Our team has made a new friend. Her name is Josephine. She is about twenty years old, and very good-natured. We hardly know anything about her because she speaks next to no English, and we’re not exactly fluent in Swahili yet either. What we do know is that she spends a lot of her time on the streets of Kitale. We took her to the hospital about a week and a half ago because she had these horrible wounds on her foot and ankle. It was like someone had taken a spoon and just taken out a few scoops of flesh. It made me feel a little weak in the knees to look at it. Sorry, that’s a disgusting description. Well anyway, we have been visiting her at the hospital quite frequently. It’s a scary place. There is a strong and distinct smell of sickness and disinfectant that makes me want to hold my breath or press my nose into my shoulder all the time. Josephine shares a bed with two other people most of the time, but lately she has been spending a lot of time outside, most likely to get away from the smell and constant moaning. I always try to stay focused and only look at Josephine while we’re there, but my curiousity always gets the better of me. There are disfigurations, burns, broken limbs and miserable looking people everywhere. I’m starting to get used to it, but every time I go I am so thankful for the medical system that we have back home in Canada.
If you could pray for Josephine then that would be much appreciated. Not only does she need a miracle with healing, she also needs one for her future. From what we can understand, she lives on the street, and has nothing to go back to once she is released from the hospital. We need wisdom on how to help her. During the past week or so, she has changed. She is smiling more, and making more of an effort to communicate. The other day when we were about to leave, she pulled me by the hand and gave me an African style hug; left cheek to left cheek, and then right cheek to right cheek. I would hate to see her land right back where she was before.
Oh, and by the way, my African address is:
Candice Veale
c/o New Bethany House
PO box 4448
Kitale, 30200
Kenya, East Africa
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2 comments:
Hi Sweetie...Poppa and I will be praying for Josephines health, future and salvation. Keep up the good work, let the joy of the Lord be your strenght. We love you and miss you. Gramma & Poppa ♥♥♥♥
Visiting (and working in!) Kenyan hospitals really causes you to appreciate the advanced medical care we are blessed with. I have been shocked at the transition.
Once you get to know the patients, like Josephine, they really grip your heart. I am glad Josephine has you and your team to care for her. That is a real blessing for her. I will be praying with you!
Love Em
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