What Is Going On?

Our day began at 3 a.m. with a phone call from Charles. He informed Kendall that his neighbor had come down with cerebral malaria and was in desperate need of transport. He told Kendall that if they transported her on a bicycle it could be deadly. Kendall and I talked it over and he felt it necessary to help this lady. Kendall took her to the hospital and we both prayed for this lady that neither one of us knew. Charles told Kendall that when he saw here at 7 p.m. she was cooking in her yard, talking with her husband and perfectly fine. At 11 p.m. she had a very high fever and was unable to move her neck and was in a great amount of pain, thus the beginning of cerebral malaria.

At 7 a.m., Zeria informs us that our night guard, Rabson (in picture above), was admitted to the hospital with cerebral malaria. He had an incredibly high fever and was fitting. When he was admitted, the doctors and nurses said that he probably would not make it through the night. When we got word this morning, we knew that we needed to go. Kendall called Rabson and he was so weak all he could tell Kendall was cerebral malaria. Nyimba Central Baptist went to see Rabson at the hospital today and when they were there, Rabson did not recognize any of them and could not speak. (A result of waiting too long for treatment of this strain of malaria is brain damage.) Kendall and I went to the hospital during afternoon visitation and we were preparing our hearts for the worst. My heart was sick and so sad for his wife, little 2-year-old boy, Love, and 3 week old little girl, Alice, and his mother (who lost her husband 2 months ago). As Kendall and I entered the hospital room, we walked to Rabson and Kendall began to ask him if he knew us or recognized us. He nodded his head, but his gaze was so far away it was sad and disturbing. We laid hands on him and prayed over him and then talked with his mother. Before we left we asked Rabson if we could pray with him again, just then his wife brought him some porridge to drink and he was able to sit up in his own strength. We were so happy that he could do that! Kendall said, "Tipemphere" (Let's pray) and he bowed his head. Seeing Rabson respond to our words was so uplifting. We knew that prayer was working. Many of our friends in the States were praying and are praying. Please continue to lift Rabson up to the Father. Pray for Kendall and I as well, this is the fourth person that we KNOW that has been diagnosed with cerebral malaria in the past 4 days. All of these people live in the village right next to us. Pray for God's protection over our family and the quick healing of our children as they are all sick right now.
Kendall and I know that God is in control, but it is hard for us not to ask, "God, what in the world is going on? This is insane!! How many more people that we know are going to get sick? Please Lord, give us wisdom and opportunities to share Your love and salvation with them."