by Nicole Tardio, IWM serving in Mongu, Zambia
First of all Happy New Year to everyone!
Tonight I write this blog with mixed emotions.
This week I received in the mail a donation of Children’s books! They were eight little books with bright pictures and simple words. They are all about animals, colors, water, and more animals! :)
On Thursday of this week I took them into the Children’s Ward at the hospital where I am spending a couple days each week. I was unsure at first of how it would go, since there are up to 36 kids on the ward and only 8 little books, but none-the-less I was excited that the children would have a little fun amid their sickness and pain.
One of the nurses made an announcement to pass out the books around and share, so that everyone could enjoy them. I handed a book to a little girl about 3 years old who was crying. She and her grandmother sat on the bed for the next 20 minutes looking at the animals and making animal sounds. I was so happy to see the joy on her face!!! She was the reason why I asked for the books: she has been in the hospital for close to two months now, with an infection in her bones. To see the faces of the kids light up to have something to look at made my whole week. They were so happy to see the animals and to have a distraction from the pain.
This experience reminds me to treasure the simple things in life. I am reminded that each moment in the day brings little miracles and each smile on a sick child’s face is something in which to rejoice.
On Thursday of this week I took them into the Children’s Ward at the hospital where I am spending a couple days each week. I was unsure at first of how it would go, since there are up to 36 kids on the ward and only 8 little books, but none-the-less I was excited that the children would have a little fun amid their sickness and pain.
One of the nurses made an announcement to pass out the books around and share, so that everyone could enjoy them. I handed a book to a little girl about 3 years old who was crying. She and her grandmother sat on the bed for the next 20 minutes looking at the animals and making animal sounds. I was so happy to see the joy on her face!!! She was the reason why I asked for the books: she has been in the hospital for close to two months now, with an infection in her bones. To see the faces of the kids light up to have something to look at made my whole week. They were so happy to see the animals and to have a distraction from the pain.
This experience reminds me to treasure the simple things in life. I am reminded that each moment in the day brings little miracles and each smile on a sick child’s face is something in which to rejoice.
While there are countless happy and joyous moments throughout each week, it is simultaneously with a heavy heart that I pray tonight for peace. There are daily examples here of pain, suffering, injustice, and a lack of societal peace and stability. I ask for you to join me with prayers for peace.
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