- Charlie is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow to have a rod inserted into his leg. Lori came back to Cazale for one night to get some good sleep and to regroup. Sleeping on a piece of cardboard under a bed is not easy.
- Lori left this afternoon with a very sick patient that is need of some medical care that we cannot give. This child had seizures throughout the night.
- Cholera house is not getting better. Sunday we had 51 new admits. That is the most we have had in this second wave.
We are faced with many decisions to make each day. Some days are easy. Some days are hard. We deal with many, many people. People that are real. People that love us, people that do not love us, people that are hurting, people that are ready to give up, people that are trying to see what they can get out of us, people that are hungry, people that are injured, people that really need help. I wanted to give you an example of some things that one of us have heard today.
- A lady with 4 children. She brought a 4 day old baby and said she was going to leave it on the street because she could not care for it, she did not want him. She become pregnant with him because she slept with someone to get $$ to feed her children. She got kicked out of her house.
- Another single mother needed to borrow $125 to buy tin to cover her house. She was renting a house and did not pay and was being kicked out. She put up some sticks to make a frame and planned to cover the walls with sheets. She just needed tin to cover the roof.
- 130 kids needing $5 a piece to pay to take testing for the end of the school year
- 2 single mom’s needing work-they both said their kids cry every night because they are hungry and they cannot buy food
- 3 high school students needing help with new clothes to take the official exams.
- 15 year old girl-I thought she was coming to ask for help with school. No-she has never been to school. She was coming to see if I could give her a job. Her mom is sick and they have no food to eat. I asked two staff member if they knew the family. The two staff members both had tears in their eyes. They said her life was very bad and she was very poor.
- a group of people going to work on the road to try and fix it. They need help with food to fed those that are working.
- a staff member needs to borrow $100 to go see her child. Her child is being raised by someone else. The child has an accident and no she wants to go see her and give the care giver money to help pay for hospital cost.
- mother of 8 children died this weekend. Dad cannot take care of the kids and work. Wants us to take one child and care for it long-term. The others will be separated and given to other family members. They will not grow up together. They will have to work to eat. They will not get to go to school.
- child with massive infection, loss of function on one half of his body, have seizures, parents both crying and upset. Mom screaming that he is going to die, child get more scared and starts crying. Has more seizures, mom screaming , dad crying
- HIV positive mom wanting to stop taking medication and just die, but has children and wants to know they will be cared for after she is gone
- day team tour of clinic, RC and cholera house
- truck loads of supplies to be sorted and put away
- food boxes for 145 families
- pregnant lady cannot deliver at home, complications, needs a C-section, no money to get to hospital
- HIV positive 10 year old girl, family has 8 other children, no enough food to feed everyone.
- TB patient that cannot walk and carried in on a bed. Cannot breath well.
- grandma taking care of her handicapped grandchild. Just wants us to help her out for a few months so she can have a break.
- telling a lady she has cancer
- cut down to the bone on a finger, girl was carrying a bucket of water and fell off mountain path
- moto accident-5 patient total several needing stitches
I will try to get back to blogging soon. Dad is running back and forth to different places each day hauling supplies and taking sick people to hospitals. I am trying to deal with cholera house 68 patients last night, Rescue Center 50 kids, intensive care tent, 11 kids, clinic patients today 300+, and deciding how to help many of the above people to find good long term solutions to their struggles.
Romans 12:4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully
Comments(13)
Tena Mc says
June 21, 2011 at 4:53 pmI know you and Lori are weary. I pray for you daily, for strength, discernment, ability to rest, and hear God’s sweet gentle voice encouraging you in your mission by being His hands and feet.
Cathy says
June 21, 2011 at 6:19 pmMy heart truly aches for all those you have posted and for your family who are so dedicated and want to help each and every one of those you listed, plus the thousands you didn’t. RHFH and all those in your path are lifted in my prayers.
Carmen says
June 21, 2011 at 6:52 pmPraying!!
Heidi says
June 21, 2011 at 7:19 pmWanted you to know that I’m praying for you.
Debbie Woodward says
June 21, 2011 at 7:48 pmThank you for this verse as it shows us that we all have a gift to help with various needs that arise. Please continue to let us know your specific needs whenever you can. LOVE to you and your family, Lori and Charlie and Zach.
Prayers for strength and peace.
Kristie says
June 21, 2011 at 8:11 pmLicia,
I’ve not been here in a long time for which I’m very sorry. This post made me realize how much you need prayer and care. I am praying now. Senye, ede se’m. Vin tale epi rete lang, souple.
Lorie Geiger says
June 21, 2011 at 8:27 pmLicia,
Your blog reminds me of the woman in Proverbs 31:10-17. It speaks of a woman who is brave, compassionate, strong character, many skills and great wisdom. God has prepared you for this time and he will not leave you. Your courage and strength are remarkable!
Praying for a successful surgery.
Bekki says
June 22, 2011 at 1:16 amPraying for our Father to meet all your needs. sending you love, for all your workers, all your patients, and YOU personally.
Chassidy says
June 22, 2011 at 6:07 amLicia,
My heart hurts reading all this pain and suffering you encounter on a daiy basis, and yet handle it with grace and love. Prayers for Lori, Charlie, You & your sweet family–that God will give you strength to get through this very rough time.
Hope says
June 22, 2011 at 10:39 amPraying for all of these situations and for you and all of your staff!
Chantelle says
June 22, 2011 at 10:52 amLicia,
We have not met, but I follow your blog and our group was there while you were in the states. I am praying for you anf your family as well as Lori and her husband. I am blown away by what you see in a day. My prayers are with you.
As for the first story of the lady who wanted to leave the baby, I want to help. Is the infant at the rescue center or did she take back home? Please let me know how I can provide for this infant.
Thank you for all God is using you to do-
Chantelle Becking
lora mapp says
June 22, 2011 at 11:52 amLicia,
Wish I could give you a big hug. Praying for you all.
Erma says
June 22, 2011 at 8:34 pmWe’ll be praying for you. Admire you and the work you do. We visited you with my sister, Nancy Overholt, and haven’t forgotten the work you are doing. We’ll be praying for Charlie and for strength for you all.