Pediatric Hospital

When we first arrived at the hospital it seemed more like a community area rather then an organized health provider (hospital). There were people walking up and down the street, some not being taken care of, others just sitting on the sidewalks. There were specific locations for people who were sick with tuberculosis, which consisted of a tented area, where as back home a patient with tuberculosis would be in a specific isolated room. Our focus of the day was to be with the pediatrics hospital and provide a lunch to the children as well as diapers. It is up to the parents of the children to provide all the supplies that their child may need while in the hospital, the only thing provided to a family is the bed.
The pediatric hospital looked like stables with cribs lining the outer walls, there were no walls to divide a family from another sick family, there was a table near the entrance where the doctors and nurses did the paperwork, and the temperature was hotter inside than it was outside. Medication and supplies were stored on the wooden shelf right above the child's crib. The environment was sad but smiles and "merci" (thank you's) were still heard.
We had the opportunity to talk to a few of the parents and find out what the hospital stay was like, how long they had been there, what was wrong with their child, and say a prayer over their child and family as well. One of the parents we talked to has a two year old son named Jackson who has been in the hospital for fourteen days, he had a bellyache and the mother explained that she did not have the money to provide the medication needed for her child so they were going to stay until they could provide the necessary treatment. Next to Jackson's crib, there was a baby that had been dropped off by his parents, which means no treatment was going to be provided unless another family or ministry would provide the money needed for supplies. Jackson's mother was a blessing to the other child because she knew the history of the child and continued to watch over the child as if it was one of her own.
The power of prayer was very well accepted and handled among the parents and families within the hospital. Not only were we able to pray with the family about the healing of their children but they allowed for us to hold their hands and make a circle of prayer.
Overall the experience was humbling as well as shocking. We were able to experience the love of God and spread his joy and hope to families at a time where they may have none at all. We are happy to have this experience and share the love of God and his word throughout the community.
We love and miss our families at home,
Brittany Phelps, Gwen Miller, Jaclyn Anderson