The Father's heart

The day began began with prayer, as with each day. Barbara & Andy, friends from the UK were joining us on Home Based Care. Our first visit was to follow-up with a patient that Ginna and Sarah had helped get to the hospital to be tested for HIV. Her hospital documents revealed that she was positive, however the they said they would not discuss the results with her until she brought a family member with her. We talked and prayed with her, then arranged to pick her up with her mother to go to the hospital.

We then saw her neighbor who has had a burn wound on his leg for over 20 years. We cleaned it and gave him antibiotics and arranged take him to the hospital as well.

Our next patient was Augusto (this is the little boy that I was asking Nana about in her clinic). Augusto is about 4 years old (no one really knows how old he is) an orphan under the care of Rubatano. He and his sister Dorcas have been living with their great grandmother for the past 2 years, since their mother died from AIDS. Both Augusto and Dorcas receive food from Rubatano, along with another family member named Dorcas. Dorcas is in her 20s and her son who is about 1.5 years old also live with the Vovo, grandmother.

Adao has been visiting this family for 2 months and has never seen Augusto with pants on. His belly, feet and cheeks were swollen and his hair was light in color and straight while his arms and legs are very thin. These are all classic signs of a severe protein deficiency.

We originally thought that there were 12 people living in one house sharing the food that was intended for 3 people for one week. As we continued to visit and ask more questions, we found that Augusto lived with his Vovo, Dorcas and her son and his sister... only. That meant the family had food, but they were not giving it to Augusto. My heart broke for little Augusto.

In this picture Mama Dorcas is on the far left with her little boy. Then Augusto's great grandmother. His sister, Dorcas is on the far right.

Over the course of a week, we visited Augusto's home 3 times, spoke to Carlos (the project director for Rubatano) and Jackie (the nurse in charge of the orphans living at Maforga). Jackie said that we could bring Augusto to Maforga for a few weeks to provide him with food, love and medication if necessary to see that he gets better.

Last Friday Jackie went with us to be sure that the family understood and approved of Augusto coming to Maforga for a period of time. After some discussion, they allowed Augusto to come to with us, along with a Rochell, 13 year old family member who came to help take care of him.

There are many stories about what happens in the community. Until I experience it first hand the stories do not seem real.

While we were visiting, Jackie explained that it is cultural to believe that the children of parents who have died of AIDS are cursed, therefore they often do not feed them, especially the youngest child, Augusto. I know without a doubt that this grieves the heart of the Father!

After all the documents were in order, we scooped up Augusto and brought him to Maforga. He had a big smile on his little face and waved "ta-ta" to his family.

That was Last Friday, 8-24. By Monday Augusto was a new man! He was laughing and playing... the leader of the pack! He ran up to sister Jackie to give her a big hug!

Monday we had a day in town. Jackie helped get him tested for HIV. NEGATIVE! Oh, the Lord is SO good! We went shopping and got shoes, likely the first that he has ever had.

Now, after 5 days the swelling in his face and belly are going down and he is laughing and playing all the time!

As I help to Take care of Augusto and Julinho (previous story) the Lord is giving me His heart as He shows me how much he loves... one by one.

Being a part of Augusto's life has without a doubt impacted mine! Jackie and I have had endless conversation about the love of the Father. How He loves us individually and longs to scoop us up into His arms.