As I approached the end of my last year in High School I had asked God "What should I do with my life" and I very clearly felt a still small voice say "nursing and go to Africa". There were times along the way through my nursing degree where I doubted the calling. "Washing old people and cleaning poop! Really this can`t be it God!". But that day as I was indulging and numbing myself with book shopping I saw a book called "The Hospital by the River" By Dr Catherine Hamlin. Dr Catherine Hamlin and her husband were both Sydney, Australia trained Obstetrician/Gynaecologists that had gone to Ethiopia with their 6 year old son and found women who were suffering from a condition that we almost never see in the western world. These women had Obstetric Fistula which is caused by a mother going into labour which does not progress as it should and is "obstructed". This woman would have a C-Section in the western world in a timely manner. However because of lack of access to healthcare due to money or where they live these women labour for many days on end before they finally get help by which time the baby has died and even more life-changing she finds that she is constantly leaking urine and sometimes faeces as well. This is due to a hole that was made in the bladder and or rectum as the baby sat stuck for so many days. Her bodily fluids now leak through her birth canal and there is no stopping the flow. Her family puts her outside in another shelter as she smells so bad. Her husband leaves her. She has no livelihood. Unwanted, Ashamed, Childless....
This story has changed my life. I cried and cried. How could a 21 year old even feel their pain. I can only say it was God given heart for these women....
Fast forward another 5 years and finally I got my chance to live the dream and I went to work with Mercy Ships www.mercyships.org onboard the M/V Anastasis which was in the Port of Tema Ghana in June 2006 (I will write my next post all about who Mercy Ships are to explain more about this amazing charity/ministry).We cared for these beautiful women and the stories of pain and suffering became real. My heart continued to break.
I met a man onboard. My Texan love. A crazy God-made match aboard the Love boat. Why Lord?
We both were crazy passionate about Africa and Jesus. This man loved my heart for these gorgeous women and he loved them too (He is a big softy despite his dark tough dude appearance). We dreamed of living our life caring for women such as these. We married and returned to Africa.
These women were still my favourite patients but as a charge nurse I did not spend the time I would have liked with them this time. Our time ended suddenly and eventfully with Michael going on a trip to our beloved Wli in Ghana for a weekend and refusing to come back. He had Cerebral Malaria but just appeared crazy at this point in time. Only the mercy of God got us back to Australia before he degraded further (and my generous parents who bought our plane tickets). This was one of the most heartbreaking times in our life thus far. We did not really want to be home. I went to work in ICU while I waited to apply for midwifery. I wanted to help my beloved fistula women somehow. Maybe as a midwife or with midwifery experience I might one day be able to be part of helping prevent this for other women.
Midwifery has been pure joy!. Coming alongside women is my heart. During this journey I have carried my 2 babies and been blessed to birth where and how I wanted with trained caregivers. A privilidge these women do not have.
So here we are almost 10 years from the time I first applied to Mercy Ships. We have lost our direction at times and felt disgruntled and sad. We both hate mediocrity in our walk with the Lord but that is where we have been. Living in each other`s countries has been difficult and a source of contention at times. We lost our focus.
Our heart was always Africa. It`s where we belong.
Then something happened just as we tried to make our own plans.. Africa...Back to Mercy Ships to serve as a family! Could this be real. We aren`t perfect yet..The world might not think we are qualified.. He doesn`t call the perfect. He qualifies the called.
When these beautiful women are dry after their surgery we have a Dress Ceremony. They are given a new dress to symbolize their new life and the oppurtunities that lie ahead of them. There is singing and dancing and testimonies of their pain that was so heavy over them and has been replaced with joy... Beauty for ashes.. and a garment of Praise for the Spirit of heaviness..
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."Isaiah 61:3.
This is our chance to return and be with these gorgeous women that did not choose this affliction, these courageous women that would walk miles and suffer the shame of travelling in public in order to come and be healed.
Last week in my bible study class we talked about the woman with the issue of blood(mat9:20, Lk8:44, Mark 5:28). What Faith! that she believed that if she could "just touch the hem of his garment" she would be healed.These women are equally full of faith.These beautiful women are what we would pick up what little life we have and run to Africa. They are worth it and even more importantly HE is worth it.
