This Christmas season we’ve been reflecting more closely on the reality of Jesus’ birth to a woman who became pregnant before she was married, and the suffering and fear that ensued as Jesus’ family fled to Egypt to escape his death as a toddler.  It helps us to know that Jesus is a man of sorrows.  He knew pain, fear, sorrow, and loss.  Yet he also knew life to the full, and hope for a future- the life and hope he was going to pass on to all of us by way of his death and then resurrection. When we see hard things here, we too have hope.  This life often brings pain, but this life is not all, oh this life is not all!

Here are some stories that we’ve been witness to, that have changed us, and where redemption and hope have been present realities in the midst of the pain:

-The other day I was working with nursing students and we chose a 12 month old little girl to care for.  Before we had even started examining her, I noticed that she was showing signs of respiratory distress.  The electricity had gone out without anyone knowing it and her oxygen had stopped.  She had a severe case of cerebral malaria.  She was in a coma, and to top that off, had severe hypoglycemia, anemia (hemoglobin of 2!) and malnutrition (6 kg).  We rushed her to the ICU.  Her thin, ragged mother was alone with her.  In the end, I was a blood type match for her, so was able to give blood.  I went home shaken and sad.  I HATE seeing children and their parents suffer.  It hurts so badly to watch them start the grieving process of losing yet another child….. But despite her hypoglycemia, coma and malnutrition, against all odds, this beautiful baby is healing, nursing, smiling and getting the care she needs to be fully healthy!  Hope. Hope is real. Hope does not disappoint. (*see first picture below)

-A 17 year old girl was recently admitted with a severe case of heart failure, probably from an untreated case of strep throat that caused rheumatic heart disease.  She also likely has advanced tuberculosis.  Patrick has been working so hard to help improve the function of her weak heart, to keep her comfortable, and to work toward whatever healing is possible.  I was discussing her case with some nurses and they said, “She and her mom are displaced from war, you know her story don’t you?”  No, I hadn’t heard her story. They went on to tell me that she had recently been cared for in a hospital a couple of hours from here.  She was discharged a couple of weeks ago at 10 AM in the morning.  At 3 PM a rebel group attacked the hospital. A number of people were killed.  She and her mom were still in the area and fled.  Her mom carried this 17 year old 27 kilo girl on her back for days, finally reaching Nyankunde and our hospital a week after the attack.  In the midst of such trauma and sickness, God has been present and active, sparing her from harm and sustaining her feeble heart.

-Lastly, there was a recent maternal death.  Our friend and colleague did a c-section and although there were some complications, everyone thought all was fine and well.  Very unexpectedly the next morning the woman died.  The father was unknown to anyone but her.  She had no immediate family who was there, or able to care for the baby.  After 2 days of staying in the hospital, the woman’s cousin, a nurse at our hospital agreed to take, love and raise the baby.  I knew nothing of this, but was visiting the pediatric unit last week and someone said, “Anna, can you please help us?  Jacques has agreed to take in the orphan, but he has 4 other young children and we haven’t been paid for a couple of months.  He can’t afford the formula, can you maybe help?”  Ah, the tragedy of a mother’s death, but the beauty of another family opening their arms to love and care for this baby, despite their financial inability. 

May you know hope in this season of waiting, waiting for God to break into this world.  He didn’t fix everything, but he showed signs of a future that is beautiful and pain free. Even though we mourn when we encounter the current state of brokenness in this world, we cling to these signs of redemption and hope that we have witnessed.

This is the 12 month old I gave the blood too.  She is healing fully from malaria.  The mom is overjoyed and beams every time I see her.

Jean Marie is a nursing student we are supporting to finish up his training.  He is the father of 4, and somehow has managed to work and support his family AND pay for his studies until this year.  He spent the last 2 years taking care of his now deceased father.  Now he's back into the full swing of finishing his studies.  Here he's just introduced me to his wife and his youngest child.

We were just able to buy a printer for the nursing school.  Here the staff is proudly displaying it.  It will allow them to print syllabi for students so they don't have to spend all their time copying it by hand.  

This is a recent widow, left with 4 young children.  Her husband was recently in a car accident while on duty with the military.  She is now displaced miles from home. 

A hike to the springs on top of Nyankunde mountain.  Our drinking water comes from here.  Miriam had a blast!

A hike up Nyankunde mountain.  Below is the town.  Luke walked all the way up!

In our November letter we mentioned the broken bridge- here it is!  Each time we cross over one of these bridges its hard to not imagine it buckling under the car.  But sandbags and all, we made it across!

Patrick and I on a hiking date for my birthday.  It was wonderful to get out and have time together without the kids (as much as we love them!)

Speaking of... here is a recent picture of Luke and Miriam.  Luke really does love his little sister and they are starting to become friends.  Its so fun to see them play together and delight in each other.