My first couple of hours at the Manafwa Health Clinic were spent touring the facility. Hundreds of people come everyday, waiting for hours to be seen by one of two doctors. There is no running water at the clinic and the facilities are quite primitive. Despite their very limited resources, this clinic treats HIV, TB, malaria, and dehydration. They do surgeries and deliver babies (lots of babies – stay tuned for those stories!).
After touring the clinic, I began to feel pretty useless. I’m not a doctor or a nurse, so I wasn’t sure exactly what my role should be. I turned the corner to see Josh (Serving His Children’s team coordinator) holding a tiny, lethargic, sickly little girl. Juliet had all the signs of severe malnutrition. Her hair was losing its pigment, her skin was breaking down causing open sores and cracks all over her body, and her hands and feet were severely swollen with edema. Her shoulders and back were so bony and her eyes were so sad. I gently took her from Josh but she winced from the pain of being touched. She was too weak to cry but let out a tiny sound, like a newborn kitten. Although she looked like a young toddler, Juliet is actually 4 years old.
For awhile she sat in my arms, not responding to anyone or anything. I had no idea what to do with her as we waited for her mother to return and for Renee to finish clinic so that Juliet could be admitted to the Jinja clinic. I have a four-year-old little girl at home. So, on the one hand it was so easy to love Juliet. On the other hand it was almost unbearable to see her suffering. So I comforted her the same way I would’ve comforted my own little girl. I held her and swayed. I sang “Jesus Loves Me” over and over. Finally she relaxed and rested her head on my chest. As long as I was singing or humming, she would keep her head right there on my chest. So we walked and we swayed and we sang. After awhile, I sat in the back of the matatu (van) and leaned back on a backpack so Juliet could rest without me putting too much pressure on her hurting little body. She finally fell asleep. Oh how I loved holding her. I believe that’s exactly what Jesus would’ve done if He were physically present in that moment. So I was His arms holding her. I was His hands gently stroking her tender skin. I was His voice singing over sweet Juliet. “Jesus loves me…little ones to Him belong…they are weak but He is strong.” Oh God, thank you for my time with Juliet. They were two of the sweetest hours of my life. Father, please teach her mother how to love her and feed her and care for her. Please draw her mother to You.
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