December 16th

For my reading today I finished up Job, reading verses 38-42. I only
mention this because it seems particularly applicable this morning.
I forgot to tell you last night about going to the pediatric ward last
night. A small girl came into the hospital last night with severe
malaria, barely responsive and in great respiratory distress. I
helped Solomon last night while he treated her (not greatly but
what little I could do I did). She was so little, I can’t think much
more than 1 if that. This morning I was thinking about her so I
went down to check and see how she was doing, sadly she did not
make it through the night. Peter (who does rounds on the
pediatric ward in the morning) said that they had done everything
that they should and could do but it was too little too late. It’s
always very sad when someone young dies, but a girl that young is
so sad. It could be easy to question God and wonder why He
would let someone so young die, but as He says in Job, we can’t
possibly understand His ways. It’s hard to accept at times but He is
so far beyond us that we just can’t grasp His purpose. This hospital
is the last stop for all manner of critical patients, most of the
people here don’t (or can’t afford to come) until they are really
sick and many times it’s too late. Please pray for the patients and
pray for the staff, they all need it very much. This afternoon
Solomon took me on his/Samuel’s but really the hospital’s Honda
to go visit Kagboray, a village where some of his family lives. BS
(Brimah Samura), the hospital administrator, owns a rather large
garden where he grows mostly palm oil but also some other
things, guava, banana, pineapple and a few other things. It was fun
getting to see the place but I forgot to take my camera. I told
Solomon that he’ll just have to take me again some time. We came
back and I did dinner for Abdul, Abu and I. At around 8:30 Solomon
came over and we watched a film. Now it’s time for some sleep,
good night all.

Blessings from Kamakwie,
Ryan Brooks