Miles In Missions

Recently one of our C.A.R.E. Africa caretakers, Gift, had a baby. She called me when she arrived at the hospital. Within 15 minutes she called again to tell me that she had the baby. I rushed down to the hospital and there she was sitting up in a chair with the baby next to her already dressed in some clothes. In a total of 30 minutes, she had a baby naturally. The baby was dressed, she was out of labor and delivery, in the ward at her bed, sitting in a chair making phone calls, and all ready to go home.

I was in complete shock and awe because when I had my two children, both of my labors lasted over a day. I had an epidural so I could handle the pain and I pushed for hours. My recovery was another day with pain pills and ibuprofen brought to me every so many hours, food delivered to me three times a day, the baby taken so I could rest, air conditioned room, and a comfy remote controlled bed. I am so weak!

When it was time for Gift to go home there was some confusion on her bill and I had to go down to the hospital during dinnertime to make sure she could go home. I immediately was inconvenienced as I was trying to enjoy dinner with my family. Then as I am trying to get out the door my seamstress stops by to drop a new outfit and a Chief from the town drives up to give me paperwork on a school that C.A.R.E. Africa is about to lease. Uggghhh……. I finally got to the hospital, flustered of course, and see Gift. She has her new daughter on the breast and 3 large bags all ready to go. I looked at everything and said, “Gift, how are you planning on getting home?” She looked at me like I was stupid and said “Okada” (the motorcycle taxi that everyone uses to get around). Really!!!! How was she going to get this new born baby and three large bags down to the road, hail an Okada and then get on the motorcycle with all this stuff and the baby.

I of course didn’t let her do this and got a car to take her home. I have no doubt Gift would have managed without me just fine. Nigerian women are so strong in dealing with what they endure on a daily basis just by living life. Not to mention what the deal with in this male dominated culture and poverty stricken environment amazes me. They are so strong and I am so weak.

Ngozi, Our C.A.R.E. baby seeing her new baby sister for the first time.

I looked at my self and thought about how I stomped down to the hospital perturbed my dinner was interrupted and that my seamstress and the Chief delayed me. I think about how I constantly worry I am too fat, how I complain about my kids messes and what they leave laying around or how I am so hot in this harmattan season that I can barely function every day. It amazes me that after living in Africa for 3.5 years I am still so weak. I think I already knew this but today God is showing me that I am always going to be weak. He is the only one that can make me strong and I have to find satisfaction in him and not in my surroundings. Pray for me as I continue to find strength and satisfaction in my Father in heaven.