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Category: Hospital Ministry

Two Little Girls

A Layne Post

I remember the first day that two little girls came running down the driveway of the hospital. They were accompanied by the usual boys, who were excitedly shouting, “Tio Jon!” as they ran. Somehow in the beginning Jon and I became ‘Tio Jon’, yes, me included. It seems to have changed recently, however, when I met these little girls, we were still ‘Tio Jon’.

Their names were Rudu and Esperança. I had never met them before, but it didn’t matter; they each grabbed one of my hands as if we had been buddies for years. Their giggles would melt your heart. Just two little girls… two friends who liked to run and play.

Rudu

Rudu has a large tumor on her face, making one of her cheeks look large and puffy. She is a bit shy, seemingly self-conscious of her condition; however, she eats up attention as much as the others. She gives sweet hugs and loves to be in your lap. Her eyes are beautiful and smile when her tumor keeps her lips from doing so.

Esperança

Esperança was the exact opposite of Rudu. She was loud and unhindered in everything that she did. She was all smiles, even while missing her front teeth; it was precious. She would squeal and yell, even when it was terribly inappropriate. Her energy was contagious.

For a couple of weeks the girls joined me in some of my visits with the ladies. They would sit in my lap or hang on the side of me; they just needed some physical touch. At times the sick women would be bothered by Esperança, and I couldn’t blame them, though I was unable to keep myself from smiling when I looked at her toothless grin. She was easy to love.

Esperança died this last week. Even though she had cancer, she died of pneumonia. The lack of her presence will be felt immensely. As for Rudu, she may be the next to go, as she has taken a turn for the worse. Her tumor grows more each week. Her sweet smile is gone, and even Anaya cannot bring it. It breaks my heart. She can no longer eat solid foods because the tumor is crowding her mouth. It brings memories of José Manuel.

Please pray for Esperança’s family.

Please pray for Rudu.

Esperança is the one in my lap

 

Calm and Smiles

A Jon Post

Sorry this post is a couple days late. Honestly, there’s really no reason for it to be late except that I keep forgetting to get it up. Anyway, we go.

Lately it feels like we’ve been in a bit of a “calm before the storm”. Anaya, is getting on a schedule and her mother’s life has gotten a little easier. I’ve been trying to help as much as I can with her and doing my best to keep the house clean (Layne’s standards here are much higher than mine and so I’m attempting to rise up to meet them). I’ve also gotten back into a regular schedule at the hospital.

Looking towards the months ahead they seem a bit busier. Layne’s parents are coming next week Wednesday to visit us and Anaya (mostly the Anaya part). Soon after that my parents will do the same, and then we’ll be hosting a team of young men and women from TCF (our home church in AZ) in June.

I’m extremely excited to have all these people coming here to visit and would not choose any other way, but there is a level of stress that comes with that many visitors as well.

Even with these visitors looming, all seems to be well in our family. Anaya is a joy in our home, Layne is a super-mom, and me… well, I’m doin alright as a daddy I think.

Friends at the hospital still need our prayers, your prayers, and the love of our Father. Cancer and death are a constant there and there is a great need for more smiles. We bring our own and try to inspire a few when we get there.

Please remember to pray and smile with us. We can’t do it all alone.

 

Anaya Visits the Hospital!

A Layne Post

I will not soon forget the sound of the clapping and cheers that welcomed Anaya and me as we approached our friends at the hospital for the first time as Mom and daughter. Everyone gathered around waiting to get a peek, to touch her little foot poking out of the sling, to grab my hands and kiss my cheeks.

Originally we planned to wait a little longer; however, I received news that two of the ladies I have known for months would be heading home over the weekend. I could not stand to think they would never meet Anaya; they had been such a part of my pregnancy, sharing in the joys of new ultrasound pictures, worrying and praying with me when her heartbeat was irregular. So we decided to make an exception and go early.

Anaya in her sling

We planned our trip during her nap time, hoping she would sleep in her sling. This would allow people to see her precious face, yet hopefully reducing the requests to hold her, as we still want to protect her little immune system. She did beautifully. A few women still asked for me to ‘give her to them’ or to ‘borrow her to them’, but I was able to say no, and for the most part the women were gracious.

It was a delight to see the joy my daughter brought to the faces of the sick. Even those in bed on treatment wanted a peek at this precious little girl, and when they got a glimpse, smiles would emerge across their tired faces. I worried a bit that the smells may bother her, but she didn’t even flinch. She did sweat like crazy in her sling, but that is part of life getting out and about in Maputo and, thankfully, it doesn’t seem to bother her too much; she is already hard-core. Ha!

We’ll take it slow, transitioning Anaya and me back into ministry, but it is an exciting step! For now I think we’ll aim at once a week and continue to see how it goes. In the African culture, which is probably not so unique to other cultures, me having a baby is a bridge between our differences; suddenly we have so much in common! I look forward to deeper relationships with Mozambican ladies, because of this new season of life that God has brought me into.

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Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support, both emotionally and financially. There have been some things lately that have reminded me how blessed Jon and I are to have such a network of supporters that keep us on the field. You are on my heart. May the Lord pour out His blessing  and presence upon you. We love you!

 

So We Don’t Forget

A Jon Post

It really was always just a matter of time.

Lucia and her father went home almost two months ago when the hospital here decided there was nothing further to be done for her. She wanted to go home and be with her family.

She died on Friday.

Lucia and her smile

Lucia and her smile

It was always just a matter of time.

Lucia smiled a lot. Maybe she learned it from her father who did the same. When she had toxin dripping into her veins to fight the cancer in her body she seemed to teeter on the verge of eternity but always, after her treatment ended she would bounce back and smile again.

It was always just a matter of time.

While we don’t and can’t forget her, we honestly didn’t know her THAT well. We knew her in her time at the hospital but her life with her family, with her friends, in school, the games she played… we didn’t know.

So we’ve started a project, if only a personal one.

This week I spent many hours sitting with little Tomé whom I’ve written about before. With his eager help, I’ve started writing down the story of his life, as much as I can. Where he grew up, how his mother makes food in the home, how far he and his family have to walk to get water to cook and clean, his favorite class in school (it’s math by the way) what his house is shaped like, what kind of food grows in his father’s farm, and much much more.

We want to know people’s lives beyond the short part of it we see when they come here (too often to die). We want to know and hear the life part of it.

So starting this last week I’ve started taking a notebook with me and taking small notes. We want to remember the voices that we hear, even long after they’ve gone on to wait for us to join them with Christ.

There are many voices of the world.

We’re just writing down a few of them.

But please don’t forget Lucia’s.

Goodbye sweet friend

Goodbye sweet friend


 

Learning the Heart of Our Father… plus update

A Layne Post

Anaya is 12 days old today. Her presence in our lives is already both a blessing and a challenge. Just when my tiredness starts to take over, when it is 3 am and she is wanting her awake time, when I feel twinges of pain reminding me of my labor; Anaya wakes up and gives a little half smile, or giggles in her sleep, and my mercies are renewed. I am filled with more love and ready to lavish it on her. I explained to Anaya during one of our diaper changes how I am beginning to understand the heart of God our father even more because of her.

When I have to let her cry a little, because I know in the long run I am shaping her to be a self-assured and independent…

When I sit outside her bedroom door and ‘collect all her tears‘…

When I desire to pour all the knowledge I have into her…

Those are some of the exact things the Father does/desires for me. This little girl, Anaya, who burst into our lives on the 22nd of February is teaching me so much in such a short amount of time. I told Jon the other day, “You just can’t be selfish with a baby.” It is my love for her that motivates me to keep going, to keep giving. I am so thankful that the Lord loves me in such a way, that even when I am off schedule, off the ‘right path’, His love motivates Him to keep caring for me; to keep cleaning me up. And just when He is getting tired, the morning comes, and His mercies are renewed.

Anaya Hosanna. She causes me to look to God and give a shout of praise, just as the meaning of her name promised. It is my prayer that her life and presence may do the same for many others along the way.

Our peaceful, content girl

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Jon has returned to his visits to the hospital. Our family there joined in our celebration of our new daughter, as her proud Daddy showed photos from her first week with us.

A precious boy we love very much named Alexandre has been sent home. Jon was able to spend a couple days with him before his departure. He is not better. Our prayer is that he will get home, and the Lord will miraculously intervene and extend his life.  We plan to keep in touch via cell phones.

Alexandre = Best smile EVER

You may also remember Lucia and her father Longo, who went home at the end of January. I wanted to update you that she is still alive, and according to her father, doing well. She still has the tumor in her belly, but seems to be thriving at home away from the hospital and medication. We praise the Lord for this, since we were skeptical even of her survival on the journey home; it is truly a miracle. Her father is happy to be working again and providing for his family. When we speak with him, he is always full of giggles.

As for me, my ministry at the hospital has been put on hold for Anaya’s first few weeks. Soon I will begin pumping my milk, allowing Jon to take an afternoon feeding, and I will make 1-2 visits a week, while Jon remains at home with Anaya. At 5-6 weeks we will take Anaya up to the hospital in a carrier/sling and introduce her to our family there. Unfortunately, due to the sheer amount of people, and the fact that it is a hospital, we will not allow her to be held for another undefined amount of time.  You can pray with and for us to have wisdom in this area as the Lord continues to direct us.

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We love you guys and thank you for your expressed joy and celebration in the birth and arrival of Anaya. We look forward to introducing her in person to many of you in the USA at the end of the year.