This post was written by Mindy Rives, my wife.
On Tuesday of Week 0, I had the great honor of spending most of the day with a sweet 7 year old girl named Gertrude. Unfortunately the majority of our time together was spent at a local clinic in downtown Lusaka. Gertrude looks like she’s about 4 years old…her tiny frame and dark, sunken eyes will absolutely break your heart. She is literally skin and bones and her breathing is extremely heavy.
When she got off of the bus on Tuesday morning at Camp LIFE, we knew we had to get her to the clinic quickly. Her mom and 14 month old baby brother were on the bus as well (it is not normal for parents and young siblings to come to camp, but now I know that God was at work here). I, along with 2 other Zambian Family Legacy employees, took Gertrude, her 24 year old mom, Dina, and her baby brother, Peter, to a partner of Family Legacy’s called Tiny Tim and Friends. They run a clinic that treats women and children free of charge.
If you have a spare moment today, please pray for the following…
1) That Gertrude would come to know the Lord this week at camp. This is her first time to come to Camp LIFE, so it will probably be her first time to hear the gospel.
2) That the JOY of the LORD will be her STRENGTH! Joy just happens to be the theme for camp this year. Pray that joy will consume her and bring her great hope.
3) That she, along with the rest of her family, will get to start ARV’s very soon. ARV is a treatment for HIV.
4) That Gertrude’s father’s heart would be softened by the spirit. Her father is in denial about their health….we found out that Dina was on ARV’s before, but he made her stop them because he didn’t want to deal with stigma that comes with AIDS. A couple of FLMI Zambian staff members visited the father last night and he agreed to get tested along with their middle child, which is a huge praise! Pray that he will follow through with his word and agree for his family to take the ARV’s.
Gertrude and I did some coloring while we were waiting at the clinic….she LOVED coloring!
A new friend we made while waiting. Grace loved coloring too!
Thanks for reading this lengthy post and for your prayers!
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Dear Mindy,
Thank you for writing. Our prayers are boldly calling to our Father for sweet Gertrude and her family. Please tell Gertrude and her family that Americans far across the ocean are praying to the Lord of us all at this very moment! May He reach down His hand and cover Gertrude with His protection and fill her with His love and joy!
Ambuya Janet (aka, Richard’s mom)
Gertrude’s story brings me to tears. I am praying that she comes to know the Lord this week and that her and her family get the help they need.
Gertrude captured all our hearts. I will be praying for her and her family from the “other side” now. I love Psalm 91 it’s been my prayer for my girls since last summer…there’s POWER in those words. Please keep us posted on any news with sweet Gertrude. Blessings to you as continue to love His kids all summer. Wish I was still there.
In Him,
Tia