Books for Bere

“Miki, when you leave, give me this book.”

            Somewhat surprised by the demand, I glance at John. “I’m sorry,” I say, “but this book isn’t mine. It belongs to Danae. She is just letting me borrow it.”

            “Oh, ok.” John looks a little abashed.

            I wish I could give him the book. It’s a French Bible Story book that I’ve been reading at nights to practice my French skills with. I never dreamed that the kids would want to have it for themselves. I guess it’s because I haven’t seen many books around, and just assumed that they would have them if they wanted to read.

            But of course, that’s not the case. They don’t have the money to buy books. As I head to bed I start remembering their reactions whenever there are any books or magazines around. That book, regardless of the language it is written in, will make its way through the hands of every single member of the family during the next few days including three-year old Batama, and eight-year old Laba who doesn’t attend school. These kids are hungry for books, they are eager to learn.

            As I lay in bed, I can’t help but think of the way books have impacted my own life. Growing up I read mission stories. People like Mary Slessor and George Mueller inspired me to place my life in God’s hands and let Him use me where He wills. More recently the book African Rice Heart by Emily Wilkens, played a huge role in my decision to come to Chad, Africa as a student missionary. I can’t deny that the books I have read have influenced and shaped my dreams and goals.

            I remember helping one of my cousins who was struggling with learning to read. She kept asking me why she even needed to read, she didn’t think it was important. I told her over and over again, “Lydia, if you can only learn to read, you can teach yourself anything else you could ever want to learn.” I still believe that this is true, but here in Chad the challenge is finding those books to read.

            It is because of my belief that books are vital to understanding the world around us that I have decided to open a library at the Adventist school here in Bere. It is my hope that by giving the children access to books they will begin to dream and educate themselves and grow up willing to fight for their dreams, whatever they may be. Perhaps they will find in the books an example of what it means to go against the grain to make their world a better place. Perhaps they will be inspired to put effort towards changing their circumstances.

            But I need help. There is already a shipping container on the school grounds which I have received permission to convert into a library. But it needs windows, bookshelves, paint, and, of course, books. Several of the other missionaries have already informed me of the near impossibility of finding any books that are in French in the States. So, if you are in America and reading this, I would also appreciate it if you prayerfully consider making donations of money to help make the required alterations to the container. If you have connections with people who have access to books in French, please share this blog with them.

            And above all, please pray. I am excited about this project and I have already seen God’s hand working in it. But there is still much to be done and I would appreciate it if you would remember our project in your daily prayers. Share it with your friends and family, I know God will hear us.

            If you have any questions please contact me at Mikayla.Baird@wallawalla.edu. Thanks so much! God bless!

Heaven

I think heaven will look like Lisa Frank art.

            Maybe some people will think a comparison like that cheapens heaven’s value or sacredness. But I don’t.

            I spent some time today coloring with patients in peds. The book we were using had one of the Lisa Frank trademark pictures on the front: A mother horse and her baby nuzzling each other affectionately. But they both had purple manes. And the baby was white with a spattering of rainbow colored spots across her back.

            I know, you’re probably thinking, “How did you get from multicolored mares to heaven Miki? It seems like a far jump to me.”

Maybe I should explain a little. A baby, about one year old, came to the nutrition center last week. He weighed in at the -3^rd standard deviation for malnutrition. In other words, he was extremely malnourished. He was sent to the hospital where he received full rounds of medication for several different ailments and then sent back down to the nutrition center today to receive the enriched milk formula they give out. He got there right before I left, so I only saw him for a few minutes. His body was so emaciated he literally had no padding on his backside. Where plump baby buns are supposed to be, he had nothing but saggy skin. The expression on his face told the world that he didn’t care about anything anymore. I found out this evening that he died before he left the nutrition center. I wasn’t too surprised.

            So today, when I looked at Lisa Frank’s rainbow colored horses, maybe I was just ready to find something unrealistic to cling to. Maybe the horses in heaven won’t actually have rainbow colored spots or purple manes, but I bet they’re a lot more amazing than what we imagine them being. Maybe, with our new and improved eyesight in heaven, we’ll actually see that horses are more colors than just brown, black, white, and palamino. (If you’re a horse fanatic, please forgive me for not being specific on the different names…) Maybe we’ll discover that so many of the things we think are realistic on Earth simply aren’t realistic at all. Things like loneliness, pain, tears, and depression. And here in Tchad there seem to be even more things that are simply facts of life. Children starving, babies dying, women being beaten by their husbands, corruption in government: these are all tolerated here as completely ordinary.

            I believe that heaven will be anything but ordinary by human standards. I believe that everything will be far better, brighter and more colorful than anything we have ever witnessed before on this earth. I believe that it will be completely unrealistic, but in being so it will be the most real and amazing thing we could ever hope to imagine.

            I believe that heaven will look like Lisa Frank art. 

I wasn't going to post anything for awhile....but I just got really excited tonight. So you get an extra post. :) 

Almost exactly one month ago I took a picture of Hortence, a little girl who is receiving treatment in the hospital for the cancerous tumors in her cheek and stomach.

            Today I went back over to the hospital to take some more pictures. I had noticed a while ago that Hortence’s cheek was far less swollen than it had been, but it wasn’t until I looked at the two pictures side by side that I realized how dramatic the transformation has been. 

            The tumor in her stomach is being a bit more stubborn than the one in her cheek, but I’m glad to see God performing miracles. This one was aided by medicine, but it’s still so cool to see it happen. I’m so thankful for a Great Physician who gives us the wisdom to find ways of helping to alleviate the suffering of those around us. It’s a beautiful privilege. 

Rounds

I follow Dr. Blande on rounds today. Well, he is actually almost done when I show up…but I am with him for a few patients. The first patient is a man who had broken his leg in two places a year and a half ago. They had put metal rods in, but it got infected and they recently had to reopen the upper wound so they could pack it and get rid of the infection. As I watch Dr. Blande repack the wound I get sick to my stomach. It’s not because of the wound though, it is the pain etched on the man's face during the whole procedure. The next patient is a lady who looks completely out of it. Her eyes are unfocused, her breathing rapid. She looks like every moment could be her last. She has two abscesses on the left side of her face. Dr. Blande squeezes them and grayish white liquid comes pouring out. I start to feel like I'm going to lose my breakfast. I look away. Surely he will be done soon. But no, with every squeeze more pus appears. I don't understand how so much pus fits inside someone's face. I swear it takes five minutes until his squeezing produces no more results. He sighs as he looks at her, "I don't know what else to do for her. She's already on quinine and doxy. She's not eating or drinking well. She's probably going to die soon." I still feel sick. I don't know, maybe it's just a matter of getting used to everything still. Sigh.

There's a lady in the exam room

Laughing, eyes sparkling

Her tummy round with child.

She's bearing new life.

There's a lady in maternity.

Trying, mind determined.

Her preemie gets breast milk.

She's caring for new life.

There's a lady in the TB ward

Resting, always tired.

Her preemie doesn't get care.

She's neglecting new life.

There's a lady in bed 15

Panting, ribcage heaving

Eyes roll around in her head.

She's fighting for her life. 

Perfect English

A few days ago I was working in the hospital when I heard Danae calling me. “Yes?” I answered.

“This guy, Zacharia, wants to learn English. He’s been over to my house twice asking for someone to practice English with him. Would you be willing to do it with him sometimes?”

“Ummm…sure.” I answered a little bit hesitantly. You see of everything I could have done as a Student Missionary, I purposefully avoided anything that involved teaching English. I was NOT interested. Ever since I arrived here though, everyone seems to think that I would be of the most use here if I were willing to teach English. It’s like they all agreed on pestering Miki to teach English.

On Friday Charis and I went to choir practice. And guess who our choir director is? Zacharia! After practice ended he came up to us to ask us again if we would be willing to teach him English. This was when I realized, I have no idea what I would actually be teaching him. His English is EXCELLENT! Charis was wondering this as well, we were standing there, listening to him talk, and she asked him, “But what are we supposed to teach you? You already know so much!”

He replied, “But it’s not good enough. I want to practice speaking with you so that I can be even better.”

I was quite amazed. He wasn’t content with just good enough. He wasn’t content with excellent. He wants PERFECTION.

Now I know that many times in my life I have looked at what I am doing and then looked around me and thought, “I’m not so bad at this whole Christianity thing. Compared to everyone else I am an excellent Christian.”

But in being content with simply excellent am I shortchanging myself? Maybe I should be striving for perfection like Zacharia in his pursuit of English. Shouldn’t I be using my energy to achieve perfect obedience to the will of God? Even if that obedience includes tutoring people in their English or looking like a religious freak to the people around me?

After everything is said and done, isn’t the most important thing to have been perfectly obedient to God anyway? After all we’re only here on this earth for a tiny blip of time. I believe that there are far, far greater things ahead then anything we’ll leave behind. It’s not easy to be obedient, but I don’t think it has to be. In the end it will be worth it.