I know that I have not written in a long time. This last month has been a big struggle for me. It is so hard to continue to work and feel like you are alone on the battles for the patients. I have lost count of the number of patients I have lost and I have seen things that are so horrid I have been instructed to not share them. It has been very hard for me to see the ‘rays of sunshine through all the bleakness’. I have just felt helpless many days. To be completely transparent, I don’t even know if my focus has been on Christ. I spend so much time caring for and worrying about the patients and then feeling sorry for myself (because I don’t know if anything I do is making a difference), that I have many days forgotten the whole reason I am here. Please keep my attitude in your prayers. I want to focus on some things that have brightened my days and how you have helped in so many ways.
Here are the faces of those you have helped.
Tamerach (Honesty) is a thirteen or fourteen year old girl who came to the Hospital because of severe malaria. She knew she was pregnant but had no idea how far along she was. She comes from a village not far from here. Her father brought her to the hospital. He is as skinny as a toothpick. His eyes are sunken in and his skin just hangs off his bones. His clothes make him look bigger than he is, but if you look close you see two things. One, he loves his daughter. Two, they are very poor. Tamerach was raped about 9 months ago. She ended up going in to labor and delivering a sick little boy. They were in the hospital for over a week. Tamerech is doing much better, but her son is premature, not eating and had an infection at dishcarge. So many of YOU have contributed to their care. A hat and blanket for the nameless boy. A breast pump to try to get nutrients for the baby. Money for food, medications, transportation and other needs.
There is no such thing as HIPPA here. There is good and bad in that. Sometimes the sister or mother of one patient will be helping another patient express milk, bathe or use the restroom. Because of this the whole ward knows what is going on with every patient. In general, they like to have the encouragement from one another. Tamerech’s neighbor (the gal in the next room) was also a rape victim. I have forgotten her name, but we will call her Ababech. She came in with severe preeclampsia and she ended up delivering before the baby was old enough to survive. Ababech and everyone else on the ward knew that you all were helping Tamerach. When Ababech was discharged home, her father came into Tamerech’s room while I was rounding. He wanted to pray and praise God for all that He was doing!
I received the first shipment of knitted hats (109 to be exact) and receiving blankets since my blog about the hats. The families just love them! The nurses were trying to put them on and asked it they could be made in larger sizes. Thank YOU for YOUR hard work and love! A family is coming to see Soddo this weekend because they read my blog and their teenage sons have collected over 400 hats for the new borns. It is overwhelming that in there short trip here they want to take the time to come and help in the ministry here. I am so excited to meet them!!!
Yesterday, I finally got the pictures for one of the orphanages done. They were just ecstatic. They always are able to bring a smile to my face. If you have any ideas for art projects for them or have supplies please send them! Here is a small sampling of some of the pictures for the kids.
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- Michelle and Lindsay
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- Lindsay playing with some of the orphans
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- Amanuel
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- Abiti
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- Selamawit
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- Masa
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- Omadar
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- Zenash
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- Nebiyeu
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- Mesganu
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- Mitten
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- John & Yebsera
There are several patients I would like to tell you about that you have been able to help by financially supporting me. One is a mother of 5. She had delivered all of her babies at home. The last she tried to deliver at home, but couldn’t. The babies body had delivered, but the head was stuck. She had to travel 12 hours with the baby’s body out on public transport. She ended up having a hysterectomy because of the infection. She didn’t have enough money to pay all of her hospital bill or even get a ride home. Today I was able to pay the rest of her bill and give her money to travel the 12 hours home.
Another mother came in with a uterine infection in labor. She has a beautiful little baby. After surgery she was very sick. She has been in the hospital for almost 6 weeks. Her family deserted her. Her baby wears a hat knit by the loving hands Cheryl Polluck, antibiotics were purchased, another couple paid for her entire hospital stay and yesterday she was finally able to go home.
I could write pages on the patients that have helped.
This last month I had two visitors, Michelle Palma and Lindsay Bahn. I enjoyed watching them pour their hearts out into work for these people. The gave their love, taught the nurses, worked with patients, gave blood, brought tons of medical supplies, encouraged me and so much more.
Michelle and Lindsay
Thank you for all that you have done.
Thank you, beautiful, beautiful Stephanie. Thank you for your honesty and for your huge heart. You are loved, and God is honored by your sacrifices and your commitment. You are operating under an umbrella of love, even if you lose Your focus, His has never left. You are loved dear heart, and we thank you for sharing with us. It makes our trials smaller, and our prayers more focused and real.
Love you, Mama Shar
Dear Lord… I pray that you would give Stephanie strength this month. Help her see light through the darkness. I ask that you would reveal yourself clearly to her and allow her to see where you are working in Soddo. I thank you Lord that Stephanie has been led to this place… the very place that our son was born. Do not let darkness cover her…. protect your servant.
Amen
Love ya, Steph. See you soon.
Stephanie, this is beautiful. Did you ever get your chicken coop? Do you have an idea what it would cost to get one started? As a nurse and a chicken lady, I woke up thinking about all of the needs there with you.
my email: motherparadox@gmail.com
Christine
I did not end up getting a chicken coop. Which reminds me that I need to let my cousin know…. she was planning on paying for it. When I looked into the cost of it is pretty overwhelming. There is a man here in Soddo who has over 300 chickens and he is unable to keep up on the cost. Eggs are about 12 cents each and he is spending his entire profit on feed and antibiotics. There is a huge problem with infections among the birds here. What I was thinking about doing is just bringing all of my business to him. Buy eggs from him every week. Boil them and then bring them to the clinic to be given to all the mothers. My guess is this is about 100 eggs per week… $12 per week. If you would be interested in helping with that it would be amazing!
Hi Stephanie,
I have been keeping you all at SCH in my prayers, but commit to pray extra for you and Otona.
Thank you for all that you do for His people. You know that I really admire you!
Steph, I am so amazed that all you are doing!! God is doing such a good work through you. You are in my prayers.
Stephanie, you may not remember me (it’s been AGES). I used to babysit you and John in Baton Rouge. My dad was the pastor at BR 1st. I am enjoying your posts and your sharing of all that is being done in Ethiopia.
I have a few friends that crochet and make ‘prayer shawls’ and was wondering if there is anything that you need on the field like that. It’s your typical crochet thread, so it may be too hot. Anyway, if you would share a few things that you’re needing/wanting – for you, for the others serving with you, and the patents and their families. I’ll be sure to pass it along. These ‘friends’ are children’s pastors and they have their kids make whatever is needing, reading (some) and showing pictures of people they are helping.
We are praying for you and your ministry there. It may not seem like you are reaching many and are just doing ‘the doctor thing,’ but you are being Christ to them when you minister to their physical needs — it is NOT going unnoticed by those around you — they ARE see Christ in and through you!
Blessings,
Rebekah (Boone) Arnold
Rebekah,
You are right I do not remember you, but it sounds like someone knew how to pick a good babysitter! Thanks for the encouraging words. Even in Ethiopia it can get cold. The town I live in is at a higher altitude, so it gets down into… hmm probably the 50′s at night regularly. And so any sort of crocheted blanket or hat for babies would be great. I recently blogged about some of the needs here… hats, chicken eggs (I have decided not to do a coop), pictures of orphans in the area and much more. I think it is titled how you can help. It is really hard to know what to ask for because you want it to be something lasting, but this was the best I could come up with.
Love you and praying for you. Looking forward to catching up when I get home. xoxo
Steph,
You have been on my mind alot the last week. Praying for you! Praying that God will encourage you and remind you why He has placed you where you are in this chapter. I thank Him for your obedience. Lives are being touched and saved because of you. May He give you rest, patience, strength, and endurance. May He overwhelm you with His enoughness today.
Love you!
Cyndi
A friend of mine sent me your blog address and I feel lucky to have found it. Please don’t stop blogging. My daughter was born in this area of Africa and your blog helps me to feel closer to her homeland and her roots. The work you are doing and the stories you tell inspire me to do much more to help others in need.
Janice