This morning I started on my own in the ER. That's right, no translator de Lexi! She went to the OR for a few hours. And it worked out great. At this point the staff knows and trusts me well. I am so thankful for their patience and grace when it comes to my spanish (or lack there of). We had a busy morning, but just like work at home, the patients come in waves- so then we had some down time. During my down time at work in the ER at home, if rooms are stocked and literally not anything is to be done, I usually pinterest. Very productive. But here…we folded gauze. I almost fell over and died. The snobby American in me was shocked. We literally took giant squares of gauze material and folded it down to what is needed for patient care. What nurse has to fold her own gauze?!?! Mine comes in a little package that I open. But I loved it. I loved that I sat alongside a Bolivian doctor, had conversation about life (in spanish), and we folded gauze together. It was so simple, yet such a testament to how different things are here.
I then headed to the OR with the kid who came to the ER yesterday with the femur fracture. I decided last minute to go with him to surgery, and am SO glad I did. So this hospital has two ORs, and often just one anesthesiologist, but that does not stop them from doing two surgeries at one time. They also don't sedate their patients for surgery. None of them. I asked about at least giving drugs that put them to sleep. "Tienes versed?" Nope. They gave an 11 year old kid a spinal, and told him to lay still as they externally fixated his leg while he was wide awake. WHAT. Again, I started praying immediately. So much was going through my mind. What if the spinal wears off? What if he starts to crash? What if, what if, what if? I was a nervous wreck, until I gave that to Jesus and trusted that His presence in that room was overwhelming. I was then asked to stand at the head of the bed. The anesthesiologist needed to go help with the procedure next door. I have never watched a monitor so closely in my life. I think I cycled the kids BP every 30 seconds. Poor baby. And then they would yell at me, things in spanish, to do or to get, and by the GRACE OF GOD, I always understood. For example, holding the poor child with every ounce of strength I had while they put his femur back in place. I literally prayed against the language barrier this morning, and now I know why. The other super neat thing God did, was He gave me the ability to hold a conversation with the patient the entire time. Every question this sweet boy asked me, I understood and could answer. I know I wasn't speaking the words that came from my mouth, because I literally don't know them. That is the power of the Holy Spirit for ya.
After lunch we walked about 3 miles to an orphanage. It was an all boys orphanage with at least 50 kids ranging in ages 3-16. My heart has never sunk so quickly in my life. We came through the gates and these boys swarmed us, embraced us, and just wanted to play. So we did! Lots of futbol! They loved showing us around their home and just talking with us. Again- my ability to hold conversation is not by my own doing whatsoever. I met a little boy, Adrian. He either has cerebral palsy or had a stroke very young. His left side is very weak and he has trouble walking, running, playing in general. He is 10 years old. I looked at him and said, "My mom can help him!" So I made the oh so expensive international phone call home to tell her I would be casting and bringing home a mold for her to fit a brace on a little orphan boy in Bolivia! It's my mom, so of course she was on board. I am so excited and am praying we are able to get the custom brace back here soon. Please join us in praying for this.
As I sat there and watched Lexi play soccer with the kids, while I held an orphaned toddler in my lap, I was crying out to Jesus…"Where are you? Where is your joy in situations like this? I can't take the harsh reality of this world." And that is when the Lord responded so quickly and so clearly. "Look around, Elizabeth! There is so much joy here! Do these children look sad to you? No. I am here. So close to them, and they are loved. So love them well during the few hours you have with them." I have never heard God's voice so suddenly. I went from one feeling to another in a matter of seconds. God is right there. Just as much as He is in the home of the loving suburban Dallas family. Love and joy are not defined by what I am used to. And of course I cannot handle the harsh realities of this world. If we could, then what would be the need for the return of our Savior? Oh, how I desire each of those children to find a loving home with a mom and dad, but being in an orphanage in a third world country does not mean they are abandoned by any means. Jesus does not abandon His children, ever.
Of course there is so much problem solving and fixing ideas going through my head right now. How can I rescue all 50 of these kids? I can't. And I won't. But I will love them. And my home will forever be open to any child who needs one.
Jesus will return one day. That is where my hope is found. In Christ alone.
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