A few months ago, 2 sisters, Mechita and Juana Espinosa, and Mechita's daughter Kiara came to Christ. They live together with their mother in a poorer area of Salamanca. Kiara has been involved in the Sunday school we're doing in Salamanca. Kiara and Mechita have been coming to our Thursday night bible studies at Kike and Martha's. Juana, however, has not. Our sister-in-Christ Juana has uterine cancer and is in the last stages. She has lost a lot of strength, and is in the bed most of the time. She has an IV treatment every few days.
Two Friday evenings ago, Martha called me asking if I could come over right away to help Juana. I didn't know exactly what to expect. Their cousin, who is a nurse, has been giving her the IV treatments and medicinal injections, however, she was in an accident, and was not able to come. Juana was due for her next IV bag. I read through the doctor's prescription of the IV and its medicines (mostly electrolytes and vitamins), and prepared that. I started praying at that point too for the IV start (it has been about 2 years since I last started an IV). Once the bag was ready, we stepped into Juana's room, which was lit very very dimly only by a light in the entrance of the room. Juana was in her bed behind the wall that held the light. It was dim. Mechita gave me a candle so I could see the veins better, but unfortunatly the candle holder prevented much light from escaping. So I prayed again. There was only one needle catheter to use for the IV, so it was a one-time shot (in my mind.... its probably normal to try a few times in Peru with the same needle). Early on, even when I was preparing the IV bag, Mechita seemed to question what I was doing. I gently explained my reasoning for whatever it was, realizing that she is worried for her sister and curious about how I was doing things. She also was comparing my actions with her cousins. I was acting only in the quality of care I know how to give. The needle was slightly different than that I was used to, but no matter, I needed to start an IV. I prayed once more as I was inserting the needle in the dimly lit room (thankful that a huge part of putting in an IV is feeling the vein, and not seeing it... I couldn't see it because of the dim light and her dark skin), and God directed the needle in place! Some blood did come out in the process of me attaching the IV tubing to the IV catheter, but not too much. It was enough, however, to get Mechita upset, where she pretty much went off on me for everything I did, telling me how the other nurse does it differently, that I wasn't doing it right, etc. By then the IV rate was dripping as directed by the doctor, the IV was secured, and everything was going well. I think for me it was hard, because in my opinion, God inserted that IV, with so many things against me (long time no practice, dim lighting, one needle that was a bit different....), and my heart was rejoicing in how He guided me, but all of that was being attacked because it was different than someone elses style. I got no closure with Mechita that night.
The next day, I went back with Martha, not knowing if they even wanted me there, and another beautiful miraculous thing happened. As soon as Mechita saw me, she gave me a big hug and asked for my forgiveness (she's a 2 month old Christian), we talked for a bit, me forgiving her and telling her not to worry about it. Then later after we visited with Juana a bit, she apologized again, and I could tell she was still upset at the way she'd treated me. I told her to not worry about it, it was behind us, that "we" were ok, and that she had more to worry about than what had happened. Then she said something very encouraging. She put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Please continue to use your skills and continue learning. It can really help people like us who can't do this and need your help."
Since then, I've been over there, so many times I can't count. To give her pain medicine, or nausea medicine, massages, or another IV (this 2nd one put in by the afternoon light that came into the holes in the roof/ceiling, and me in the bed against the wall to put it in the other arm....another new experience). Each time the friendship growing stronger between me and Mechita. She's had some hard hurdles in her new faith as facing the upcoming death of her sister Juana (who is in her mid-forties) is very challenging. She is very eager to learn, and has mentioned that she would like to spend more time praying with me. I am encouraged by the support they have received by the Christian community here in Salamanca. She mentioned to me that if it wasn't for her "spiritual sisters" she couldn't get through this experience.
THIS is just another way God has encouraged me, that for this point in my life, I am where I need to be.
Please pray for Juana, for healing, peace her suffering, aliviation of her pain, and confidence in the Lord at this time. Also for her family, their financial situation, the burdens they are carrying, and confidence in the Lord at this time.
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