Children’s Hospital

Back in 2014, when we first started working with kids and youth in Chifubu, we were introduced to Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital in Ndola.  ADH is the only dedicated children’s hospital in all of Zambia!

 Some of the kids from the center we were serving would go there regularly for treatment, and as we began to hear their stories, we decided to visit to try and bless some of the most vulnerable children in our city.  When we first visited, we saw, up close, the overwhelming patient load and the desperate situation many of the families were facing.  

 So we asked for permission to visit on a regular basis and were granted access which was a great blessing. We decided to bring with us, coloring books and crayons, and to our amazement, everyone wanted to color with us!  It led to some very special conversations, and prayer for those who wanted it.

 I remember times when there weren’t enough rooms, and children were lying on mattresses in the hallways.  Their families doing whatever they could just to stay close and care for their kids.  I remember praying for a baby suffering from encephalitis. I will never forget the look in his mother’s eyes as we spoke with her. It was a mixture of exhaustion and fear.  I feel sad just thinking about it now.  What a scary situation.  But we prayed with faith for her baby to be healed and we sat with her for the better part of our visit to just show her she mattered and we cared.  

 We went back again and again and even took young people from the center where we worked, to start exercising their compassion muscles.  I remember some of them learning to pray for the first time ever, as they lay hands on these dear little patients.  It was powerful!

 I also specifically remember sitting with one boy who had come all the way from the distant Northern Province of Zambia after falling out of a tall mango tree and badly breaking his arm.  Displaced, in pain, and far from home, he was so happy to color with us and we became friends.  Almost every child we encountered was excited to color and have someone new to speak with.  Their parents seemed to soften as we colored with their kids.  And conversations started up that connected our little teams to those dear patients.  

We even had the opportunity to bless the staff and help provide basic office supplies and materials as a reminder that even they were seen and appreciated!

 Over time though, things changed and our visits stopped.  But recently, we have felt a tug to go back.  Our team member Charity has maintained great relationships at the hospital and our team is arranging a visitation schedule.  

We are also loading up on those quintessential missions and ministry tools…coloring books and crayons!  And in May, our Fire Teams will start heading back on a regular basis.  We will offer our time, prayer, friendship, and love.  

And our young team will learn to exercise compassion and gain perspective that will be formative as we build them into lions who are servant leaders; full of of courage, compassion, and character!  

Lions, living out your faith, even in, and maybe especially in dark and difficult places is who we are and what we are called to do. As you step out, do so in great kindness and faith, and with great authority and expectation!

“Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God

and to heal the sick.” – Luke 9:2 (NLT)