faith

“And other’s had trials of cruel mockings and scourging, yea, moreover bonds and imprisonment…being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy)…” Hebrews 11:36-38

Today was Sunday. So we had a ward church service.

Local Liberians are paid to work as translators in our hospital. English may be Liberia’s official language but it’s Liberian English. I can’t understand it. The translators also serve as nurses aids, meal staff, environmental services, and apparently worship leaders.
This morning they came dressed in their beautiful traditional African dresses. They brought their drums, gourd shakers, rhythm and strong voices. African church should be experienced rather described. It is a joyful expression which involves simultaneous moving, clapping, singing, speaking, and praying. I worked up a sweat from the amount of focus it required to clap to the beat.

African beats are fluid. Suburban white people just don’t get fluid.

Most of the songs were unfamiliar but I did recognize the hymn “I Surrender All“. We sang it acapella. I looked around the room and saw women who have suffered. Many were holding a Foley catheter with one hand while they lifted the other in praise.
It takes a great amount of courage for these women to step foot on the ship. Many of them have never seen a toilet. The hospital is a totally new and unfamiliar environment. Many have been emotionally and physically abused. Depression is common. They have all experienced rejection. But they still hope.

My eyes stopped at bed two.

Bed two had surgery earlier in the week. She had been leaking for the past 24 hours. Sometimes the fistula’s are in repairable.

Her 4’10 frame was cowered over. Her eyes were tightly shut. You could see the anguish mixed with determination.

“I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Jesus I surrender.”

The words were not carelessly sung. She had been stripped of every dream.
The world is not worthy of her faith.

I cannot describe how humbling it is to be with these women. They have every reason to be filled with bitterness and self pity but instead the exude joy. They are lovely. My heart breaks for them. We pray for their physical and emotional mending.

After the church service, bed two was noticeably upset. Clementine, the ward chaplain, and Dr. Steve, the VFF surgeon, sat at her bedside. Clementine put her arm around her. Dr. Steve held her hand.

“We Aren’t going to leave you like this. We are going to do everything we can to leave you dry.”

Please pray for their mending.