I pull her aside and ask if I can help. She shakes her head while supporting her jaw and then drifts back to her thoughts. Already missing her two front teeth, I surmise that she has a toothache. It makes me sad that this beautiful girl with a beautiful smile lives in this tropical land where dentists are as rare as falling snow. She finally confesses the storm that has left her adrift from the morning's activities. An internal tug-of-war has taken over her thoughts as she knows the solution will be to pull another tooth. With so few teeth left in her mouth, her forgivable fear is not a cosmetic reason but the inability to eat meat again - another means to malnutrition.
I silently pray that God in His mercy will send skilled dentists to help in Dondo.
* * * * * * * *
I met a woman this week; we had much in common. She was my age and she had six children. But unlike me, her children have all died and today we have put her to rest beside her children.
* * * * * * * *
When you work in an AIDS hospice without walls then it is expected that death is inevitable. Our friend Raposo from Project Life is in the hospital for the second time this month fighting for his life. He and his wife are regulars at our weekly Bible study in his bairro. I have seen God heal an assortment of opportunistic diseases in the wake of the devastating AIDS virus. Yet, I have never seen anyone healed from AIDS. It is not a respecter of persons. It is a poster child of hopelessness.
Before I walk in the hospital to serve soup I often pull a very beautiful flower from a nearby tree. Its fragrance is strong; it reminds me of a magnolia. I often leave it in the hands of a terminally ill patient. Its fragrance transcends the fetor of the hospital corridors; an aromatic message of hope.
But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place" II Corinthians 2:14
Even in his weakened state, Raposo is glad to see us. It is a joy to bring Him before the throne of grace.
2 comments:
It was certainly interesting for me to read the blog. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more soon. BTW, pretty nice design you have at this blog, but don’t you think design should be changed from time to time?
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