The Sickbed Under the Mango Tree

The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.

Psalm 41:3

One of the unique aspects of Masana is that we are the only center for street kids in the city that has live-in staff.  That makes us the only place in the city for boys to go to when they are sick or injured, no matter what hour of the day it may be.  In the past 2 weeks, we've already had 2 boys stay with us...one with a broken arm and one with malaria.  With temperatures in the 90's most days, the shade of the mango tree has become our sickbed.  

Today I took both the boy with malaria and my own daughter, Maya, to the clinic.  Maya got a round of vaccines while the young boy was tested for both malaria and HIV...the 2 standard tests done when someone is sick in this country.  He now rests outside under the mango tree while I sit in Maya's room watching her sleep, knowing that her tiny little body is not feeling good.  But what about the boy outside under the mango tree?  Where is his mom or aunt or grandmother....someone to watch over him as he on his sickbed?  

Perhaps the unique aspect of Masana being the only place in the city for street boys to go when they are sick or injured is also a call from God to stand in the place of their mothers or fathers or aunts or uncles.  

Someone should be watching over their sickbeds and praying.