I went to see her in the market at her store. I went at the hottest time of the day because I knew then that customers would not be present. Zeria and I sat on the bales of clothing, barefeet on cool concrete, sweat dripping from our foreheads and we began to ask her what was going on. She explained her lack of appetite and headaches. She had feared to go to the hospital because she is sure that she knows what is really going on. She is more than likely going to be one of the millions that are plagued with this virus that has no cure and is killing hundreds of thousands young and old. The previous afternoon, Zeria had spent a great amount of time with her encouraging her to go to the hospital. So knowing that Zeria had encouraged her to go, we asked the question that we were desiring to know. "Did you go to the hospital?" The silence hung for a second and then she reached over to the plywood counter and grasped a flimsy brown notebook that held her medical records from the hospital and she answered, "yes". We breathed a shy of relief. She then explained that they wanted to test for HIV, malaria, and other things. The appointment for more tests was in 30 minutes.
Thirty minutes later, we climbed into the truck and drove to the hospital. She walked in with hesitation, unlike, her normal demeanor. My heart was broken for my precious friend, C, as her life may begin to be drastically different now living with this disease. I was thankful for the opportunity to minister to patients in the villages to better understand the disease and the side effects of the medicines. Each of those lives flashed before my eyes and I could see C with them now. I looked at Zeria and we drove away. The conversation that occurred on the drive back home was a blessing from the Lord. Zeria said,
"Amai Joy, C knows that she is "sick" and she wants to run to Lusaka for 2 weeks then to Chipata for 2 weeks. But she can't run because that sickness is in her body and she can't run from herself. She has to accept what is happening to her and learn to live with this disease. You have taught me how to encourage and love patients. When we went to the villages I saw how you sat and talked with them just about life and asked them if they were taking their medicines and then shared Scripture with them. That is what I need to do for C. I know that she thinks that her life is coming to an end, but its not. I have seen all of those patients in the villages that are living a good life although they are sick. She can too, I just have to stay close with her to encourage her. Amai Joy, I am going to go to her house once a week to sit with her to laugh with her and encourage her. I have learned what to do now."
I looked at her and nodded and said, "you are so right, Zeria. You have learned so much and you can always take that with you because you have learned how to share God's love and minister to those outside of the church. That is what it means to be a child of God. Always being prepared and ready to love those in need and to encourage them!"
We arrived at her home, she closed the door and we said our goodbyes. I drove home. My heart was full, overflowing. How good is our God that He has allowed me to continue to minister and love my sister and neighbor right up until the last week we were here in Nyimba? The magnitude of the blessing of seeing the fruit of our labor is an added blessing! All along, I thought that I was taking Zeria with me to the village to help me, but in reality, she was learning and grasping how to apply God's Word to life. Praise the Lord...GREAT things HE has done!
"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our hearts before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things." 1 John 3:18-20
1 comment:
Oh, so awesome when God blesses us with getting to "see" fruit! thanks for sharing that blessing! (Zeria looks just the same....so beautiful!)
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