DEATH to LIFE

September 2012...... DEATH TO LIFE Statistics in South Sudan indicate that 1 in 7 women die due to complications of labor and delivery AND 1 in 4 children die from common, often preventable,diseases before the age of 5. STARTLING STATISTICS! Many of us cannot comprehend what that means for a family and for a community as their lives are impacted by death nearly every week. We are beginning to understand a little better what these statistics means by experiencing with our South Sudanese colleagues and friends the fine balance and fragility of life in this setting. In the last 3 months one of our MCHW/TBAs (maternal child health worker/traditional birth attendant)lost an 18 month old daughter, probably to malaria, and just 2 weeks ago, one of our co-workers lost his 3 month old son, probably to pneumonia. No matter where or how hard we worked as doctors, we would not have been able to prevent these deaths and this grief. Many of our colleagues have experienced deaths by suicide among their extended family members in the last year. Grief, trauma, tears.... The words from Psalm 116 spoke to me this week: "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: 'O Lord, save me!' The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." (vs. 1-7) We are seeing the Lord's grace and compassion at work here, through the people who care and love on those who have experienced such grief and pain. We, the church of Jesus Christ, are to be present in this world, where death is common and life is not easy. It is not comfortable for us - but it is possible, with God's strength and spirit. I recently read the following words from Betsie ten Boom (sister to Corrie ten Boom, author and survivor of Nazi Germany) that touched me - I hope it touches you too: "The most important part of our task will be to tell everyone who will listen that Jesus is the only answer to the problems that are disturbing the hearts of men (and women)and nations. We shall have the right to speak because we can tell from our experience that his light is more powerful than the deepest darkness...How wonderful that the reality of his presence is greater than the reality of the hell about us."