Taste and See

Thanksgiving is a time to worship Jesus and reflect on His provision. And on this American holiday week, and consequently my last full day in Doro, I can think of no better time to thank God for the joy of life in Him. I have never experienced His love and provision like I have today!

This was my last call-day at the Doro PHCC. Nurse Sheila and I worked with the CHWs and saw approximately forty patients by lunch time. Just as I was sitting down to eat lunch at the SIM compound, I was called to the clinic to help with multiple emergencies. A boy fell from a tree and needed sutures for a badly lacerated arm. Two others had difficult diagnoses. And then there was the mother brought in by the traditional birth attendant with complications. I assessed the mom and determined that the baby was too high for the length of time that she was contracting and seemed improperly positioned. I called Dr Mike to assess. He determined that baby was face-presenting, which is undeliverable.

Praise God, a pilot and his family are stationed here in Doro for a few weeks. Dr Mike and I accompanied the laboring mom on a flight to the Samaritan's Purse hospital in Kirmuk. The flight was about a half-hour in duration and quite turbulent in the mid-afternoon heat. The young mom gripped my hand the entire flight. She sang softly in Mabaan about the pain to ease her anxiety and waited stoically through each unprofitable contraction. I can only imagine how frightened she must have been; she was in pain for several days while trying to deliver her eighth baby, and now she found herself in a unfamiliar vehicle lurching in the air.

Upon arrival at the Samaritan's Purse hospital, the patient was immediately prepped for c-section. The surgeon agreed to allow me and Dr Mike observe the operation. The mother sat patiently through epidural placement and showed no emotion during the surgery. A few minutes later, a new life was pulled from his mother. His face was swollen and he needed some forceful encouragement to breathe, but the baby's 5-minute APGAR was good.

How exciting to witness new life because of God's provision! If the plane had not been available, the mother would have had to travel to the closest surgical hospital: 6 hours by car! The baby was already having difficulty; how wonderful to see how God cares and provides for His people!

Friends and family from the mother's village crowded at the Doro airstrip and awaited news about the delivery. What a joy to share the outcome and praise Jesus for the safe arrival of a new life!

"The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed in the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:7-8

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34+&version=NKJV&src=embed