As I stand at the edge of our pediatric ward here at ELWA Hospital, my view includes a 13-month-old with a chest tube in and on oxygen, a 5-year-old that is babbling and shouting out phrases that don’t quite make sense as she recovers from cerebral malaria, and a set of malnourished twins lying side by side on the semi-broken bed we call IPF-8.
I can also see posters that I hung up 2 months ago falling down as the tape doesn’t quite stick in the humidity. I see sheets that don’t quite fit the beds and look stained fresh out of the laundry and a mom sitting on an old commode due to a lack of chairs.
Its 100° F on the ward, but we are thankful for some fans a recent donor had installed. Dr. Korha is rounding on the neonates with an old bedside table that is missing a wheel and won’t stand straight up without her leaning on it just right. She writes her notes and doesn’t think to complain, because it’s all we have and serves the purpose, for now. A wheelchair sits by the ramp that leads out of the ward, it is missing one of the arm rests and the brakes no longer work. It brought the child with the chest tube down to X-Ray a few minutes ago, and therefore it is a useful tool.
I’ve lived life on multiple continents and have experienced life at various economic levels. However, my brain is constantly challenged as I daily look across the ocean towards America and think, “how can I possibly get them to understand that on our island, there isn’t enough food, clean water, doctors, bandages, and medications?”
I’ve tried to tell people, but few are answering the call. We need long term doctors and missionaries to come. We need a hospital administrator, accountants, mechanically inclined folks, and the list goes on. Not only that, but Dr. Mikey works tirelessly to keep the funds in order. Bottom line is we still need a bigger peds ward, money to raise the staff salaries, and funds to buy new sheets, more medications and an incubator! There are so few of us here to do the work, and it’s overwhelming to think about where these things will come from. There is an obvious, rather large gap.
Today is Easter. I’m reminded of another gap that seemed impossible to bridge, the gap that was left between God and man when Adam’s sin forced him out of the garden. He could no longer stand in the presence of a Holy God. He had to put some clothing on to cover up his nakedness. The wages for sin would now be death and a potentially eternal separation from Love Himself. An intervention was needed, without which would leave all future generations hopeless and endlessly running a rat racing hoping that their good works might someday just impress God enough to let them in to heaven. A disaster was on the horizon.
Thankfully, God had a plan in mind all along. He Himself would have to come, for hope could be found in no one else. By sending His Son, who committed no sin and walked in our shoes, the debt could finally be covered. He would be the sacrificial, spotless lamb that would take away the sins of the world—our only real hope in this life. Have we submitted ourselves fully and sincerely to His plan?
Here I find proof that God can bridge a gap this big.
As I continue to reflect, I am reminded that our baseline needs are being met currently. It’s just like the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew suggests. It pleasures Him to meet our daily needs.
So, I stop, put my bifocals on and refocus my vision a bit. I can see now that Canada World Relief just responded to the need for providing for 2 Physician Assistant salaries in the Emergency Room (ER). LIVE2540 is considering the young children that need surgeries and can’t afford. Juli in Iowa sent a message on messenger last week that she was moved to make a donation, she’s sending a check. I’ll buy some supplies when I’m home next and carry them over in my luggage. Ann at Mercy Hospital has collected some “pediatric supplies” for us from the hospital’s bin of “no longer useful to them” stock. Dr. Mikey’s friends from his new church have been sending money via the UK account. EMA USA provided for some key needs in February and March. Gordon and Katie are starting to look for ways to help kids that have accidentally drank caustic acid and need surgery. Another doctor and his wife are fixing up an old Samaritan’s Purse tent to help accommodate more needs in the hospital. The list keeps going. PARTNERSHIPS is what is bridging the gap, this circle of people around the world figuratively holding hands. This too was God’s idea, people working together to get the needs met.
Five years ago I found myself begging God to allow me to be a part of something He was doing overseas. He brought me here to ELWA pediatrics, and I am so thankful. I invite you to join us. The testimony of literally thousands of malnourished children finding healing is no small thing. God’s Word and work is going forward here in Liberia. The needs are great. You won’t regret it!