Last Friday we were in Monak, a beautiful village overlooking a meandering river down in the valley below. We were there to hold a medical clinic for the children in one of our feeding centers. During the morning a woman came in with a sweet little baby of about nine months. The day before a pot of boiling food had fallen on the upper arm of the child. The baby was screaming of pain, clearly because her third degree burn, at least three inches in diameter, was exposed and rubbing against her little dress. Just the look of it was painful. It also did not help that the baby was now within touching distance of my bearded face. I tried to look my sweetest but the screaming went on. To protect the open burn from the dirt around and the chafing dress, we decided to cover it with a special non adhering patch, some of which we happened to have with us. Knowing even the slightest touch would hurt like crazy, I approached her arm with utmost care but she still continued screaming. It made me feel so helpless, this little baby, her screams, her pain. Silently I whispered: "Jesus if you were here you could do this without pain, please make her have peace"......
The baby looked with her tear filled eyes into mine and became quiet. Not a sound came over her lips anymore while I applied the patch, still as careful as I could but knowing now that some Higher Peace was at work here.
Being His Hands and caring for His little children. We must never forget why we are here.
