Monday, July 6, 2009

Our Second Clinic

Our second clinic was at a new location for the Luke Commission, but was familiar for us. We visited the Mahlabeneni care point that our church sponsors and where we have a child we support through Children's Hope Chest. The area driving to the care point is beautiful, with mountainous ridges and green sugar cane fields. Unfortunately, where the care point is located is also in one of the poorest sections of Swaziland. As we drove up the dirt road, it struck us how barren and almost desert-like the area at the care point was, with lots of rocks and brown and yellow grass. The care point didn't consist of much – a brick kitchen, a water tower, and a covered tin area used for a church. Surrounding it were several homesteads, the areas that entire Swazi families live. So we set up the clinic and started seeing people like the previous clinic, but with less people. Evidently, there are usually smaller numbers the first time the Luke Commission visits a place because the people aren't sure they can trust the doctors. After one clinic in a location, the word spreads that the doctors are trustworthy and the medicines work, and the numbers grow by word of mouth.

After seeing patients for about an hour, we were asked to go see some people in their homes by the local pastor, Themba. The first home was truly heartbreaking. We visited a man who was 36 and had cerebral palsy. He could not move his legs and they were essentially folded up underneath him in a kneeling position. To get around, he had to use his arms and pull himself. He also had some mental delays, so he needed help caring for himself. Unfortunately, all of his family had died and he was left to himself. He had a wheelchair near his home, but it was bent up and broken. Fortunately, the local sugar cane plant decided to sponsor him, so he had someone who would come to his house daily to help him with food and getting around. Still, he spent most of his days sitting outside his hut with nobody around. We did what we could for his medical problems and hopefully will be able to get him a "bush-ready" wheel chair which the Luke Commission has coming. At our second stop, we say a lady who had shingles on her face which kept her from getting out of the house. It also blurred her vision, so we referred her to the eye doctor in Manzini, the town we are based in. We also met Christiana, a boy who was about Caleb's age. He and Caleb started up a quick game of soccer and he came with us back to the care point.

When we reached the care point, we got to do a special thing – hand out Operation Christmas Child boxes to the kids. If I have ever been a Scrooge about doing the boxes, the experience I had will never let me be one again. The kids all get in line and get a box based on approximate age and gender. They all sit in a small area and are told they are getting the box from people overseas who want them to know that Jesus loves them. They then all get to open at the same time. The looks on their faces was priceless! Kids were shouting for joy for everything they got, lifting it in the air for everyone to see. Everything from underwear to shirts to pencils got loud yells. It was truly amazing to see their gratitude for a small box of prizes and to know that it was used to express God's free gift to them in Jesus.

One special thing about the day was that we got to see Caleb's sponsor child, Lwazi. He was a very sweet fourteen year old who Caleb hit it off with easily. Caleb was able to talk to him a bit through an interpreter, give him a Christmas Child box, and give him some clothing. It was a real blessing to meet him, and will make our prayers for him much more vivid and real. All told, we saw about 280 patients that day and left knowing that we provided clothing, healthcare, and lots of joy to the care point. We pray that as more gets built and Pastor Themba continues to preach, more lives will be

changed there.

6 comments:

  1. We were in Swaziland when they were just putting up the roof structure! So good to see the photos and read the follow-up. And how neat that Caleb was able to meet his sponsored child!

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  2. Oh, my Friends, I could just cry. What beautiful photos of your precious kiddos loving on Swazi children. God is SO good! I can't even imagine what this transition has been for all of you. I remember coming home from China and feeling shocked by simply driving in orderly traffic. My heart is so IN Africa, and yet I've never been. I cannot wait. And yet, I have a feeling coming home will be so difficult. Thanking God for each of you, your beautiful hearts and all that God has done and will do through your lives. Sweetest blessings, Amy

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  3. This was the same man that was at the home we mudded during our summer of 2009! The grandma that was looking after him, a cripped girl and 4 other children was ill, and passed away by the time Rob returned with Brian in January 2008. Did you see the crippled girl? Katya bought her crutches when we were there and she was at the same home at that time?

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  4. Tresa,
    We did not see the crippled girl. I wonder what happened to her. What Pastor Temba told us when we went to see this man was that the family of the man with CP had died. That is really something that in the last few years, so many of his family members have died. I guess the sugar can distillary (factory) is providing food and some care for this man now that his family has all died. He seemed so lonely though, so that was heartbreaking. We did not get his name the day we were there. You don't happen to recall his first name, do you?

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  5. Hey Wendy,
    I don't know if you remember me but I along with my best friend met you in Denver during the first week of August. We were the two girls called to missions. I am leaving for The World Race in January. I have thought of you a lot and still believe God was confirming me in his plan for me. I wanted to give you my blog site. Keep in touch.

    Lyndsie Neie
    l_neie@sbcglobal.net
    www.lyndsieneie.theworldrace.org

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  6. Lyndsie

    I got home from the hike that day and for the life of me, I could not find your email on that little piece of paper. Andy and I think it was Satan at work, that we could not find the little piece of paper you wrote your information on that day. We really felt like it was a divine appointment that day, but I could not find your address and was sad!

    Anyway, I am so exited for you and have been praying for you and watching for your name to come up on the World Race participants, because I did not know how to contact you. Please send us a support letter? We will be praying for you and look forward to hearing how God is at work through you!!!!!!!
    Andy and Wendy Ingram
    9265 Chetwood Drive
    Colorado Springs, CO 80920

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