in every sense of the word.
Praying at the hospital
Riley gave this baby a paci and then helped him take a bath:)
Brett holding the line at the door & a beautiful baby in his arm (who happened to pee on him:)
Eventually Brett did some washing too :-)
This little girl on the left was wearing a torn dress (completely torn down the middle, hanging by a string at the bottom). I was able to give her one of Riley's outfits. If you gave us that shirt, just know it's on an amazing little girl in Gulu!
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