Thobile is "interred" in the National TB hospital: She has been feeling
better. Last week when we visited, she came walking out to the car
dancing and saying, “Mommy, I am very, very hungry!” I was so thrilled
to see her up and around and hungry, all good signs. I brought her
food, treats that she likes, like white bread, corn flakes, chips,
yogurt, juice, full cream milk and fruit. She gets food at the hospital
but it is tasteless and sometimes too heavy for her to handle. Then I
got a call this week that she was feeling poorly again, weak, and pains
all over the body. So I am not sure if it is another setback or the
flu. At any rate, she still needs much prayer! TB in this country is
becoming so difficult to treat! I can’t take her out of the hospital
until she can stay well and I know she wants to get out. Please pray
for complete healing in her little body, mind soul and spirit. It is so
difficult to be in this institution. I was told that the girl that was
in the bed next to her, died last week. She is such a strong little
one, I know that God has a plan for her life. She is a prayer warrior
too, she loves the Lord!There is also another young girl who is 15 years old that has been admitted to the TB hospital last week. She is very sick, unable to feed herself, take her meds, and too weak to walk to the bathroom. When visited the day after she was admitted, she was found lying in her urine, shaking from chills and high fever, her medications were spilled on the floor, and her food was sitting there untouched. Her medications for HIV had not been given to her yet and it was 11:30 am. These medications should be taken at the same time every morning and every evening, which should have been much earlier in the morning. Unfortunately, the care in this institution is not up to par. The patient load and the severity of these patients is very high and there are not many nurses or nurse assistants. So I know this must be very difficult, not to mention the risk to the nursing staff of contracting the multi-drug resistant TB. This is just a difficult place to be, especially when you can’t care for yourself. So I am also asking for prayer for this little one who is so sick and so helpless. We know that God cares for those who can’t help themselves.
I would like to request prayer for is Nomcebo Treasure, who has been helping us with interpreting for Thobile since she has been in the hospital. She calls me when Thobile needs something or informs me when she is not doing well. Nomcebo is a precious lady who also loves the Lord very much! She has great faith even when things aren’t going well for her. She has been on TB treatment for 3 years and still doesn’t seem to be getting better. When I told her that I had asked people from all over to pray for Thobile, she asked, “Oh, please ask for prayer for me too!” The doctors are telling her that she has some holes in her lungs where the TB is hiding and that is why it is so difficult to treat. So I told her that I would ask our friends to prayer for her complete healing as well.
I can’t tell you how many times I have visited these precious ladies and I have been down about some little circumstance in my life and been so encouraged after visiting with them and seeing their joy and faith in the Lord even in the midst of their dire circumstances! Praise God, we are here to be a blessing, but we are so blessed by His people here!
Also I want to update you about Khanysile, our lady that is in the sewing program that was so sick and in the hospital. She is doing much better, she is home and back to sewing, praise the Lord! Thank you so much for your prayers! We are very excited about our team that is coming in just 2 weeks to be with us to do medical clinics and construction out in Vuvulane and Maphiveni!
