At the Hospital again…
Well today Joseph, Myself ,and our friend and driver Daniel went back to the hospital to see Helen and the babies. We stopped and bought her formula, water, wipes, and diapers for both the babies, and a little gift for the girl, and her baby next to Helen who was being lost due to her lack of swahili. When we got there Jeff was having very hardtime still he cannot breath and there were doctors trying to tend to him. We saw Helen and I held little Miriam. Helen grabbed my hand an led me outside. I just met her on Sunday, but I love her and her babies already. She looked me in the eyes and told me that they told her that one of her babies was Negative,and the other positive. I just held her close and prayed for her and her babies that God would heal them all. We were both on tears. Here she is all alone, and the only one she has is me to tell this very sad and personal thing to. I felt honored in some strange way to be able to be there for her. She divulged to me that the one baby girl that seems to be healthier is the one that is positive. The other who is just hanging on is negative. But, we are praying baby Jeff pulls through. We sat with her for quite a while and left and told her we would be back at 1:00 to get her a cellphone so she is able to contact us incase of an emergency. We also wanted to see if we could meet the young ladies husband (who we figured out was Maasai) because we heard that he spoke Swahili, nad we wanted to see if we could help them in any way.
When we arrived back Helen was elated that that we were able to get her this phone. Her reaction was very endearing, and sweet. When we went back to check on the other girl she was in tears as the doctors were trying to resuscitate her poor little baby. Oh my.. we felt so helpless as she left the building and they pressed the babies little chest. I must say they did try. But again so sad as people were standing and milling around, and not really paying much attention to this tragic situation.
We stayed with Helen longer, held her baby Miriam, and checked on little Jeff some more. We then were leaving and as we walked out the door the Maasai girl was sitting outside on the ground just bewildered. No one was helping her so we sat by her side and not being able to speak I just cried, and rubbed her back. She then broke dwn and wept. Her husband never showed up, and her baby was still lying inside in the midst of all the other babies dead. We were determined to find someone to communicate with her so Joe tried to call a Maasai Pastor he had met the day before when he went to pick up sewing machines in Maasai land. But he could not get him. So Daniel said he was going to walk the Hospital until he found someone. He returned with in 2 minutes with 2 young men who spoke her language. She told them she was alone, and she had no way to go home, and her baby was gone. We told her we would help her go home. As we said this all the sudden all the women that acted like they did not care came around us. They were all so grateful to us for getting her home. They were very sad for her. So as she gathered her belongings in a large size plastic bowl, and the gift I had brought her earlier she left. That was that. Her baby still lying in side next to the others. Oh my goodness Lord you only know what this is all about. We were then going to leave, and many women were gathering and telling Daniel of stories of family members with AIDS and how their children needed help, and could we help. My God the needs are huge. Then a young woman named Nancy came up with her baby named Caleb. She asked if we could go visit her Mother on ward 12. Her Mother has AIDS and was giving up hope. maybe if we came to visit with her she would have some hope. I was not sure what we could do but i knew we could not say no. We realized this was the AIDS ward. We stayed and talked to her Mother Monica, as she lay in bed in a fetal position. We stroked her hand, and told her how special she is to God, and how much she means to him, and then we prayed for her. As turned to leave I looked around and there were women all around me sick with AIDS. I felt like I wanted to embrace them all as they looked at us with sunken sad eyes and small feeble bodies. We will be back I know. Monica’s daughter was so thankful, and their story was heartbreaking as they were victims of the clashes. We helped her so she could get through the month, and get some food for her mother and her baby. Life is so hard and sometime I go through it in autodrive. But, I know as I came home and the days events all sunk in I wept for all of these women, and their children. I Just pray that God will be with us and sustain us so that we can continue to help young women like these and their children. I hope that you will pray for them and for the Ministry that lies ahead of us. We did get a text message from Nancy as we left the hospital it read…PRAISE GOD.AFTER YOU LEFTMY MUM HAD A TESTIMONY COZ SHE WAS ABOUT TO GIVE UP. i KNOW IT WAS GOD WHO SENT U2. later in the evening she called again to thank us, and she told Joseph to tell me she loves me., and then Helen called to thank us, and tell us her babies were doing good. Praise God!
You are seeing the sad reality of the aids crisis in Africa and we also saw it in Rwanda. There are alot of basic things you can begin to help teach the moms- like aHIV+ mom should not breast feed her newborn for the 1st 6 months. But it’s so hard to teach that to people who are stariving and even when formula is given, it doesn’t fit the culture. We leave in 6 days for Rwanda and I’ll add you to our COTR blog so you can see soem of our activities. We won;t be able to do all of the awesome things you are, but hope our short term mission work helps some. We’ve prepared over 20 hours of nursing training and will be giving lectures at the Kigali CHUK hospital. Pray for us and know you continue to be in our thoughts and prayers!! Peggy
Molly,
I am reading your blogs!! Please keep up with them. Your stories are amazing and I feel like I’m reading a book and not something that a friend is living. It’s heartbreaking. God Bless you and your family for making a difference in these wonderful people’s lives.
Molly, Joseph, Elijah
I pray for your strength physically and emotionally. You are seeing first hand the heartache that God deals with every moment. His heart breaks for every baby, every child, every mother and father and family member…the pain He has known.
He has your hearts in His hand. He will guard you and guide you.
we love you and are proud of all 3 of you for following God on this life-changing journey to share His love and grace.
Be strong.
Love
Jacque
Dear Molly. Joe and Elijah,
Just wanted you to know how
Much you are all missed but at the
same time we are so proud of who you are
and the overwhelming courage you display!
You must never forget that when things seem
their darkest that is when God is his nearest.
You are all loved, missed and an inspiration to
us! Not one single day goes by that you are not
thought about and prayed for !! We love you . Be safe, be strong Big hugs to you Joe and Elijah love and God Bless, Terri and David
Molly, Joseph and Elijah,
Wow! I’ll keep this brief since I know you have a lot going on. My sister went to Fed Ex to ship the baby formula. However, due to the weight of the boxes, even with her discount, they will cost $80 each to mail. So we’re trying to think of a more cost efficient way to get formula over to the mothers. Do they have water to mix with powdered formula? Or would it be better just to send money for you to purchase food and formula? We weren’t sure what resources you have available. Please let us know what we can do to help.
You all are in our nightly prayers.
Dale, Karen, Tucker and Taylor
Molly, I just finished reading all of your blogs and I am left with so many emotions. I am angry that any government has allowed this to get so out of hand. Especially at the hospital, where you are suppose to go when you need help.
We have free clinics on every corner almost and so many drugs being handed out even, when they shouldn’t be! I am also very sad that any mother would have to be faced with the things that are happening to their babies & family. As I sit here with a wet face and a running nose from crying, I feel so ashamed at the things in our everyday life that occurs, we actually get so caught up in. I do think of Africa often, the wonderful kids I met and the visuals that are imbedded in my heart & mind forever! It was an emotional roller coaster, but a life altering experience. I have to be honest- going to the hospital and seeing the babies and mom’s, and the stories you mentioned, would test my willpower. Children are my weakness, they tug at my heart just like yours. That would have to be the hardest thing to endure, and would take every bit of faith & courage for me to go back to that hospital and see that again. Molly, I always knew the kind of woman you were, someone that has the biggest heart in the world and adores kids. You have again amazed me about how you are handling this and you are stronger then I think you realize. It is very challenging to sit here and feel so helpless, I just want to take some of their pain away and give those babies some of my strength and health. I will pray for the families and all the sick children! You are in my heart-Shana
Praise God indeed! I know that it was God who sent you too! That is so stellar to hear that testimony. I knew that you guys are carrying the light that Christ is shining in you! It’s real! This isn’t just some idealistic thing that we talk about like a fairy tale. Christ really lives in us! Praise Him!
God bless you. Much love.
Wow! I’m speechless after reading about your trip to the hospital. The needs there seem so overwhelming. I know that God will guide you and give you discernment in difficult situations like these.
Molly, Joseph and Elijah,
Your courage is incredible. Thank you for the love you are extending to so many there. What a gift it is to have someone to cry with sometimes and you are being that gift even when you can’t think of what else to do. Please know I will pray that God will continue to strengthen and encourage you as you share His love and yours with so many. You are doing huge things even in what may seem like small acts to you.
Deana