Visiting Cure

1.8f/35mm fixed lens...$200

photo processing...$2.60

watching the faces of these mothers see a picture of themselves and their babies for the first time... priceless

Today, the girls, Tessa, and I went to CURE hospital to visit with the mommas and babies there.  We encouraged and prayed with all of the ladies we visited with.  I also took my camera and took pictures of them, got them developed and brought the photographs back.  I really should have taken my camera the second time!  They squealed with joy.(I don't think they had a clue as to what I was doing when I took the picture to begin with :)  Most of them had never seen a picture of themselves, let alone have pictures of their babies!  What a joy to bless them like this! 

This lady is from Gulu, Northern Uganda.  The adjectives that came to mind as I sat with her and held her baby and took her pictures are strong and wounded.  A difficult combination to use in the same sentence...the same person.  Her baby has hydrocephalus.  Many blame the spirits, many think she is crazy for not killing her baby.  This morning, she learned of the Holy Spirit...the God of life...the God who wants glory from her and through her child...the God who is strong and was wounded for her transgression...the God who praises her for giving her child life.

I know she looks hard in this picture, but imagine her laughing and gasping with joy...that's when I should have had my camera...that's what I witnessed when I went back with these pictures. ;)

Here is her baby...

This woman knew English pretty well.  This is her fourth child.

Imagine having a child with Spina Bifida...in a culture who views you and your child as cursed and worthy of death.  Imagine making a long journey to a place where you hope to get help.  Imagine once you get there, no one on the staff knows your language...no one can explain to you what is happening day to day, no one can give you the comfort you crave...you need.

That is the case with this young mother.  Pray for her.  Pray that God will raise someone who will be able to come communicate with her.  Pray that she will learn of Jesus and learn to hope in Him.  She is so sad right now...one doesn't need words to communicate that.

Her baby was precious and happy, though!  Completely oblivious to the chaos in his/her little life. :)

Another precious mother

 and her baby...

 This little one has a difficult brain tumor.  I happen to catch this picture when she wasn't crying, but most of the time we were there, she was in a lot of pain.  It was so hard to watch. 

At one point, I questioned if I should be letting my girls see such raw pain...such heart ache...

Yes...

They must know how broken the world is...

They must see that this world needs a Saviour...

That there has to be more to life than this...

That there is hope to be found in Christ...

I want their hearts broken...

And healed by Christ's work...

I want their hands to feel what it is like to love...

To be the hands of Christ...

Even when there are no words...

I do not regret bringing them to Uganda...or to hold the hands of these little ones...to God be the glory!