Today’s blog comes courtesy of Christy Lewis, RN and shines light on one of the most dedicated people working in the ELWA Hospital:
Malnutrition in Liberia is a concept that reflects a certain type of brokenness. Not only is it a testimony of a nation torn apart by decades-long civil war, but it is a mirror image of people not having the means to meet their own basic needs.
The parents that walk through the doors of ELWA Hospital who have children that are malnourished do not tend to be people with power, position or authority; or people who are particularly intellectually strong, but rather they represent those who fall outside these boxes—the ones in humble circumstances. The number of caregivers bringing in their starving children each day seems to be growing as well.
I find it pointedly radical that God chose to send His own son, Jesus, who became the Savior of the world, to be born into a low-income family, in a stable of all place and laid in a feeding trough for animals. Why this way? Humble circumstances was the situation, and apparent plan, for God’s son too.
Washington Davies, the jolliest, most heart-warming person I know, has been in and around ELWA Hospital for over 7 years now. Washington is currently working as one of our Nutritional Specialist Nurse Aides. While he mostly covers the needs in the Emergency Room (ER), he can be seen all over the hospital—and frequently in the pediatric ward and the Under 5’s Clinic. He is speedy, gets his work done well, and ALWAYS has time for colleagues, patients and people in need. Simply said…he “gets” them!
Washington is short, middle-aged, and has the biggest, kindest smile in the world. He’s too wonderful to have enemies and is a stranger to no one. Instead, this is a man that is full of joy, has a caring heart and best of all, loves children. He spends each day talking with patients and their caregivers, taking vital signs, assisting nursing staff, and mixing and distributing milk multiple times a day to the babies on the malnourishment program. Essentially, Washington is the eyes, ears, hands, and heart of the program. He often can tell you more about his patients than the doctors can! Having Washington on the team is no small thing. He is no stranger to humble circumstances either and gracefully bridges the gap each day between the struggling families and the rest of the staff. He smooths over wrinkles in the system and bad days with his laughter and meets needs that only he can see. God is using Washington profusely.
At age 50, Washington has found his niche, his God-given calling. He was recommended several year ago for work as a nurse aide after years working as a pharmacy tech and in the construction business. He was later selected to receive specialized malnutrition training and has been working with the malnourished kids for several years now.
Washington came from a poor family who had little to nothing. He testifies to the fact that his mother had 10 children, only 3 who survived. He himself has 4 children and a lovely wife. Washington feels that his family is on the small side and absolutely loves to have people around him. They become his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, and he becomes “uncle” to them! It is also no secret that he has a heart for Jesus and the gospel. Recently, he graduated from a nearby gospel centered training program and now has a missionary certificate. He wants to touch lives.
As I walk around the hospital each day, it doesn’t surprise me at all that God is using Washington. God’s heart, after all, is bent towards the outsider, the poor, the widows, the fatherless, and the weak—the people who have lost in the struggle the world offers up for power, position and authority. His ways are foolish and upside down to the casual passerby. Washington may have a “lowly” position in the hospital as a nurse aide—but to the trained eye, it’s one of the most important!
Washington reminds me of a quote by Tim Keller: “Only the people that are sure they’re not important can obtain a glory that will last forever”. Salvation only comes to the humble. Not many find this. Why? We first need to admit that we are completely inadequate, hopeless sinners and stop trying to prove that we are not! Humility. God’s Word states that humility comes before honor. God brought a salvation that was achieved through humility. This is why the poor can so easily be attracted to Him and trust Him with their lives, and the very same reason they have a leg up on the rich. This is also why Washington is like the star on the tree of the malnutrition program—he humbly and joyfully serves, often well after his working hours are over. He has no idea how much he means to the program!
As Washington tells me about a 9-year-old patient named Gifty that was very special to him but did not make it unfortunately, I can see him beginning to tear up. The blessings of the work being done go both ways. It is an honor to serve the Lord in the hospital, and Gifty’s smile will be etched in his mind for the rest of his days.
What I know to be true is that God is here at ELWA Hospital. It is unmistakable. Where these malnourished infants and young children are—He stands nearby. Where the poor are, He is. They welcome Him. He doesn’t require us to be strong and successful, but rather he waits for us to come to him embarrassingly sinful, broken, unwell and unkempt—it’s what we are after all.
I hope one day you’ll meet Uncle Washington, hands down one of my favorite people in the world.