April 8, 2013
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| Nyankunde Mountain |
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| On top of Nyankunde mountain looking down at the village |
“May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on
the hilltops. May the fruit trees
flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a
field. May the king’s name endure
forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines.” Psalm 72:16
It is planting season here at Nyankunde. I have been marveling at the hillsides and
how much of the land on the hillsides has been cultivated this year. Compared to last year I would say that much
more of the land is being farmed. I
believe this is a sign of community development and prosperity. I also think it is a sign that this is a sign
of security, of people feeling that this is their home once again. After the many lives that were lost here in
such a tragic way, it is a beautiful thing to see. New life has come to Nyankunde.
In the evening it is a common scene to see people climbing
the hillsides to their fields with sickle in hand to work/harvest grain in the
fields. You can’t help but see the
dependence of people on the land “May
there be abundant grain throughout the land.” Every time it rains I feel thankful. We have a medium-sized vegetable garden and a
large plot of beans/peanuts, so I only experience “dependence” on the land in a
small way. We are certainly not eating
only what we grow, unlike many of the people here.
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| Planting rows |
Re-feeding a child
I think Congolese people understand many things as it relates to the soil and agriculture. I have started to use the analogy
of a seed growing up to be a small seedling to a child’s progress in the
feeding program. Progress is slow and
lots of work in the beginning. The kids
refuse food over and over. They have no
appetite, no energy whatsoever. All they
do is sleep and eat, eat then sleep. It
seems like nothing is happening. The
beginning of re-feeding is like placing a seed in the ground and then waiting
over it…is there enough sun? Are the
conditions right, enough fertilizer, enough rain? This is when parent’s get discouraged and it
is really important that they understand this process and to get support of the
extended families (especially the fathers).
We don’t focus very much on weight, rather on behavior and frequent
feedings. So the child refuses again….not
to worry. Try hard not to show frustration…offer
the same thing again in a hour.
Then parents start to notice small changes such as the child
asking for food, or waking up to eat.
They
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| A recent graduate of the nutrition program |
The last thing we notice is a child’s activity picks
up. He curiously explores his
environment again and maybe starts standing and walking again (or for the first
time). This is the flowering/fruit
stage.
Some children progress through these stages rapidly, but for
many it takes literally weeks. Some
succumb to infection and complications of their energy deficits, but most
succeed. I would say it is the most
rewarding thing I get to witness.
Generally parents are thankful for the time to recover in the hospital.
I have one little 12year-old boy with cerebral palsy who
came in to the hospital completely emaciated with signs of both protein and
calorie malnutrition. He weighed 8kg,
what you would expect a 1year-old to weigh.
During the initial few weeks he slept a lot and lost his edema (a normal
process), decreasing his weight to 6kg (his real weight). Now he is on the rebound and is approaching
8kg once again. We have placed a g-tube
and are using this for therapeutic milk and protein-rich porridge, while he
takes many of his calories by mouth. A
20% increase in body mass is substantial over a period of 6weeks! He remains very developmentally delayed and
non-verbal, but he is genuinely happy and smiles most of the time. Will his life ever be truly normal? No, but he is greatly loved by his family and
gives them much encouragement. This is
often the case with children who have special needs. Perhaps some day we will have him up in a wheelchair
and able to explore his world. It is a blessing
to be part of his recovery.
Who are the Poor and Needy?
As Warren and I were reading through Scripture and praying
last week, I started to weep over the passage in Psalm 72. Warren just stared at me as my voice
cracked. Maybe it’s pregnancy making me
more sensitive in general, but this Psalm describes the heart of God for those
in need. It was as if the Lord were
saying to me personally, “Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of
the needy, and to crush their oppressors” (74:4) and “Help him judge your people in the right way;
let the poor always be treated fairly.”
It is the heart of God that people are treated fairly, that they have an
advocate, and the opportunity to prosper.
Why? As the Psalm says, “for
their lives are precious to him” (72:14).
God wants us to have an active part in the process of caring for people,
looking for those with special needs.
Most of the time you don’t have to look very far. This is part of living out the Gospel, “true
fasting” in the words of Isaiah 58:6-7:
“Is not this the kind of fasting
I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the
yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-when you see the naked to clothe
him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.”
The question is, who are these people in our lives? Who are we asked to defend and treat
fairly? I don’t think this is simply
charity work, but rather standing in someone’s place and advocating for
them. Is it simply about giving
money? It seems like Isaiah is telling
the reader to share his own food and resources (time,
energy, etc). This Lenten season, may
the Lord show you how to turn your lives outwards to embrace the needs of
others. May this be part of our
sacrifice to Him.
Blessings and love,
Lindsey
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