Each. Child. Matters.

Written By Jennifer Bridges on March 6, 2014

Our little boy with the flesh eating nose fungus visited me faithfully today during his usual time after school. He walks about 45 minutes to an hour each way. He comes into the house, greets everyone and waits patiently until someone summons me. Today I could hear and recognize his voice from my little room. It has been a long day, spending time at the church upstairs showing the Jesus movie and I had temporarily collapsed on my bed in exhaustion. Hearing his young voice encouraged me to jump up, prepare my vitamins, disinfectant and ointment. I met him in the living room and he followed me to the porch where adequate light showed me our progress. God’s progress.

Using hand motions and a few words I asked him to bring out the little mirror in his pocket. I wanted him to watch me carefully today. The little steps. 1st) we clean our hands 2nd) we clean his nose with the oxide peroxide mixture 3rd) we apply the anti fungus ointment 4th) he takes his vitamins of zinc, C and a probiotic and finally today. he helped me place the band-aid. My intention is that when I leave for the next couple of months he can track his own progress and continue our regime as needed.

Today I melted when he looked in the mirror and with his big smile said in his tiny bit of English,”Good! Thank you!” Oh my heart…into a puddle…I have an emotional smile and tucked myself back inside for some vitamin E for his scars. Tears are not easily understood, even happy appreciative tears. It’s easier to go after the vitamin E than to hide tears. We finish his treatment with 3 pieces of candy. In the beginning I wasn’t sure if he would be motivated to come to me.

Today he is in a hurry to go and has a treasure tucked inside his shiny new burlap type sack. Alex helps me discover inside – a basket that was made by his grandmother and his hurry was to sell it before dark upstairs at the market. Alex was thinking quickly and offered to buy it. It gives us a good excuse to bless the boy and his grandma. We paid three times market value, about $5. I am oh so tempted to keep it for myself. It’s a big beautiful traditional basket used for sifting grain from chaff, serving bread, gathering crops etc.He has a name. His name is Milkasa. Would you consider helping us with more medical? Thank you for blessing me and our village. Each. Child. Matters.