Sick In Body, Healthy In Heart

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Follow the way of love…”
1 Corinthians 13:13-14

Last Friday, I came down with the flu. Not the flu you see depicted on TV where the person lightly blows their nose with a pristine white Kleenex, coughs delicately in between dialogue and despite lying on some couch looks fresh as a daisy. Oh no, I spent most of Friday night and Saturday morning in spastic convulsions throwing up everything I have ever eaten including all my stomach acid and as if that weren’t bad enough my colon decided to twist itself into knots. At one point, I wasn’t sure which end to face toward the toilet. When my body had nothing left to expel except for air, I lay down on my bed and shook from head to toe with fever. My eyes were red and swollen. My mouth was tasted like sour milk. My stomach was still churning while sharp pains pricked me each time I took a breath. My hair was damp and I generally looked like something that crawled out of the gutter. My arms and legs felt like rubber and my mind felt lost somewhere in between reality and dreamland. I was sick!

I knew I needed help, so I called my best friend here in Uganda. He came to my rescue helping me get medicine to calm my angry stomach. He brought juice, bananas and searched the local grocery store for something that resembled Campbell’s chicken soup. He was my angel when I was too weak to even boil tea for myself, but I also knew my friend had some important things to attend to on Sunday afternoon. So, I began to mentally go through everyone I knew trying to select those I thought might have the time and the resources to help me.

As I lay on the couch trying to think of whom to call my phone rang. It was Joyce, a widow I have come to know and love. She is currently caring for 15 of her relative’s children. Two weeks ago, I had visited her when she had been sick. Her HIV positive status has weakened her body causing her to be sick quite often. She has been in and out of the hospital several times since December. She hadn’t called for any particular purpose other than to say that she was thinking about me. I was weak and mumbled a quiet thank you back to her. At which point her voice rose as she quickly asked, “Are you well? Are you sick?”

At that moment, I wondered whether I should tell her how sick I really was. I didn’t want to burden her with another worry. She could barely take care of her own family, what could she do for me? In fact the Dorcas Widows Emergency Fund helps feed her family most weeks. In that instant I considered hiding my sickness from her, but in my desperate weakened state I just couldn’t pretend. So, I told her how the flu was ravaging my body, how I was shaking with fever, how my stomach ached and how weak I felt. I knew she was a woman of great prayer, so I was delighted to think that God’s bride might pray for my healing. I was, however, completely shocked at what I heard her say back to me. “Kari. I am coming to you. I am coming to Kiwatule to take care of you.” Before I could protest or even answer she had hung up the phone.
Some time later, I woke up to my phone ringing. It was Joyce. She was here in Kiwatule, so I directed her to my home. When she knocked, I stood slowly and shuffled to the door slightly hunched over. As I opened it, she came inside quickly and held me tight to her side. Still holding me against her, she helped me back to the couch where she sat beside me while I laid my head on her shoulder. She began to smooth my hair down and rock me slightly. After a few minutes, she told me that she had brought food for me to eat. “You need to get stronger. You need to eat.” I tried to protest as I was still feeling quite nauseous, but she continued to unpack what she had brought. Even in my sick haze, I wondered how she got so much food. She had brought spinach, rice, porsho, and beef. It was the beef that astounded me the most. For her, this is a luxury item. As I held the plate, she continued to gently rub my back and coax me to eat bite after bite. “Just one more bite. That’s good, that’s good. You need your strength.” In that moment I felt like a small child with the mother that loves her.

After I had eaten what I could, I leaned my head back against her shoulder and we began to talk. We talked about our families as I drifted in and out of quiet rest. In those silent moments, I marveled that I was in the arms of an HIV positive woman who lives day to day in almost abject poverty. It dawned on me that in a few days I will be back to compete health and she will still be sick. She will never be completely healthy this side of heaven. It was almost too much to take in at once. Feeling somewhat stronger, I sat up with tears in my eyes looked at her and said, “Thank you, thank you for loving me. Thank you for taking care of me.” “Kari, you have loved us and now we get to love you,” she replied back to me. She told me that the other widows wanted to come, but some were too weak to make the journey. “The widows wanted me to tell you that they are praying for you.” Then she stood and pulled me up beside her. While we stood holding each other, she began to pray in Luo. My ears didn’t understand one syllable, but my heart understood every word. She was calling down healing from heaven for the friend she loves. I closed my eyes and drank it in. My body was so sick, but my heart was so loved.

The love from the widows and their care for me while I was sick was truly astounding. The next day after Joyce’s visit, another HIV positive widow named Lovincer spent her one-day off a week to come and be with me. She cleaned the house, fed me breakfast, and just sat with me while I slept. Then later that same afternoon, Joyce from Cornerstone, my dearest widow friend brought lunch and laughter. She brought so much food and so much joy. Then Joyce sat with me until the sun went down. She prayed for me in the same powerfully gentle way and it seemed the whole house filled with God’s presence. It was the prayers and the loving care of these dear widows that brought healing back to my body and love to my soul.

Jesus was right…the greatest of these is…love.



Update on the widows:
Well, as you can see, this week I was more the recipient of the Widows love than they were the recipient of mine. It was my worst week physically and my best week spiritually. Sometimes, I make it so complicated…this business of “ministry.” All it really is is friendship and love and sharing what you have with those that need it. Jesus is right…it can be that simple.

The widows are also rejoicing that 2 orders for necklaces came providing them with some much needed income! The jewelry is beautiful and I know those in the US that have ordered it have been so happy with their purchase. Keep praying that this jewelry business grows! (email lisatschetter@comcast.net if interested in purchasing jewelry)

The Dorcas Widows Emergency Fund is being used every week to help widows who are in dire circumstances. Last week I was able to provide food for two widows who were struggling to feed their families. It is an incredible blessing to be able to keep a family from sleeping hungry! I was also able to pay a hospital bill for a widow who was sick and in desperate need of care.

Thank you, thank you to those of you who have committed to paying school fees for some of the widows children. There are now 12 children in school who otherwise would have been sitting at home. God is creating a better future for them out of your love and generosity, so thank you! If any of you are interested in helping a widow pay school fees for her children, please contact Lisa Tschetter at the email above.

We are still asking the Lord to open a piece of property we can purchase for the widows. It is still our dream to create a “Dorcas Widows Community” where they can live rent free. We are constantly looking at property and hopeful that God will provide just the right spot at just the right time.

Update on my life:
I am finally well!! Praise the Lord! I am now finally feeling strong enough to move around town and to get back to the work I love. Thank you for all your prayer and support!

Kari