November 17, 2015
by Pat Rees
Normally, I associate lack of sun and overcast skies as less than favorable days where we live in the “Grey North-Wet”, but in Bongolo, the cloudy skies are viewed differently. When the clouds block the sun, it actually makes the weather nicer! The humidity during the rainy season is definitely north of 80% (probably 90%) and when the sun shines, it is really pretty steamy. When the sun is blocked, it makes the heat less and the afternoons much more comfortable. Today was a grey day in Bongolo but for more than one reason: We lost “one of our own” to death.
I didn’t personally know the nurse who died, but I know he was young. Those that worked with him say he had a peace-loving and godly spirit. He was the type who would calm the arguments when people started shouting. He was the admission nurse for the outpatient medical unit, and as such, came in contact with literally hundreds of patients here at the hospital. He took their vitals, listened to their initial complaints, and put them in the rooms for the medical doctors to see. He had just started his vacation last weekend. The residents told me they saw him in town on Saturday waiting for a bus to take him to see his family in a town 2 hours away. He was so excited about his time off of work. He became ill on Sunday and vomited blood. He spoke with one of the nurses at the hospital who warned him to not wait too long if he was ill and to come back to Bongolo if he needed. I am sure he wanted to maximize his family time and tried to “tough it out”. Monday, he was no better, and Monday late afternoon, his family tried to drive him to Bongolo Hospital. He died in the car on the way to the hospital.
I had a chance to talk to several of the residents today. They each spoke about their experiences and interactions with this co-worker. All of the residents had come to the hospital last night to try to help when they heard this nurse arrived in the emergency department. They were a support to each other and to this man’s family when there was nothing medically or surgically they could do.
This godly nurse is now on “permanent vacation” in heaven. He was ready to meet the end of his life from a spiritual point of view. Nobody suspected as he jumped on the bus for “home” last Saturday, that his real home-going was so close at hand. This is a strong reminder again, of where our home really is. It is not on this earth. It is not in Washington, and it is not in Bongolo. We need to keep our eyes open and our hearts ready for when our time on earth is over. I want Heaven with Jesus to be my Home.