My Life as an African Gypsy

Did you know Jose wants to be pastor? What a precious boy.

I think Jose will suffocate to death in the next few days. The tumor, which started below his eye, has been growing at a rampant speed this week. It has come into his mouth, disfigured his teeth, and has nearly blocked his airway. He needs oxygen, but has been refusing, because his only memory of an oxygen mask is of a little girl, who died a few beds over. He believes, if he wears the oxygen mask, it means he will die.

When I left the hospital today, they were going to try and give him medicine to sleep, so that they can put the oxygen mask on without his knowing.

Looking at his mother today... she knows what coming. She looks scared and weary.

Please pray for peace in this situation. Suffocating seems like such a gruesome, horrific way to die. I pray the Lord takes Jose peacefully without much strain, more preferably in his sleep.

Will you pray with me?

How sweet it will be for Jose to meet his Savior. I think the Lord must have a special assignment for him in heaven. How nice it will be for his suffering to be over, for him to know full life.

Jon and I have visited with José and his mom twice since my last post.

On Wednesday he was worse. His little veins bulged in his neck as he labored for smalls bits of air, as his eyes rolled back, exhausted from his struggle. Upon touching his leg, with his little strength, he mustered a smile for me. My heart broke. I noticed his en-caved chest and his thin arms that looked ready to snap and wondered how he keeps going. We prayed with him and his sweet mom, as she quickly wiped the tears she let escape, and I tried to hide mine with a smile, not wanting José to know how grave the situation was. I told his mom how much I respected her for staying next to José... not all moms here would do what she is doing. She is strong. She loves well.

Today, Friday, we visited again. José looked a bit better. He's a fighter. The chemo he had on Tuesday seems to have made the tumor a little smaller. I would not have known by looking, but his breathing came easier. He was able to talk a bit, though I struggled to understand some words, because of the tumor crowding his mouth. During our visit, he even laughed a bit, chatting about lions and how smart Jesus was. I marvel at life, how it persists. Jon sat with him and continued to talk about Jesus, while his mother did some laundry and I went to visit some of the ladies. He was laying down and resting when we left.

Please continue to pray for José. His mom was so grateful when we told her we had asked you. Thank you.

Can be honest? You know how I like to be honest... sometimes to a fault. =)

But here is the deal: I was nervous to go back to hospital.

I felt like all that stuff that happened earlier this year happened to a different person. Like maybe I wasn't the right person for this job after all. I was intimidated by the silent women in their beds, by their saddened pained faces, by their bandages.

But after a short visit with a new lady (potential friend) and hearing her say that she wanted vistors, I was feeling better.

Then I heard her. My friend Sandra was there! She greeted my with a broad smile and warm kisses on the cheeks. I couldn't help but notice her extreme weight loss, her eye patch to cover her missing eye, and the beanie she wore to cover her bald head.

It was good to catch up, to be together again. I told her I liked the color of nail polish she was wearing, and with no hesitation she whipped it out of her bag and urged me to paint mine. There I sat on a hospital bed, struggling to find the correct Portuguese words, painting my nails as if we'd been old college buddies.

Every time I look at my purple nails, my heart is warmed.

This "job"... it's for me.

Welcome to the road with Jon and Layne. A few pictures from our journey. =)

Here are my new Bible and coffee cup.

(I threw in the 'believe' rock Tara sent me, because it sits on my side table and I like it a lot. Good reminder!)

Jon and I decided I need a more 'travel friendly' Bible... not that I am getting rid of my big giant print one, I love it, but it will probably remain at home more. Now my new one fits in my purse!

And if I was going to get a new Bible anyway, it might as well be pink, right? Perfect!

I am discovering, however, that trying to break in a new Bible is difficult. For example, I look for passages that I knew were on the left hand side near the bottom, but now they are not. I can't find them for the life of me! (Guess it is time to start memorizing scripture addresses a bit better.) Also, there is nothing underlined or highlighted yet, and I feel as if people look at me in church and think I am nonspiritual. (Okay, maybe that is a little extreme, though it makes my point.) Honestly I feel as if I am borrowing someone else's Bible.

I am adjusting though, and I am determined. Soon enough this little Bible will feel like mine, marked with dates and the faithfulness of our Lord.

Now, shall we move to the cup?

Can we agree it is fabulously Anthropologie? And it has scripture! Can it get any better? Not for me!

Sometimes in the mornings, particularly like this morning, I could use the reminder of my need for the joy of the Lord. I need some supernatural intervention! Anyone else? Maybe like me, today you need to sing for joy as you become satisfied by the unfailing love of the Lord.

It is so comforting to know that my God relentlessly pursues me, loves me no matter what mood I woke up in... no matter what my chaotic week looks like... no matter how much effort I put into it. His love for me is unfailing. And that is reason to be joyful; it is reason to sing to Him.

Unfortunately, sometimes I forget. Maybe like me, you could use purposeful reminders, like a rock on your nightstand or scripture on your coffee cup. =)