A fellow student Marie (also a friend) has joined me for a 2 weeks internship in mercy ministries here in Madagaskar. (It's part of our nursing curriculum). We have had some amazing times with people in the hospital, the Toby, feeding the poor of the poor, IRIS ministries among other things.
The Toby is a place where many poor people come and ppl with mental illnesses come or are being brought by family members. They come to get prayed for and get medicine for free. It's a ministry that is under the umbrella of the Lutheran Malagasy Church, and the ppl that are helping out are the deacons/shepherds. It's an amazing ministry, and lots and lots of ppl are getting prayed for, healed and set free from their misery. At this specific Toby there are 160 people living and among them there are 24 deacons, but only 19 of them stays at the premises and are responsible for the ill people. They are divided into rooms, men and women are separate - and they often have a couple take care of them. A few of the ill people are chained because they are a danger to themselves and to others. Chained at their feet, so that they can't walk very fast - and not run. Some because they would run away and get themselves in trouble. There are many stories and many destinies. But they are happy to be there and get help. Some of the deacons have been ill themselves, gotten well and have taken the course to become a deacon so that they can help others.
Marie and I played with the kids, sang with them, told them stories, played and drew pictures with them. Many of them are left to themselves because their parents are mentally ill. Some of the children are also ill, but the other children bring them along and we have play also.
They like to sing, and they wanted to learn more songs; so we tried to teach them some Norwegian songs and they sang as if they hadn't done anything but that =). So fun and so rewarding.
We also went with another friend of mine Bakoly, to feed the poorest of the poor. It was so powerful to c them all come in and listen to the Word first, then they had an offering before they would line up and get their cup of rice, 2 cups of beans and a little soap. Even if they are poor, they still have a smile on their faces happy to be able to hear the Word and then give some of what they have - before receiving. We have so much to learn from them! They gave out of the little they had, we give out of our abundance!!
It's time to wrap things up and head back to Norway to finish up the bachelor degree =).
Marie and I played with the kids, sang with them, told them stories, played and drew pictures with them. Many of them are left to themselves because their parents are mentally ill. Some of the children are also ill, but the other children bring them along and we have play also.
We also went with another friend of mine Bakoly, to feed the poorest of the poor. It was so powerful to c them all come in and listen to the Word first, then they had an offering before they would line up and get their cup of rice, 2 cups of beans and a little soap. Even if they are poor, they still have a smile on their faces happy to be able to hear the Word and then give some of what they have - before receiving. We have so much to learn from them! They gave out of the little they had, we give out of our abundance!!
Alih Johnathan had his surgery, and they came to c me at the hospital where he was born. All seems to be well with him and his parents, they were so happy and glad that things are good. They will have go come to Antananarivo for check ups on him fairly often - and the next time they will go c the doctor is when he'll get his stitches taken. It was a hug operation, and had taken the surgeons 3 hours to do it. The parents have said that they will keep me posted through a friend at the hospital in Antsirabe, Andranomadio.
One of the ladies that I really connected with was a lady that was hit by lightning, she was sleeping in bed with her husband and 4 month old baby when it struck. Her husband and child died, but she survived. She was severely burned, 2nd and 3rd degree several places on her body. The left hand had to be amputated because it was completely burned. She was and still is with good spirit, and had good help in her family. The hospital bill got to high so asked to leave, and they didn't keep her. I hope and pray that she will be well. The painkillers she got for the burns were 500mg paracetamol 2x a day. Somethings that is hard for us to understand when we have morphine as pain relief for severe pain. They are so good. 