Patient

Pronunciation: 'pA-sh&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English pacient, from Middle French, from Latin patient-, patiens, from present participle of pati to suffer; perhaps akin to Greek pEma suffering
1 : bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2 : manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3 : not hasty or impetuous
4 : steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
5 a : able or willing to bear

I've discovered something interesting and unfortunate about human nature. You see, the ER is a working environment that brings out the best and worst in people. I find that many of the people that I work with are either quite loving and compassionate with patients or very cynical with them. We deal with many people who are scared, tired and frustrated with what ever illness that they are dealing with. They want answers and a miracle cure, stat. Many times their expectations exceed our ability, causing a conflict of interest. Not only that, but we usually have a waiting room filled with the sick and wounded and no room in the inn. It is not uncommon for us to have more patients than we have patience for. ...So it should not be surprising to see staff become cynical and uncompassionate instead of caring and patient.
I'm not immune to this paradox. I've found myself resenting patients at times just for coming in. My prayer lately is that God would replace my hard heart with a piece of His own and give me a willingness and desire to serve my patients and coworkers in whatever capacity needed in spite of the hardships or frustrations I encounter.

djessee

Check out the link in the right column with the name djessee. Too cool!

Nganga

Here is more info on the healer that visited Mayos and the boy that he was unable to heal from a newsletter sent by the Conrods:

Thank you all for praying for the boy with TB and the situation with the traditional healer (Nganga) who was in town. The healer left a few weeks ago, and the people were convinced that he was not a “real” healer because he had no real power. We were excited to get that news, until our teammates bumped into this healer again a few days later working his “magic” in another village a few miles away. We asked our Baka neighbors why they didn’t tell their brothers in this other village to beware of this fellow, that he was just a con-artist. They said it wasn’t their responsibility, their brothers in the other town would figure it out soon enough. That mentality bothered us a bit because in the meantime, this other camp is being exploited of their money until they figure it out that this guy is a fraud. Anyhow, Membila, the boy with TB, is growing stronger and getting better. We are still giving him medicine and are praying that God would not only completely heal him, but show His power in Membila’s life.

This is a time for fervent prayer. Satan would love to see this boy die of TB and discredit the Gospel and invalidate the power of God. When I was in Cameroon, I saw so many people die after beginning to see them improve under modern medicine and prayer. Perhaps the mixture of interventions wasn’t quite right. Maybe we needed to add a little more prayer, love, and faith and not rely so heavily on the medicine. I am guilty of the same mistakes right now in my current occupation in the ER. I don’t love on people and pray for them as much as I should. Instead, I rely on our powerful medicines and amazing modern healing techniques. I have a lot to learn. Right now, I need to learn again how to pray.
Pray with me for Membila, for his health, and for those around him to see the Power of God in his life.

The Maribo Part 3

The Maribo (Part III)

Forgive me for dividing this story up into segments. My purpose was to include the details in short segments that were readable in a short period of time. If it has created an expectancy, that is, I assure you, only incidental :)

Maribo is the French word for 'divine healer'. The word that the Baka use is 'nganga', a word we have heard many times over the past couple of weeks. He has been a temporary resident of our area for that amount of time. For a few days he was in the vicinity of our houses. A time that coincided with an increase in sickness, not a decrease which one would expect a healer to accomplish.

But back to the ritual . . .

Most people seated around the fire had their foreheads painted with a tree bark concoction; a part of the ritual that was not offered to us. I was pleased, but prepared to decline had I been asked to participate.

As the young Baka man with Tuberculosis continued to follow the instructions of the nganga, other rituals were performed. One being that the healer rubbed his body all over the body of his subject.

We had made a decision as a family that our children shouldn't be at the ritual. We felt it our responsibility to guard their minds and hearts from this experience at this stage of their lives. They were safe at home with their mom. In contrast was the participation of the young people at the ritual. With their parents nearby, the young children played a crucial part of providing the mood for the evening ritual with their singing.

Late in the ritual, the music ceased and the nganga addressed the crowd. He lectured everyone and told them that the boy's father was responsible because he was not a good father. All of those present were invited to come by twos and stretch their hands over the fire. This served a dual purpose; to determine the guilt of anyone present and to provide strength for the participants. We were urged to join in, but once again explained that our strength comes from the One True God.

The ritual was complete and the boy was considered healed. The final requirement was that his parents return the next day with their saliva to offer to the nganga.

Today (2 weeks later) the boy is still very weak. He wasn't able to make the 2 mile walk from the encampment to his house. We pray that he is still faithfully taking his TB treatment (which lasts for 6 months) and not just relying on what the healer said.

That last statement reflects something of our own system of beliefs. Though we did have the opportunity to proclaim our solitary trust in Christ, sometimes we come across as trusting in the medicine for healing. The Baka trust in the spirits that their healer calls upon. We know that neither is completely correct. It is God that we all need to trust in to use whatever method he chooses. Please pray that God will show Himself in this situation as the Great Healer! And continue to pray with us that God will weaken the powers and spiritual forces that have such a tight control over these people.

The story is not over. The Baka "do not segment their lives into religion, economics, politics, and entertainment as we are so accustomed to do. Life is seen as one whole, with religion at the center. People hunt and gather for food, but they know that without the blessing of God, their efforts are futile." ('Incarnational Ministry': Heibert). They have no problem believing in God. They are willing to seek out the help of God, but see no distinction between the other spiritual and physical options at their disposal and God's power.

We are here at a crucial time in the lives of the Baka as the gospel message has begun to penetrate their society and lives. It is important that we present the gospel as a whole gospel. It must deal with salvation from sin, but also with illness, hunger, hostilities in the group, and with other problems of life.

Pray for us as we are constantly faced with choices that have the potential to communicate this whole gospel of Christ to the Baka people. Pray also for God's word to penetrate hearts that are longing for a lasting hope. Pray that they may know the Hope that is ours in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Maribo Part 2

It just occurred to me that I have not included the conclusion of the story about the traditional healer in the Baka camp. It is a bit long, but if you are interested in hearing more about what is going on in the lives of these precious people, read on, it's worth it. Here is part 2, part 3 to follow:

Part II
In our last update, I explained that a big decision was looming before us all- whether to accept an invitation to see a visiting maribo perform his healing 'treatment' ritual over a young neighbor boy with tuberculosis. After much prayer, we came to believe that the Baka would interpret our presence positively; as an evidence of our concern for the things happening in the lives of our friends here. We also decided that the men would make the trip to the camp alone, accompanying some of our neighbors.

The 3 kilometer walk from our homes to the camp provided a great chance to spend some pleasant and unhurried time with many of our neighbors. We stopped to sit and enjoy some honey under one of the shelters at the camp before moving on to the area where the maribo was to perform his 'healing' ritual. A few of those who had accompanied us were able to translate, and explained what was happening step by step. I prayed continually, asking that such rituals will soon be revealed to be just that and no more, and that this whole counterfeit spiritual system will one day be dissipated by the powerful reality of God's own Holy Spirit working among the Baka people.

For the ritual, we were all seated in a semi-circle around an elongated fire. Someone explained that this was no ordinary fire, as it holds a certain medicine. A couple of young men played the drums, and a wave of sound ebbed and waned from a chorus of young children also seated around the fire.

The maribo was dressed in shorts, with an animal skin around his head, which was supposed to help him 'see' the source of the sickness. He danced around the fire, joining in the song; and periodically stopping to stare into the fire- as though searching for something.

After an extended time of repeating this ritual, he invited the sick young man to join him at the fire. The young man was instructed to stretch his arms over the fire repeatedly, and then to bend backwards over the fire. This ritual also continued for some time before the young man was given a potion to drink, derived of forest medicines.

As neither of us felt any sense of fear, we were sure that God had answered our prayers. At the same time, I was acutely aware of the reality and the significance these rituals hold in the daily lives of the Baka people. As the ritual continued, I prayed to be open to the leading of the One True Spirit throughout the remainder of the evening.

Roses are Red

Well, not all of them. The roses in our little yard, the ones that are blooming, are white, salmon, and yellow. They make a beautiful arrangement and emit a rather delectable fragrance. My roses aren't any better than any others. In fact, they are quite meager, but it is fun to have things growing outside our back door. The impatiens are getting bigger and blooming beautifully, the sweet peas are recovering from a nearly fatal encounter with powdery mildew, and all but one of the tomato plants are growing out of control.
It's funny. When I was younger, I hated working in the yard. Perhaps that was because the task of pulling weeds never seemed to end (a really good reason to be thankful for round-up) or because it seemed to get so hot so quickly. But now it is so fun to go outside and fiddle around with the green things.
Thank you Lord for a reprise from all of the roads and noise and smog and stale indoor air. Thank you for making such a beautiful world filled with green foothills, tree covered mountains, salty seashores, and fragrant flowers.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day Mom!

I love you and miss you.

White Stuff

Does anyone know a cure for powdery mildew? I think that if I am unable to finally get it under control, it might just wipe out the entire plant population of our meager little patio, which has become one of my favorite diversions lately.