First off, this is Eric blogging. For those of you who read this blog regularly, Jen – my lovely wife – is the talented storyteller who authors this blog. If you’ve ever attributed any of the excellent posts here to me, you’ve been mistaken – It’s all been Jen. She’s an amazing writer and God has used this blog for His purposes and glory through her gift! This is my maiden voyage into the blogosphere, so please be graceful. That being said, I’ve got some things on my heart that need an outlet, so Jen’s letting me hijack the blog for today.
Cancer . . . It’s something that has truly affected every one of us in one way or another. Whether it’s a family member, a close friend, or perhaps even our very own body, each of us has been touched. For me, Jen’s maternal grandmother – Grandma Gert – died of breast cancer right when we were first married and it affected our lives deeply – it still does. Cancer is so common, and so feared, that many people don’t even like to say the word – they prefer saying something like “the C – Word”. As a Christian, I’m not superstitious like that, but I do know that this disease has struck fear into the hearts of so many in America, and – as I’m about to share – around the world.
This is Alphosinah. The picture above was taken during healthier and happier times a a number of years ago. She is a 50 year old GoGo (Swazi term for Grandmother) who is the mother of one of our partner pastors. Her story is also heartbreaking. She also has cancer – In her uterus I believe. The reason I say “I believe” is, again, due to the horrible state of the health care system here in Swaziland. I’ve been trying to piece together her journey through the government based health care system here and it’s a nightmare to try and determine what testing she has had, what her actual diagnosis is, and what treatment she has received. From what I can gather, she has been given a diagnosis of uterine (or possibly ovarian) cancer as early as 2007 and has been suffering ever since. She has been to the government hospitals here countless times, spending what little resources she has seeking care. However, all she has ever really received is pills or injections for her pain: once again, aspirin for cancer. She has never had surgery, has never had chemotherapy, or radiation, or any of the other cancer treatments that are known to work. Her journey is much more winding and disappointing than I can adequately describe here, but suffice it to say she is a woman who is desperate. She is now seeking help from a “bush doctor” who is charging her excessive rates and giving her some strange liquid mixtures that he promises will bring healing. Her abdominal pain is such that she often talks of ending her life and just lying down to die.
Here’s how you could help – Both Linda and Alphosinah really need to be seen by a proper doctor. I know it’s hard for you reading this to understand, and I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t experienced it myself time after time, but there are almost no proper doctors in the government healthcare system here. In the public hospital, there truly might be ONE trained doctor in the entire hospital, and that’s usually only on Friday. ONE – for hundreds and hundreds of desperate, sick Swazi men, women, and children who spent all they had to get on a bus at 4 AM to get to the capital to line up and wait ALL DAY only to be told that the doctor has left, or that he doesn’t treat their ailment, or something else. Linda and Alphosinah have both been down this road dozens of times and have been given pain pills every time! I know that writing this blog is not going to change the system, but it truly could change the story for these 2 individuals. There are private, properly trained doctors living and working in Swaziland. It is costly to see them, but this is really what has to happen for these friends of mine. These doctors are connected with private hospitals where people can get better treatment. Therefore, my family and I are starting a healthcare fund to try and help as many rural Swazi people that God brings into our lives as we can. We’re going to start with Linda and Alphonsinah and we’ll trust that God will provide what is needed. If He sees fit to bless us with much, then we’ll help others (these are just 2 of the dozens of people we know who are desperate for healing). We believe that God can and does heal miraculously and we’re praying in faith for these friends to be healed through God’s power, but while we’re praying we’re working as well – that’s what this blog is all about. If these stories have touched your heart and you’d like to give, here’s how:
Go to your desk (or wherever you keep your checkbook) and make out a check to:
Adventures In Missions
In the Memo section write: BENSWAZI
Send to:
ATTN: Scott Borg
Please include in the envelope a small note referencing: “Medical Fund – Nsoko”
Thank you so much for your love for the Lord, for us, and for the Kingdom of God. Through your gift to this fund, you’re making a real difference for these 2 people. Just because they were born in the bushland of southern Africa doesn’t mean they are less deserving of health and healing than you or I. This is one of the great works the Lord is working out in our world today – connecting those who have been given much with those who have been given little. It is an honor, and truly humbling, to be one of those bridges for the Lord. May God give you more of His grace and peace today!
