Internship in mercy ministry!

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!!