“Mubita”

We had only been here about 3 months when my dad came to visit with Alicia’s mother and my sister. Dad is an infectious disease doctor in the US and has done a lot of work with HIV during his career and when the hospital staff heard he was coming to visit they asked him to do a presentation about HIV and participate in the clinics in Mwandi. I hung out with Dad that day as he did his presentation and then we went on to see HIV patients coming in for medication and general check ups.

As I sat in the back of the room watching Dad work I saw a man I knew from the mission come in. Mubita (not real name) does almost every odd job (well) around the OVC and is the kindest man you will ever meet. He seems to do anything for anyone and is a joy to be around. I knew he was “positive” but I didn’t know if he knew I knew (follow?) and so I went to make myself scarce as he headed towards the exam room. He caught my eye though and he came in to give me the friendly Losi handshake and tell me he had come to pick up his medicine. I told him I was with Dad seeing patients and introduced him and then he went on. I was glad he thought nothing of it, but then if you know Mubita I shouldn’t have been surprised.

A little while later I left Dad and headed home only to run into Mubita again outside the clinic. We always greeted each other but now he had a look of excitement about him and a new interest in me as he approached.

“It is great that your father has come to help us that are positive,” he said, “I have been positive for 15 years and in the beginning was very sick. The mission hospital was able to bring medicine and now I am very strong.” It seemed knowing that he was HIV positive was somehow a new connection that peeled back one layer as people get to know each other.

“Yeah, that is what Dad does in the US, working with HIV patients so he has come to teach and learn about HIV in Africa.” I responded.

At this a look of amazement came over his face. “People in America are suffering just like we are in Africa?”

I realized then that he thought HIV was only an African disease just like so many other things that plague this continent and that he assumed that America had a solution and no struggles with it.

“Yes, lots of people. They suffer just the same as you do here, all over the world.” It took Mubita a while to digest this but it seemed to make him feel better somehow. Often America is seen as the promised land by people here and it is a surprise that people would struggle in the same way that a Zambian could.

Two days later I passed him painting at the OVC. “I want to meet people in America who are infected and be friends,” he said, “I want to know about their experience and share with them.”

“I will connect you with someone if I can,” I said, knowing my pool there was limited. Since then I have been around Mubita almost daily and he has mentioned this more than once. I try to wrap my brain around why it is so good for him to know that Americans suffer some of the same hardships Zambians do. I think it makes us feel like we are all in this together. Fighting the same battles and caring for each other. It feels good to know that people came from across the world to help you in your struggle. It is supposed to feel good- this is a joy that we receive and give when we do the will of the Father.

Sometimes I am challenged with the idea that I could just send money and that coming here makes no difference and may not be the most efficient thing. Many times God reminds me that we measure things in measurable things and that he is concerned with people and their hearts. When we come or send people to places of great physical need it shows a level of concern and caring that brings glory to God. 

John 13:34-35 says “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” When we live this out as individuals and as the Church people get cared for and the love of Jesus is in us and flowing to others through us. We cannot fix every problem but just obey as we know how and let Him work on hearts around us in ways we were never wise enough to see.

-paul

Alicia playing with kids in the bush

Celebrating Ethan's birthday in Livingstone

Rachel doing dishes (that's our entire kitchen/water filter on the wall)

Woman bringing dog to rabies clinic in the bush!

Great Update on the Congolese Kids!

Tomorrow morning the parents of the Congolese boys that we had been asking you to pray for, will be released from the jail. The boys will meet with them and be taken to a refugee camp in Zambia (about 4 hours from us). There they will be transitioning into their new life together and will be helped with housing and all other needs that go along with this transition. They can take visits to see their foster family who live here in Mwandi by getting a UN pass. Also, they can be visited by others while they are in the camp. We would really like to take a trip at some point to see them. Their foster family will visit them often. They are allowed 5 years to stay at the refugee camp. This will give them time to find a place to relocate. Australia, Canada, and Sweden (because they have other family already there) are all possibilities for them.

Our kids will really, really miss them. Paul and I will, too, but we are so happy that they will be reunited with their parents.

Please pray for Oneal, Omeal, Omeddy, Omari, and their parents.

With love,

Alicia