Hospital Visits

 

Everyday, there was morning devotionals for the nurses and doctors in the chapel at 7am. We would go everyday. They would sing a few songs (beautiful!--I've never heard singing like theirs), and then someone would bring a short encouraging word. It would last no longer than 15 minutes. Then on Fridays, instead of meeting in the chapel, they would go as a group to the different wards in the hospital and sing songs to the people there. It was so encouraging to see the looks of peace on the people's faces as they lay in their hospital beds. 

 This sign was in the pediatric ward in the hospital. I thought it was very powerful, so I snapped a pic of it.

Everytime we visited the hospital, we took "gifts" with us. I call them "gifts" because to us, it's just a balloon or an M&M we can get anywhere. But to these people, it means so much more.

We would write "Jesu Anoda"--which means Jesus Loves You in the Shona language. Then we would draw a smiley face on it. We gave every child a balloon, and sometimes a parent too. The parents would sit and bounce the balloon back and forth with their child and just laugh and laugh.

 

This little girl was awaiting surgery when she got this balloon. The mother was very, very happy. When I walked into the room, both look depressed and quiet. Once she received the balloon, you could feel the whole atmosphere in the room change. It was so amazing!

 Garrison Myers personally took care of this boy day in and day out. This little boy named Tenashi had grabbed ahold of a live high-line wire. It had burned him so badly, Dr. Sheets had to amputate his left arm. Garrison was there for the entire experience. He became very good friends with this little boy, even though neither spoke each other's languages. That's what is so amazing about a smile--it crosses all language barriers! Garrison is now in the process of working with the doctors and a specialized place in Africa that makes prosthetics. He, along with his parents Therman and Rhonda Myers, are trying to make a way to financial support Tenashi so he can get a prosthetic arm. How amazing is that!!!