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January 25, 2005

Shame to dancing

Some of the most moving stories on the Anastasis are those of women who have had surgery for VVF.

Vesico-vaginal fistula is a condition, usually as a result of child-birth difficulties, that leaves the woman's bladder constantly leaking urine. Because of the condition, such women are often abandoned by their husbands, and live apart from everyone, feeling shame and hopelessness.

The Anastasis provides free operations for as many as they can receive, and the lives of women such as Aminata are transformed:
"After her operation, she sat in the hospital ward, dry for the first time in seven years. Aminata said her life had already changed. “At first,” she said, “I didn’t see myself as a human being since people didn’t want to be around me. Now, I see healing and it’s like life has returned again.”

When the women leave the ship, they are given new outfits to replace their old soiled clothes, and there is often a little celebration, with music and dancing. What a great picture of the gospel - how we are saved from shame and rejection to healing and acceptance!

I heard there were some Fulani women on the ward yesterday, waiting for their VVF surgery, so went down to say hi, and was pleased to find that some of them had even been brought by their husbands or other male relatives. It must have been a huge shock for these young ladies, from remote Fulani villages, to come onto the "white man's ship" down in the big city. But they were all happy to be there, and told me of how well they had been welcomed and looked after. I am going back daily to chat with them all. The "Jesus" film has been shown on the ward in Fulfulde, and the Fulani have been asking for me to go back and talk with them about it. Please pray.

Posted by Keith at January 25, 2005 07:20 AM

Comments

Posted by: Erika at January 27, 2005 05:02 PM