After the first day at the orphanage, I heard a story of a little boy who was about 9 or 10 years old who Dr. Sydney believed was in liver failure and needed immediate medical intervention or wouldn't live very long. The next day, the group gathered around this little boy to pray for him. When I finally saw him, I understood the concern. He was so swollen. His face and his feet were so very swollen and he was so lethargic. He just sat there near his mother. As I looked into his eyes, I couldn't help but think about my sister. To know how much pain he was in and yet he didn't have anything to soothe him. I remember my sister being in so much pain and miserable and feeling horrible, and we were able to give her something to give her some relief. But this child had nothing to ease his pain. But he had faith. As the group prayed, I prayed. Lord if it be your will, heal him. One of my friends said that his mother believed he would die but the boy believed God would heal him.
We took him back to Bishops house. Sydney would take him into the city to treat him. He believed that a few treatments would help. He sat in the grass with his mother while we went in to eat. Nicky and I fixed a plate of food for his mother and him. I walked over to him and sat it next to him and gave him a bottle of water. His mother ate but he didn't. We passed a collection for the treatment and raised over $700. Sydney loaded him into the car and took him into the city. That was the last we saw of him.
As we were leaving Africa, Sydney phoned Shay and said that the little boy had Hepatitis C (I think that's the type he had) and liver failure but that the treatments would hopefully help.
This morning we got word that he didn't make it.
I hurt.
This little boy who was in front of me just three or so days ago was no longer with us. The treatments came too late. What would the outcome have been if we could have gotten to him earlier?
But then God nudged me so slightly and reminded me of this little boys faith. Heaven is his home now. I'll never know why God chose to take him and not heal him. All I know is that he's not suffering anymore. I know that God is still the Healer and that this little boy had faith till the end. He was looking at death in the face and still believed in his miracle.
I pray for faith often. I am a cautious person by nature but I pray that God gives me faith without boarders. Faith in the impossible, faith that will move mountains, faith that will stand up to the most impossible and scary moments of life. I pray for the faith of this little boy. How often do I question when I'm scared? How often do I negotiate with God about how situations should turn out when I'm uncertain? Shame on me! This little boy was facing his end and he still believed without doubt! His life was not in vain. He showed me what trust and hope and unquestionable faith looks like. He didn't live long but his life has meaning. I believe that he's walking and dancing and playing around those golden streets with Jesus....and maybe Lindsey too :)
We took him back to Bishops house. Sydney would take him into the city to treat him. He believed that a few treatments would help. He sat in the grass with his mother while we went in to eat. Nicky and I fixed a plate of food for his mother and him. I walked over to him and sat it next to him and gave him a bottle of water. His mother ate but he didn't. We passed a collection for the treatment and raised over $700. Sydney loaded him into the car and took him into the city. That was the last we saw of him.
As we were leaving Africa, Sydney phoned Shay and said that the little boy had Hepatitis C (I think that's the type he had) and liver failure but that the treatments would hopefully help.
This morning we got word that he didn't make it.
I hurt.
This little boy who was in front of me just three or so days ago was no longer with us. The treatments came too late. What would the outcome have been if we could have gotten to him earlier?
But then God nudged me so slightly and reminded me of this little boys faith. Heaven is his home now. I'll never know why God chose to take him and not heal him. All I know is that he's not suffering anymore. I know that God is still the Healer and that this little boy had faith till the end. He was looking at death in the face and still believed in his miracle.
I pray for faith often. I am a cautious person by nature but I pray that God gives me faith without boarders. Faith in the impossible, faith that will move mountains, faith that will stand up to the most impossible and scary moments of life. I pray for the faith of this little boy. How often do I question when I'm scared? How often do I negotiate with God about how situations should turn out when I'm uncertain? Shame on me! This little boy was facing his end and he still believed without doubt! His life was not in vain. He showed me what trust and hope and unquestionable faith looks like. He didn't live long but his life has meaning. I believe that he's walking and dancing and playing around those golden streets with Jesus....and maybe Lindsey too :)
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| He's the little boy in the teal shirt. |
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