Vincent

Over a month ago my friends and I went to the Grand Marche, which is a huge market with street shops that covers multiple blocks. On our way there we hitched a ride in one of our patient vehicles and inside was a mama with her beautiful baby boy who would soon be getting surgery to repair his cleft lip. He was so adorable and filled with joy and would smile big as we played with him during the car ride. 

Fast forward to two days ago.

 I was outside helping my friend make a dresser for one of the day workers (Congolese who we get to work with on the ship) he's become friends with. His friend just had a baby, so he made a dresser out of old crates on the dock and stained the wood beautifully so there is a place for the baby's clothes and things. I like to think I helped out a lot, but really I just sanded some of the wood, ate snacks, got hyped up on mountain dew, and played with a couple of the patients who were outside getting their daily outing/fresh air on deck seven. I was standing out there and looked over and saw a nurse holding a baby who was all tubed up..and then I realized it was little Vincent! The British nurse asked me if i "wanted a cuddle" and I quickly took him and marveled at the wonderfully closed up lip he had. Vincent was all stitched up, smiling and looked absolutely perfect. It was wonderful to be able to see a patient before and after surgery. Many times I see them walked out after surgery all patched up or under the tents waiting to be seen, so it was a real gift to see things from beginning to end. 
I went to the Ward service again this morning and I hope that’s what heaven sounds like. I love the way African Worship is. I love the clapping. I love the dancing. I love the beautiful voices singing. I love the freedom they seem to have. At one point I looked at a woman singing and realized it was Vincent’s mom rejoicing with her eyes closed. I wondered what might be going through her head. I could only imagine what a happy heart she had in that moment that her baby was healed and happy and God made a way.

Before Surgery