Tuesday, July 21

To be made well

***Warning I had an awesome day in the clinic. Translation: Pictures are not for those with a weak stomach***

So I have thought for a while now that I was never really interested in being an ER nurse, and now I am almost positive I am not. At least not in the States. Chest pain and asthma attacks would be so boring compared to what walked (or hobbled) through our gate today!

Ok so this happened on Friday. Story isn't clear at all, but sounds like the guy ticked somebody off and they took a machete to his arm. His friends carried him down the mountain on a bed but before he came in the gate, Lori took one look at it and saw that both bones and several nerves were severed. She sent him straight to town. It's Tuesday and now it looks like this. It is rotten and infected and smells awesome. You can see in the picture that if you lift the upper arm, the lower half just dangles. Um broken. So in the middle of kind of cleaning it up and stabilizing his two halves of an arm, someone came in and said they caught the guy who did it to him and he needed to go to the next town over and take care of it. Lori told him that he needed to demand that they pay for his medical care and go to a place that can surgically repair it.




Look who else came in this morning...the kiddo with the skull fracture!!! They found a place to take him on Saturday but they just sewed him up. So frustrating. Really confused as to why a place who can actually repair this did not. But I am still praising the Lord that he is okay for now!!!!




This guy walked in with gauze and scotch tape around his leg. Big surprise underneath. I might have made a face. He cut his leg on a rock in June and was treating with some powders and cream. Interesting idea. This is what we have now. Again, infected, rotten and smelling awesome.



This is the burn I posted last week. It's starting to heal well, looking forward to seeing more progress



This was an abscess that basically made a crater in this girl's leg



This kiddo was cut by a rock.





I know some of you are thinking, why in the world are you posting these pictures? One reason is because I want you to see the excitement of what is going on here and how much I am learning. But mostly, I show you these pictures because I am going to be here long enough to see these wounds heal. And that is the whole reason that this clinic exists. So God can use us to heal people. You can stand up on a pulpit and preach the Gospel all day and some people will hear the truth and their lives will be changed. But for many people, simply hearing that God loves them and wants to change their life does nothing for them until they can see it. Physically touching someone, making them well and getting the chance to share why you care about them is the Gospel too. Sounds crazy right? Well we got the idea from someone else.

"While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live" And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said "Go away, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping" And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose."
Matthew 9:18-25

7 comments:

Jen said...

amen

Unknown said...

yesssssssssssssss.. awsomeeeeeee
im sooo excited about everything i am using extra letterssssss

Unknown said...

No lips has kids? You wanna hear something crazy? I've been having nightmares over no lips!! Twice!! Craziness. Heard about Gilderson. We're praying for him. And Matt wants to know how Jeff is doing and whether or not he is eating peanut butter yet. Thanks for keeping us posted. Miss you all very much and we are spreading the word about the needs of the people. Many people have been moved by the stories and what God has done. :)

-ginger

Anonymous said...

love the pictures. You are going to come back to the states a changed woman. I have been to Haiti 7 times and each time I come back changed. We have adopted a little girl from Haiti and my love is with this little country!

Anonymous said...

I am a good friend of Licia and Lori's. You may know us as Loudnie's mom and dad. We have been where you are and have walked the line into falling in love with a people that can't give you anything but a glimps into our heavenly Fathers heart. Follow the call of the master and you will never go wrong. Enjoy your time there, I wish I could be there too. Sharel Marcum

Anonymous said...

I am not squeamish, but you got me on these pics! Love you and what you are doing! mom

Unknown said...

Tig, I do not believe that I have been blessed with the beautiful gift of empathy, but seeing your pictures and reading your blog has simply broken my heart but also given me so much praise for our wonderful God. Thanks for being there and the encouragement that you are passing on.