Louise Little and Cathy Armstrong are nurses from the UK working at the Good News Hospital. This month they are keen to share a story that has encouraged them.
Lou writes,
Last July, a young girl aged five arrived at the hospital with her father after sustaining bad burns when her clothes caught fire at home. They live in a village about 50km from the hospital. For a week following the accident, her burns were treated at home with cow dung, which is a common practice in the villages. When she arrived at the hospital, they were badly infected and she was very ill. She stayed in the hospital for 3 months requiring many dressing changes and much support. Her mother hasn’t been involved in her life since she was a baby. Her father struggled with alcohol addiction and struggles to support himself and his daughter. It was not uncommon for them to go four days without eating a proper meal. Cathy and I became very involved with caring for this family – providing meals and clothes for example. They heard the Gospel many times while she was a patient on the surgical ward and often people would come and share bible stories with her.
They have decided to stay in Mandritsara after she was discharged from hospital and we have been able to support her to go to school and help with some living costs. Her father has also found a job in Mandritsara. Hopefully next year she will join the Good News School. hey have been faithfully attending the Baptist church in Mandritsara – she really loves to go to church, wear her dresses and sing songs. Her father hasn’t been dependant on alcohol like he was before – the neighbours tell me they have seen a big change in him over the last few months!