« Squatting is good for you | Main | Bla »

January 24, 2005

Mariama Gurbitoowo

Mariama is a Fulani lady who needs an operation at the local hospital - it is a simple procedure that will improve her quality of life by a factor of about eight zillion. But she is anxious about having surgery - so anxious, in fact, that she has a tendency to leap off operating tables and run for the hills. You've seen 'Runaway Bride' with Julia Roberts - well this is 'Runaway Patient'. Three times she has got as far as the operating table, three times she has seen the anaesthetist approaching, three times she has legged it. Her explanation? 'Pooli naati hoore am' (Birds entered my head).

There is a Fulfulde word 'gurbitinde' which means 'to spring up from a sitting or lying position and run away.' In the Fulfulde Bible it appears only once - in Acts 3:8 when the lame man gets healed. 'Gurbitinde' can also be made into a noun 'gurbitinoowo' which means 'one who is accustomed to spring up from a sitting or lying postion and run away'. That's what I love about Fulfulde - it's so precise.

Seriously though, Mariama's habit of gurbitinning is making life very difficult for her and her mother. Tomorrow she has a fourth (and final) chance of surgery. If she gurbitins this time, she's blown it. Hawa and Bintu and I prayed with her today that God's peace would surround her in the hospital and that she would be able to let the anaesthetist put the needle in. If you read this before 11am (GMT) on Tuesday 25 January, please join with us in praying for Mariama and for the success of her operation. Thanks.

Posted by sahelsteve at January 24, 2005 08:44 PM