I glanced down to see his mother writhing on the floor in pain. She was pregnant and in labour. I looked up and continued to ventilate Malachi’s failing malnourished body as a nurse did chest compressions. We gave antimalarials, IV fluids, antibiotics and blood. He recovered a little, but his condition was critical. Meanwhile, a…
Continue reading ➞ WAR HAS A FACE. When war and suffering has looked me in the eye
What if your daily coffee was more than a quick pick-me-up? There is no doubt that our Western world conveniences like electric kettles, packaged coffee, and drive-thrus make our lives easier and quicker. However is easier and quicker always better? What have we lost of community in our busy lives? Can I share a glimpse…
Continue reading ➞ A GLIMPSE INTO COMMUNITY AND COFFEE WITH MY NEIGHBOURS
It was a memorable morning at the refugee camp.I heard them singing before I arrived.Training was to start at 9:30. As I rode my bike along the straw fence-line their melodies were audible. Turning through the gate I saw their colourful toobs1 dancing with hands clapping and legs moving to the rhythms. No instruments, just…
Continue reading ➞ COMMUNITY HEALTH EVANGELISM EXPLAINED. And remembering songs of joy
I hate to admit it, but I struggle not to idolise time. I hate ‘wasting time.’ I grew up making to-do lists and carefully planning my days towards maximum efficiency - even in primary school! Contentment at the end of a day came to me if my to do list had been completed, if I…
Continue reading ➞ JOURNEYING TOWARDS CONTENTMENT. My daily life in a refugee camp
Landing in a beautiful hard place Have you ever ended up somewhere you had planned to get to, only to find yourself wondering just moments into arriving, what on earth am I doing here? That was me as I stepped off the plane onto the dusty Refugee Camp airstrip on the 13th May 2016. I wasn’t…
Continue reading ➞ WHAT ON EARTH AM I DOING HERE? When life lands us in hard places
I have etched in my memory the moment when we first arrived in the Refugee Camp in May 2016. I can see the eager children running onto the airstrip to greet us as we stepped off the plane. Their little bodies were coated in different patterns of dirt. In the background a large cargo plane…
Hallelujah in the Mountains 