We enter a dimly lit house that is one of the nicest we’ve visited since being in Swaziland. We are on our second day of home visits and I feel like I’m finally getting the hang of it. The Smiling Lady that greeted us at the door is not holding a beautiful baby. We are directed into a rather large blue painted room, with only a bed. At first awkwardness overcomes me because of the uncertainty of what awaits. The Smiling Lady told us that the beautiful baby’s mother is very sick. We asked if we could pray for her and were told to enter the house. In a country that’s AIDS prevalence is about 55%, I thought I had a good picture of what I was going to see when I walked into the room. A young lady, about twenty-five, lays on a small bed covered in blankets. Her head is all that shows of her small body. I instantly catch her eyes, which are filled with an overwhelmingly large amount of pain. The Smiling Lady tells us that she had been sick for the past thirteen months and recently stopped taking all medication because the family cannot afford it. As I walk closer to the woman I see that her brown eyes look emotionless – glazed over and agonizing. I now can see that this dieing lady has been reduced to nothing but bones. Her arms and legs are no bigger that of a small child. IN that moment it becomes hard for me to grasp what is going on – How can God allow an able mother to die without care?
We were allowed to pray over this woman, asking the Lord for healing. During the prayer I was overcome with clarity. I knew that the Lord was there, in the large blue painted room, with this dieing woman. She was not dieing alone.
Amongst all the pain and death that is in this country I know the Lord if working in these people. I believe that as Shepard’s of the Lord, we are asked to take care of His sheep. As many flocks of sheep throughout the world die of HIV/AIDS, there lives are being stolen. The world is crying out for more Shepard’s to come help the Lords people.
“May the Lord bless you with discomfort at easy answers,
half truths and superficial relationships, so that you may live
deep within your heart.
May God bless you at anger, at injustice, oppression, and
exploitation of people so that you may work for justice,
freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears that shed for those who suffer
from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach
out your hand and comfort them so that their pain may be turned
to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you
can make a difference in this world so that you can do what others
claim cannot be done.”
-Franciscan Benedictin
Peace and Love,
Ryan
Wow, what heart wrenching situations you are facing. Ryan I hope you are able to experience joyful moments as well as God uses you and your team in the lives of the people there. I loved reading all of your blogs and listening to how God is working in your life. It’s obvious that serving the Lord is something that comes so naturally to you. You give whole heartedly. I am praying for you, your team and especially for the people of Swaziland so that they too will come to know God and feel His love and grace. Love you!
Our prayers and. Love are with you
Ryan this sounds like something out of the book “Scared” just like it. Our prayers are with you and the whole team!!
Love ya
Mom
I love you Ryan- Pray for you everyday, I have been sharing this with all my friends to spread the knowledge of what needs to be done!
This is real life. Ryan I’m so glad that the Lord is challenging you and encouraging you to be with and share with His people. It brings me so much joy to know that you are growing in Christ 🙂 Praying for you all the time! Love you!
Ryan…..May you and your entire group stay strong and continue to do the work of God. We love you! Lin & Lori