today was the day to learn about sickness and funerals and death. we took a minibus to the city and stopped at a small dark shop off the main road. there, bridget advised us to purchase cooking oil, soap, sugar, and juice. it was a hot, hot day, and we began asking bridget questions as the sun beat down on our necks. she told us we were going to visit her friend, cynthia, who had been sick for a couple weeks.
as we approached the house, cynthia’s mother, eunice, ushered us in with a warm handshake. she invited us to sit, and offered us cold fantas. cynthia sat in the corner, with her hand to her forehead, her eyes glossed over, looking miserable. she had a deep cough, and told us she had been sick for maybe a week. but her mother told us quietly that she had been coughing since 2005. her son, duma (age 5), was also coughing.
soon her brother, kennon joined us. he also was sick, and his wife had died a couple years ago. he told us the sickness was difficult for him, because he was unable to work. we gave cynthia the gifts we had brought, and told her they hoped they could be of some comfort and help to her.
the neighbor, mrs. sikhosna also came in, and was sharing her difficulties with us. she has arthritis in her knees. she told us that she had expected to be able to visit and minister to people in her old age, but instead she was in constant pain. i was overwhelmed with the amount of pain and suffering in the lives of these brothers and sisters. i asked if we could pray for them, and we did. i was so convicted in my lack of faith, and my own self reliance.
it was good to fellowship with these brothers and sisters. we talked a lot about the diseases that are common in africa: malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis. There was little to say about the pandemics. life is difficult for most of the world. the sin and the fall seems to touch every atom of the universe, every part of our lives. how rarely do i realize that all of my hope is in Christ.
they asked us if things were different in the states—if our wealth makes life easier for us. we admitted that we suffered much less in body, but that other diseases—greed, arrogance, promiscuity, and drug abuse were common to us. it to was strange to realize how much sin has affected every culture. the human condition is universal. as we continued visiting, eunice disappeared into her room, and emerged with two chitanges (zambian skirts). she kneeled in front of us and told us that now we were true zambians. and that when we wear them, we can remember her family. it was humbling.
cynthia sitting in the doorway of the small room she shares with her mother and son. though she's never been tested, bridget tells us it's likely she is suffering from HIV/AIDS.
as we approached the house, cynthia’s mother, eunice, ushered us in with a warm handshake. she invited us to sit, and offered us cold fantas. cynthia sat in the corner, with her hand to her forehead, her eyes glossed over, looking miserable. she had a deep cough, and told us she had been sick for maybe a week. but her mother told us quietly that she had been coughing since 2005. her son, duma (age 5), was also coughing.
soon her brother, kennon joined us. he also was sick, and his wife had died a couple years ago. he told us the sickness was difficult for him, because he was unable to work. we gave cynthia the gifts we had brought, and told her they hoped they could be of some comfort and help to her.
the neighbor, mrs. sikhosna also came in, and was sharing her difficulties with us. she has arthritis in her knees. she told us that she had expected to be able to visit and minister to people in her old age, but instead she was in constant pain. i was overwhelmed with the amount of pain and suffering in the lives of these brothers and sisters. i asked if we could pray for them, and we did. i was so convicted in my lack of faith, and my own self reliance.
it was good to fellowship with these brothers and sisters. we talked a lot about the diseases that are common in africa: malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis. There was little to say about the pandemics. life is difficult for most of the world. the sin and the fall seems to touch every atom of the universe, every part of our lives. how rarely do i realize that all of my hope is in Christ.
they asked us if things were different in the states—if our wealth makes life easier for us. we admitted that we suffered much less in body, but that other diseases—greed, arrogance, promiscuity, and drug abuse were common to us. it to was strange to realize how much sin has affected every culture. the human condition is universal. as we continued visiting, eunice disappeared into her room, and emerged with two chitanges (zambian skirts). she kneeled in front of us and told us that now we were true zambians. and that when we wear them, we can remember her family. it was humbling.
cynthia sitting in the doorway of the small room she shares with her mother and son. though she's never been tested, bridget tells us it's likely she is suffering from HIV/AIDS.
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