Faith without Fear

If I told you to close your eyes and imagine a 14-year-old
boy, I bet we would probably have the same mental picture…..About 5’8″ and 130
lbs. (at least), cool haircut (mostly in his eyes), probably braces on his
teeth, designer clothes, cell phone, and more than likely an untouchable spirit
about him.  I’d like to tell you
about a 14-year-old boy that I met last week at the local hospital here in
Swaziland. 

His name is Thandella. 
When I first laid eyes upon him, I wasn’t sure whether he was a boy or a
girl.  He was cuddled up underneath
several blankets in the hospital bed. 
Actually he was in a baby bed. 
He probably only weighed 45 pounds, mostly only what his skeleton
weighed.  His caretaker was with
him and she was only a distant cousin. 
He didn’t have on designer jeans. 
He didn’t carry a cell phone. 
He actually needed serious dental work, but who can afford that
here.  His hair was shaven closely
to his head, and his spirit was fading fast.  He wasn’t concerned about what his friends were doing, or
where he was going to “hang out”….he was just totally humiliated that the
nursing staff wouldn’t let him out of the bed to go use the restroom.  He wore diapers.  He screamed in pain.  He winced every time he moved his body
the slightest bit. 

I began to talk to him as well as his cousin.  She told me that he was HIV positive
and suffering from TB.  I could
feel his chest rattle every time he breathed.  He was on oxygen and was given several liquid medications
for his TB.  I visited him several
times and during the weekend.  His
cousin was exhausted from having to try to sleep on the concrete floor beneath
his baby bed.  She said that he
moaned most of the night and could rarely get comfortable.

Sunday afternoon, I felt a strong need to go visit Thandella.  When entering his room, his cousin
approached me with a sort of panic in her face.  She said that he had been struggling and she was worried
that he might die.  Thandella was
in a coma state and having tremendous difficulty breathing.  His cousin was very emotional and
concerned for this sweet child.  I
crawled in the bed with him and just began to pray…..I prayed for his knowledge
of Jesus.  I prayed for peace for
his family.  I prayed for
comfort.  And I also prayed for God
to take him home.

Monday morning Thandella went home.  He died at 5:00 a.m.  His cousin was extremely saddened by
this but she was also thankful that he would not have any more pain or suffering
any longer.  Thandella touched my
heart in a way that I can hardly describe.   We don’t know why this child was HIV positive.  We don’t know why he was chosen to
carry TB.  We don’t know why he was
selected to be malnourished.  But
the one thing we do know is that God knows all of these answers and many, many
more.  Everything happens for a
reason.  We are not entitled to
know the answers to these questions. 
We just have to have faith. 
Faith in God alone.  Faith
that He does all things for His glory.   Faith without limits.   Faith without
fear! 

Please join me in praying for Thandella’s family as they
prepare for his burial.  Pray that
they can have faith in God alone. 
Pray that their faith is without limits.  Pray for any other “Thandellas” here in Swaziland.  Pray that first and foremost, they know
who Jesus is.  Pray for this country….