It is Sunday morning and usually we have a time of worship together as a family since the baby church here is coming together at different times during the week – almost like home churches – and do not have a specific worship day (yet). However, today we have had a constant stream of people, all asking for medical help or transport.
I think we forgot how intense it is to live here – there is no “down” time or “our” time… only a being available at all times, living and working in the same place. One little girl stuck a small bean in her ear, but by the time her parents brought here, the bean has been pushed so far back into her ear canal, that we can’t dislodge it either. So, Francois took them to the closest clinic – about 7 km away, but we do not think they will be able to help this family there. They are not open on Sundays and do not have the expertise or instruments for this kind of emergency. They probably need to go all the way to the closest town (an hour’s drive away).
That something so small can cause such a big problem! At least this is not live threatening – something we are dealing with nearly on a daily basis. The responsibility to make the right decisions is huge, since it can mean the difference between life and death. I find myself constantly in conversation with God, asking Him for His leading and help, wisdom and insight. I would visit a family where the husband is already very, very sick and weak with Aids, his family stick-thin from lack of food (since there is no income) and I cannot turn around and say: well, all the best! I came home, and packed a bag full of (good) food and sent it back to them. How can I eat when my neighbour is starving?
Still, this is our reality and there is no way that we can help everybody. So, we help those that cross our path and pray that the Lord will raise up a strong, mature church under the Mwinika that will be able to break free of the cycle of poverty, ignorance and immorality, able to help their neighbours … and caring enough to do it.