or...worms. Yeah, I know it's gross, but it's bound to happen sooner or later when you live in Africa. We call just about any intestinal parasite, "worms", so I reckon it could be a number of nasty parasites, but I've got something! It's not slowing me down....just a little fatigued and sleepy, but the biggest thing is (this is gross), my overextended, very distended, alien belly! So weird! I've never experienced anything like this before! Ha! I know this is gonna sound bad but I'm trying to help you relate...think about those commercials you see on TV, that picture the "poor, starving African children," that are emaciated, but have huge bellies that stick out. It's because of some sort of worm or parasite. It's very common here...I probably got it from bad water, or eating raw fruits and veggies. We are supposed to regularly take de-worming meds every couple of months, just like you pop some ibuprofen for a headache now and then. So I'll walk to the pharmacie(that's how you spell it here!) tomorrow and get some cheap prescription drugs (without a prescription,) and in a couple of days I will be fine. (My African friends said that I don't need medecine. They tell me to eat a bunch of raw garlic mixed with honey and papaya seeds and it will all disappear.) Anyway, even though it sounds gross, these parasites or worms are a very common thing here, and just a slight inconvenience for me.
But it got me thinking tonight, this is something sooo treatable! It can easily be treated with pills for $5-$6 that I will buy tomorrow. Yet, this is another one of those ailments that the majority of people here suffer from because they cannot afford the medecine, or the transportation to get to the pharmacie to purchase the medecine. And then their symptoms lead to more symptoms and continually worsen. Only when left untreated for a long time, can these parasites do some real damage to your insides. This is another incidence where I feel completely privileged and blessed. I have. Others do not. It's nothing at all for me to part with $5, especially when it has to do with my health. Heck, I part with $5 for fast food meals in the US all the time. But for others here, $5 is a huge sacrifice. It can be a week's wages, or more. Everyday I realize how privileged I am. And what responsibility that privilege brings. A responsibility to live on the margins, to choose simplicity, and to love as Christ loves, not judging..but serving. Not taking pity on, but showing empathy and compassion. My prayer tonight...
Lord, give us your heart and your eyes to see those who are marginalized, who are hungry, who are blind, who are sick. We know you are a loving, compassionate God whose heart cries out for justice. Give us your eyes to see, your hands to feed, so we too can cry out for justice, and so that your light can shine through us. Lord, I lift up those children in the world who are suffering from many treatable diseases, and who find themselves in other circumstances they did not choose and are helpless to change. I lift up the children of Rwanda, and the children in the U.S. They are all precious in your sight. May they know the love of you, their Creator tonight and always. Amen.
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