I love Goosebumps!

I spend so much time writing blogs that some days I say to myself that I’m done writing about each day… but then everyday brings such new or amazing experiences… I HAVE to share.

Church today was really cool. Cifa, Juma’s mom, came. She came by yesterday but it was so crazy I kissed her on the cheek and was back to whatever I was working on. I was really happy to see her again.

Church at the Center is very organic. As a planner, if I think about it to much it’s a little scary, but in the moment it’s amazing. We sing for almost an hour and then they open it up for testimonies. Cifa steps up. She talks about how last year when I was here I brought her a mattress. A quick recap, Julia had mentioned Cifa in a Newsletter and a supporter was touched and felt led to bless Cifa with a bed and some other things. Cifa said she was so blessed by this and she was so happy to see me back again. She has been so blessed this last year by the gifts that she received last year that she felt God urging her to give. Cifa is about as poor as they come. She has 4 children living at home and she supports them alone. She brought biscuits.

It was so amazing to me that a few days after we shared with the boys the story of the widow in Mark 12 that Cifa would come and give from the little she had. I was touched beyond belief.

Next Maria got up. She began sharing about a night a couple years ago when she asked the kids to pray for one week about something they want. She remembered what many of the kids prayed for. One for a TV, another a DVD player and a few other things. What really touched me was that Pedro prayed for a water bottle, Izack for an ipod and another child for a watch. Once again it’s so cool to see how God uses people. I don’t know why but those 3 things I just really felt like I was supposed to bring them back with me. I was touched beyond belief when she started sharing about the water bottle… I got goose bumps.

Goosebumps in Mozambique are amazing… because they never have anything to do with being cold. They are always a physical reaction to something amazing being said or seen. I love goosebumps… I’m happy to say I get them every few days for one reason or another.

While we are in the middle of testimonies, I notice Joao leave. This is odd because he is in charge of music and the microphones. A few minutes later I notice a commotion by the house. Someone comes and tells me that there is an electrical fire. I don’t see smoke, so I stay put but Nigel and Nunu head over to check things out.

When Joao came back he said he just felt like he was supposed to go to his room and when he opened the door he was met by smoke. His sheet, pillow and part of his mattress were on fire. The burn marks were the size of a plate. The kids are very resourceful and they had created a charger for a battery out of a cord. They didn’t take into account how hot the battery would get and it caught fire.

There isn’t much damage.  Things could have been so much worse and everyone gets to learn a lesson at a small cost. We outlaw these chargers and ask the kids to turn in some of there electronics so that leaders can charge them in the office.

Yesterday after Cifa had left, Juma P was telling me of a big cut on her leg. So I wanted to see what he was talking about… sure enough she had a burn on her leg. I made sure to get pictures this time… I can’t explain enough how much I hate being the local doctor, but I put my gloves on and try to channel my inner Bess (a friend who used to work in a burn unit).

The burn.

I clean the cut and peel the clumped up skin, but try leaving the skin that is attached. I don’t even know how to explain this other than to say there was some skin that would have come up if I had pulled but I figure here in Mozambique having this skin over the wound is better than nothing. Sure I’m going to bandage it and send her home with supplies but who knows if this will ever been cleaned or covered again.

The look on my face says it all.

I keep asking people if what I’m doing is hurting Cifa and I pick and rub… she sits there calmly smiling and answers, “No.” This is definitely hurting me more than her. Sometime I scrub but don’t even look as I just can’t imagine how much this would hurt me.

The doctor brings a crowd. 

I explain via 2 translaters (English – Portuguese – Macuwa), to try and convey the importance of keeping the wound clean. I give her gloves and tell her to use them. I give her anti-bacterial wipes and say if she really wants to use her bare hands, then she needs to use these and get the dirt out from under her nails. I also cut the fingers off of a rubber glove and put some Neosporin in it, hoping that will help it to heal faster.

Prayer Requests:
- Planning my return home.
- Safety and health for my remainder in Mozambique.
- Healing and provision for Cifa and so many widows like her.