Category: Casa Ahava

A Layne Post

People come with stories.

Some will make you laugh.

Some will stir rage.

Some will make you cry.

And slowly unveiled amid warm afternoons passed under shade cloth, surrounded by giggles and cries of three little girls, they begin to unfold, these people, these stories.

And we find, not to our surprise, they are so much more than a cancer diagnosis.

And so we minister, as desperate people serving desperate people in need of Savior.

And it isn’t grandiose.

In fact, it seems small this “ministry” we do.

Sometimes it may be a morning spent at the beach, or a few new colorful skirts bought solely for pleasure.

Sometimes it is tossing bean bags into wooden holes.

Sometimes it is singing along with the strum of a guitar.

Sometimes it is sitting on tree stumps bearing souls and airing hurt.

Sometimes it is a big stinky dog catching slobbery toys thrown to-and-fro.

Sometimes it is watching television with the air conditioning on.

Sometimes is is plate of fried chicken or the cooking of comfort food.

And then in the quiet stillness found at the end of the day, we find ourselves drifting to sleep and thanking God for these stories collided into ours, and begging His smile as we try to love those He loves.

Thanks for being a part. Thanks for seeing people and loving people with us.

A Layne Post

Casa Ahavá currently has two patients – Anita and Inês. Just typing their names and thinking about them gives me a warm feeling in my heart. I am really enjoying these two ladies. So here is a little about them:

Anita is the Mama of 4 girls. She is very active in a Baptist church in Beira, Mozambique. She loves the Lord and the members of her church with a passion. Sometimes when I knock on her door to give her some news or information about doctor appointments, I find her sitting on the floor reading her Bible. Back home she worked for a day-care/preschool at her church and had begun learning sign language to work with deaf students. Lord willing she regains her health, she would like to continue studying sign and have the ability to teach others. She is wonderful with my girls! I love hearing her call them into her kitchen and my girls run in and out giggling. Anita is extremely responsible and independent, an absolute joy to have here at our home. She is currently at the hospital receiving a Chemo treatment and then, so long as her tests come out clean, she only has one more chemo course next month before returning to her family.

Inês is a great-grandma! You would not believe it seeing her because she is so lovely and still strong and lively. Her family is her pride and joy. She loves to talk about them, and I am often confused as she tells of so many members – I get lost! As soon as she arrived at our house, she took Karasi out of my arms and placed her on her hip. Karasi was at ease with this well experienced avó (grandma). She speaks Portuguese, but definitely as a second language so I feel like we are often losing some things in translation, both ways! But she is gracious and has an awesome smile and laugh that just makes it all okay. Her family has a large dog at home, so she surprised me when she had no fear of Gasher. I often see her roll her eyes at his annoying ways and pat his head. Because she has only been here a week, we are still getting to know her, but she is already well loved. She should start her second of six rounds of Chemo next week.

Our family had the most wonderful time camping. It was refreshing and rejuvenating, making us well prepared and ready for this new season and community at Casa Ahavá. Jon’s weeks have been full of early mornings and lots of time in traffic to and from the hospital. The staff have been so helpful in our partnership, and we continue to stand in awe of the Lord’s favor He grants to us as doctors and nurses shift schedules and fit our patients in, making appointments happen.

On my drive home from the hospital yesterday I was reflecting on my girls and their adjustment to new people in their space. They don’t skip a beat. It is normal and natural for them to have new Tias and Tios come stay in the rooms at the back of our house and to play in the afternoons. I am so grateful they get to grow up this way. My heart just melts when I hear Anaya tell me her stuffed duck Katy is a little sick and at the hospital, but that she is going to go visit her and make her smile. May the Lord have my sweet girls’ hearts and may He always mend them when they break on His behalf – loving the sick and dying alongside their Mama and Dada.