Loving the one...

Stop for the one. This was Iris school’s motto. I did it today in the clinic I now work in 4 days a week in western Mozambique. I see about 30 Mothers or Grammas or Auntie or Dads with a little one or two who needs milk and food for the next two weeks. Most are HIV+ parents with sickly children who are either HIV+ themselves or so weak from TB or lack of food.

We treat their pneumonia, worms, diarrhea or skin rashes, along with the Momma’s illnesses. This is our alternative to an orphanage—we care for the families to do it in their own homes. That was Maria’s concern today. She is the Auntie to Fernando who is a 22 month old with AIDS. His parents died and Maria’s husband did too—likely from AIDS. She cares for her two kids and Fernando—but it’s hard.

When I questioned why he lost a pound, she tearfully said, “All I ate this week was the greens I could find in the fields. That’s why he lost weight. We have no food in the house and I can hardly work in the fields because I have to care for my kids. I am alone.” I took her hand and said, “Estamos juntos, Maria.” (We’re together with you) We try to provide such families a small sack of maize flour and beans when we can afford it, but it’s not that much in light of feeding a whole family, but I offered her this little bit.

“Can we pray with you, Maria?” She softened and with begging eyes said, “Yes, please.” We both wept as we prayed together, asking the Lord to provide a way for her to provide for her kids. I don’t know what the answer will be, but I trust God does. He cares for ‘the one’, and we are too. There are so many “Maria’s” we meet each day at the clinic—so many.

Pray for us to keep being God’s hands and feet and food for these beautiful Mozambique families. More and more I’m feeling God’s peace to serve here in this coming season of my life. It’s a privilege, and I have so much to learn in regard to what it means to love amidst such challenging situations when we don’t have much materially to give. Pray for us to have the strength physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and financially to care for these people with HIV and their complex needs.

It’s one person at a time… I pray for each of you also to reach out to the outcast, the sick, the lonely in your neighborhood also. I wish I was in my hometown to do that for our poor, but I trust my brothers and sisters there to reach out one person at a time also to help transform my city.

God bless you and thank you for your love and support!! I feel it all the way over here!