You could say this hasn't been too good a day.  One of our patients died this morning - a young boy of perhaps 8.  He was home with his mother, but still under our treatment.  Then just as we were getting close to closing time at the clinic, we got word from our student missionary helping four patients we had at the hospital in the lowlands, that the baby we'd sent out earlier that week (and had barely made it!), had in fact just died!  NO Lord!!  Not another one!!  Today was Sunday.  Sabbath we heard about another child that died - one we simply couldn't get to in time.  Another older gentleman who had been under our care for months, finally went home against medical advice and we just heard that he died last week, as did his elder brother.  So within the last week - five deaths.  Pretty sobering.

The need is so immense right now, in this very place.  It is a place very much in another universe from the one that many of our readers know - a place where life and death issues are tangible, every-day contemplations.  Where mothers morn the death of their fifth child to die(she has already lost five husbands, consecutively, as well.)  How much grief can a person take and not crack up - not lose hope, not wonder what is life for.  How I long to share with her the good news of Jesus and the hope He wants to offer her.  Perhaps she'll be ready for His words now.  I've tried before - I will try again. 

I have my bags packed.  I may get called at any time tonight.  One of my dear young friends is in labor for the first time.  Her mother died ten months ago, so she doesn't have the comfort of her mother being near. Her grandmother is sick and she's a traditional birth attendant and would ordinarily go.  The family will call me - IF there is an emergency.  I'd have gone sooner, uninvited, but I got home from a long day at the clinic just before dark - not having eaten all day long.  I figured I better put a little nourishment in my body incase I need to pull an all-nighter.

These are the realities of life here.  And the question rises - where does the evangelism come in?  Good question.  Excellent question.  When one spends the majority of their hours tending to the sick and ailing, one can start to wonder if they are being true to their calling as missionaries.  But turning in our Bibles to Isaiah 58 verses 6-12 we read that true religion is in loosening the bands of wickedness, undoing the heavy burdens, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke, dealing thy bread to the hungry, bringing the poor that are cast out into our home; clothing the naked, caring for our own flesh and blood. So I'll continue to help to carry the heavy burdens that these dear ones must bear trusting God to reveal Himself to them in His time and in His way.  I just pray that He can love them through me.