a visit to the bush

Today (now a couple weeks ago, in Mozambique), I went to a village in the bush.  One of the little boys, Santos, who has come to the clinic for several years did not show up yesterday.  Knowing the mom (Ma Santos) was sick, we decided to go and check on her.

We arrived to the very small, mud-brick house.  It was locked.  We walked down the path to where the rest of the family lives.  There, we found Santos.  He was absolutely precious.  I was shocked to find out he was 3 years old; he looked about 8 months old.  Many of the children suffer from terrible malnutrition causing them to be severely underweight.  He had a twin sister, but she died in her early months.  Life is filled with difficulty here.  The people are literally fighting for survival.  Because the little boy was malnourished during critical developmental years, he did not talk or walk.  But he sure was precious!  He just sat there on my lap, looking all around - completely unaware of what was going on around him; unaware of the fight for life in his family.  I so wanted to just take him home with me.  You would have loved him.

We were happy he was doing well.  However, we were still concerned about Ma Santos.  She is HIV+, and has been very sick.  After talking to the brother and mother, they took us to Ma Santos.  Her father is the pastor and the church was next door.   They led us into the church, which is barely a mud hut with several chairs.  This is where I met Ma Santos.  There she was, curled up on the dirt ground … maybe 75 pounds … frail … scarcely enough energy to lift herself … probably crying to God to save her and wondering who was going to take care of her children.  I cannot even imagine how sick she is, and there she lies on the dirt floor, in 90 degree weather, with nothing – fighting for life.  She, clearly, is at the end of herself.  She has nothing.  

The conversation continued.  The nurse I was with talked to the brother and sister.  Because she is sick, she is considered cursed.  Therefore her family rarely helps her.  This is compounded by the fact that she is a woman (who has been left by her husband).  Her brother was reluctant to care for the baby while she was in the hospital.  Finally he accepted.

I could only understand parts of the conversation.  The rest of the time, I tried not to get lost in my own thoughts.  And I fought really hard to hold back the tears.  But I just looked at Ma Santos.  She has nothing.  Literally lying on the ground dying.  We don’t even know what that is like.  I really have no context for this.  I’ve seen this to some extent before.  Shadowing in the clinic, I had heard stories all week, but when you’re there, when you’re encountering it face to face, it does something to you.  The reality hits you.

Finally, it was decided.  Her mom and sister-in-law took her outside, rinsed her with water and gave her new clothes.  Her sister-in-law literally carried her through the bush to the car.

We took her to the hospital and walked her in to the triage room.  She stayed at the hospital over the weekend.  Monday morning, we stopped in for a visit.  We found her in a small room shared with two other patients.  We gave the bread and bananas we brought.  She had a smile on her face and she seemed to have more energy.  It wasn’t visiting hours so the visit was short.  We prayed for healing and restoration.

I do not have a current update, but I am hopeful for life.  I will try to keep you posted.  In the meantime, please pray for the families here.  Pray that AIDS would be eradicated and that families would have work and money for food.  The people have lost many of their crops due to lack of rain this year.  As you thank God for your food, pray for food and provision for the people in Mozambique.