Prayer Needs

Since all of this virus stuff began we have been (what feels like) bombarded with medical needs. It started as 2-3 people a week needing help with minor things. Malaria, the flu, infection in the hand, shingles and high blood pressure to name a few. Now we have 3 cases that are pretty serious and I wanted to ask for prayers for them.

1. About a week and a half ago we were told about a man (Eric) in our village who was severely burned by cooking oil. This man has previously been in a motorbike accident and has trouble walking causing him to use crutches. Due to his injury his wife left him with their children. He was cooking supper for his family when he fell and hit the pot of grease causing major burns to his right arm. We sent him to the closest hospital who after a few days transferred him to a bigger hospital. He's been at the bigger and overcrowded hospital for about a week now and his arm has gotten worse. The Drs have told him they need to amputate his arm because the infection is now in the bone. So far he is unwilling to have his arm removed, but Drs are saying the infection will kill him if he doesn't agree to let them.

2. Last week I posted a picture of a small hand with raw fingers on facebook. This little boy was severely malnourished and was brought to us by his Grandmother who was seeking food for him. Because of his condition we didn't feel comfortable with just giving him food so we sent him and the Grandmother to the hospital where they still are. The Grandmother is reporting that he is doing better and drinking more and more milk. The hospital has him on a special formula to help him recover from the malnutrition and they are giving him a blood booster (iron and vitamins).

3. On Saturday as we were getting ready to start passing out food to the children of our village a mother and son (probably 13 or 14 years old) showed up at the gate. The boy had massively swollen, what I'm assuming is lymph nodes. According to the mother the boy has had this problem for several months. They have been to a couple of Drs, but lack money to get the boy proper treatment. We sent them to the hospital, they did not admit him, but he has had several tests over the last few days and we are hoping for a diagnosis and solution soon.

Please keep these people, situations and Drs in your prayers. Also please pray for the financial end of this, when helping others with health care we never know how much it will end up costing, although usually it is inexpensive. For example, with Eric, we thought he would be treated and sent home, instead he was kept for a few days and then transferred to another hospital. While his first hospital stay was only about $30 including the ambulance to transfer him, we aren't sure what his bill will look like at the new hospital, but we feel like we are supposed to continue to help him. Some of you may be thinking or asking why we would get involved and take such a "financial risk"...when these cases are in your face you just can't say "I won't help you.". When you see a baby, that appears to be days away from death, you can't pretend like he will be ok and you can't be okay with leaving that baby to suffer. We aren't here trying to save Africa, Kenya or even our entire village, but we are trying to live out the life we feel God has called us to. It isn't always easy, pretty or cheap.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us, with our village and the many needs here. You can't imagine what a blessing each dollar, prayer, and word of encouragement is here. We can't fix all the problems, but with your help we will continue to do as much as He calls us to.