A day of hard stories, kind hearts, and shining faces
Today was full of highs and lows. Breakfast was the best we’ve had so far — panetoni and hot chocolate to start, followed by bacon, eggs, and papaya juice. Such a treat in the chilly morning air!
We set up the clinic in the area just below the church where we were sleeping. I even had a tent and a proper bed this time, with Ric set up right beside me. The day started quickly and never really slowed down.
It was incredibly busy — patient after patient. A few kind souls brought us gifts of potatoes as thanks. Most people came with back pain or gastritis, but what really stayed with me were their stories. One woman, 72 years old, lived completely alone. No children, her husband gone. Another had been beaten by her husband. Another feared her husband was unfaithful. And one woman came suffering from a prolapse, too embarrassed and unsure how to get help.
Each person carried so much quiet sorrow, and by mid-afternoon, I felt emotionally drained. We paused for lunch, then worked again until about 5:30.
Just when I thought the day was over, I was asked to see a woman in the church whose daughter was having seizures. The young girl had stopped speaking and seemed slow. They had never seen a doctor because they couldn’t afford one. We shared supper with them and tried to offer comfort and guidance as best we could.
Later that evening, more people arrived at the church for Bible teaching. The village doesn’t have a pastor, and it was moving to see how eager everyone was to learn. As the adults gathered for study, I offered to take care of the children — a decision that turned out to be the highlight of my day.
Their faces lit up when I asked if they wanted to make rainbow loom bracelets. Soon, more children arrived, and before I knew it, the room was full of giggles, bright colours, and tiny hands hard at work. After bracelets, we did diamond art and munched on pumpkin seeds together. We even gave them a few seeds and nuts to take home.
After cleanup, I crawled into bed completely exhausted but deeply grateful. The day had been heavy in many ways — full of stories that tugged at the heart — but it ended with laughter, crafts, and a reminder of why love in action matters so much.
Reflection
Some days on mission weigh heavy, not because of the work, but because of the brokenness you witness. Yet even amid pain, there’s beauty — kindness offered in potatoes, joy found in children’s laughter, hope stirring in a small church filled with people hungry for God’s Word. Today reminded me that healing isn’t just about medicine; sometimes it’s simply about being present.