Today, I sit and write the remainder of this part of the story. I have had some time to process and reflect on what actually happened during the team visit to Arthur Davidson Children's Hospital (ADH).
We started our ministry on the malnutrition ward, which amazingly was only ¼ full. Frequently when teams visit, the ward will have 75 – 150 children in various stages of malnutrition recovery. Today, there were only 36 children. Something to be thankful for??? So the team began to go room by room handing out small readers, workbooks, toy cars and of course... sweet suckers! Many team members stopped to speak with the family member caring for the child and pray with them. Now... you need to understand that this hospital is certainly not like those back in western canada! Food is not provided for the child let alone the family members, there is often two or more per crib and the conditions are less that desirable for “wellness” and healing. Overall the team moved through the ward, feeling calm and moved by the gratefulness of the children and families for their small token of kindness.
We were then able to go through a number of other wards, spreading a little kindness to many other children with the supplies we had left over. We ministered to children and families on the surgical ward, the intensive care unit, the outpatient ward and in the general hallways! Many people stopped the “muzungus” to see what treats they had to offer in their bags. The surgical ward was an area that caused a number of teams members to ask the question... “what is that”... There were many patients that has various degrees of horrific burns to different parts of their body as well as others who were receiving some form of orthopedic treatment from accidents, congenital conditions or from being beaten up... yes, children, beaten... by other children, by parents, by uncles etc... I could not resist taken a picture of the traction device that I saw.... two rocks from the grounds outside used to stabilize an ankle with his leg was in traction after being broken in a pedestrian accident... Check this one out!!

Now for those of you who know me well... babies are my passion! So I asked if we could go to the “nursery” and preemie ward. There they care for all sick babies, whether they are term, small for gestation or preterm. It was hard to differentiate when you saw them as the care seems to be so very basic for them all. The hardest and most interesting moment was when I looked into one room and observed three babies on one overhead warmer. Two were very small and feisty, one was ashen in color, term size but lifeless. I then saw three nurses start to aggressively handle the baby, try to stimulate it, draw the large oxygen tank towards the warmer and slap on the chest with their hands in a form of chest compressions. Of course, I was desperate to grab a bag and mask and start on my NRP train! They informed me that the baby was about 8 hours old and had not really been breathing for awhile now! They were correct.. I watched and prayed for this little one for 3 minutes while it remained breathless and lifeless. Suddenly they started to give some form of high flow oxygen by a tube and connector into one nostril while holding the jaw, closing the mouth and other nostril. CPAP??? They continued to randomly slap the small chest. Much to my dismay and perhaps horror, the baby started to breathe... struggling, indrawing, gasping but breathing. At this point, I left the room, to pray that this child would not survive, as in the event that it “pulled” through, the damage would be significant. I do not know what the end result of this little life is... but I trust in a God who controls and knows all things. In His hand, I committed this life. This picture shows the three babies. The one at the far back is the one I have written about.

At the end of our visit, the team was able to bless the hospital with medical supplies and food for the families there. We met with the hospital executive director who was humbled and grateful for our generosity. Many of the supplies were collected and donated from myself and another team member. The simplest of support goes along way in hope and faith. The food was generously and lovingly processed, packaged and donated by the Fraser Valley Gleaners. Scott has been working with them through his Bible classes and they were more than willing to ship many boxes of dried soup mix and apple chips for the team ministry. Bless those who bless others!!

Reflections:
Now after giving you the details, I cannot help but stop and reflect deeply on what this means for me, my family, the ministry of SOH and for us all!
My first thought is that I desire to have my heart and my family's hearts broken for the things that break the heart of God. A children's hospital visit is an intentional situation to see for ourselves heartbreaking need. But what is our capacity to respond to these overwhelming needs?
God is God. He is dependent on no other to complete himself or His work. What is His purpose in inviting us to participate? I believe that He invites us to show love for Him by loving those He loves, that teaching us about small things, simplicity, pure truth, hope and faith, allows God's transformation in our own souls. He desires us to serve to buffer us from our own self centeredness... service is for our benefit... the world only needs one Saviour!!
Life is fragile... no matter where in the world we are. We are also not in control at any time -a concept that I continually forget. If life was stable... I wouldn't need God's help. Brokenness is God's gift to me. It is a place where I will discover who I really am. It is a fire inside that burns with passion, a call to rise – to defend the weak, the broken, to fight injustice, to hold the wounded, to pray for the suffering..
What breaks your heart? Consider your deepest place of suffering. What have you learned there that you value?
Blessings,
the Visser tribe of five

Unfortunately some of the pictures did not load on the blog... if you would prefer to receive email updates.. send me an email with your address at visser5@shaw.ca