Sundays are a special day for those patients still onboard, and as we have a few long-termers at this point, they've probably had the pleasure of attending a few times.
Imagine with me if you will, the patients from five wards cramed into one. Two rows of beds, maybe 6 beds in each row facing each other. Between them, 4-5 chairs all facing forward, so the empty beds become long benches as well. And they pack in, patients, caregivers, the little children, nurses, and an odd IV hanging from the ceiling. There's only space for about 10-20 other crew members to sign up for space. Then the music starts and the sermon translated from English to Krio.
I loved the welcome, "We do not care if anybody is Christian or Muslim, we were all made by God and we are here to thank Him"... translated "we no go for put anybody in a corner, but we all made by papa God and we come to tenki." To which everybody, including muslims there as patients, said an Amen!
After a few lines i just couldn't sing anymore because you look down and see the children who've been burned the worst singing the loudest, "Tell papa God Tenki!" or "Tell Papa God thank you!". Just a-dancing... "clap your hands for Jesus, clap your hands for Jesus" and "Stomp your feet for Jesus, stomp your feet for Jesus" and my favorite "Shake your body for Jesus, Shake your body for Jesus" and the whole congregation just wiggles. Hysterical!!!!
The kids use the ward service as a general hug handout, going from one set of arms to the next willing set, crew being readily willing to cuddle these cute kids - heads with bandages rolled around them, another hopping about on one leg.
At the end of the service (a beautifully presented simple talk through the five color book) one of the patients who was leaving that day stood up, and with tears in her eyes thanked those who had cared for her, just crying, and sang us a song on the spot "Oh happy day" getting to leave after her mastectomy and a diagnosis of cancer that had been a death sentence on her life, reversed!
4 comments:
Lycia, I love that you got to experience that! Isn't God good? We had a wonderful time of worship at New City yesterday too. But we missed you and your mom and dad.
Love you,
Robbie
wwwwooooooooooooooooowwwwwwww this brought tears to my eyes....
....but i do expect a full exhibition of the Tenki wiggle dance when you get back. :)
- Angela
I ditto Angela's comment...I wanna see the Tenki wiggle dance! I am crying with joy. Thank God for giving us worship, joyful with hugs and tears! May we all feel such deep gratitude for who He is. I thank God for how He is loving on you by all of these folks.
Have a super day, Sister!
Karita
Lycia,
Thank you for sharing your heart. Until you experience what you are experiencing, there is not a personal reference point to the poverty in the world.
I am praying for you each day. School has begun for us, so I am not on-line like I was during the summer. But I still remember you daily.
Leslie
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