Heavy Hearts

Kaitlin Plachy summarizes the group morale after receiving some hard news yesterday. It seems crazy to think that for some of the people here, yesterday might be considered a “normal” day. That doesn’t negate the sadness by any means. It just shows how far removed we usually are from the reality of life and death, raw humanity. We read 150 different prayers, poems, and songs in the book of Psalms, all addressed to a God who is present in praise and lament, joy and sorrow. To Him we also pray.

heavy hearts

Today has probably been the hardest day we’ve experienced yet here in Africa. One of the toddlers in Haven 3 died this morning. He was a healthy miracle little boy who’s almost died so many times. He was so full of life and was the little one that everyone knew. We don’t understand, but we hurt.

Yesterday, one of the aunties told me, “Adam is sick. He has malaria.” I asked Meagan about it and she said that he tested negative, but they were treating him anyway. He had a seizure yesterday morning from his high fever. Last night, he seized again and our incredible medical team rushed up there to offer help. They found that he had a terrible ear infection and were relieved that the source of the fever was something so treatable. This morning, however, he started seizing again. They took him to the hospital in Zimba and he died shortly after. Ba Janice thinks it was cerebral malaria. We’re all shocked. I kissed Adam’s head yesterday when I heard he was sick. I had no clue how serious it was.

We learned about malaria today in Health Care Missions and the way it attacks the red blood cells. I’m learning that you really gain a new appreciation for the things you’re learning when little ones you love are suffering with the very life-threatening things you’re reading about in a book.

So our hearts are heavy. We’re not quite sure what to do. But we’re clinging to each other and Scripture. We praise Him always and know that He’s forever good. Aumbi has had four good days in a row (the incredible one year old that weighs six lbs and can’t hold up her head). Sometimes it’s scary to think how attached we’re allowing ourselves to get. But we trust God and we love with abandon because He IS love.

“Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.” Psalm 41: 1

He’s the God of the weak. He’s the God of the sick. He’s God here in Zambia and throughout the whole earth