Baby Debbie

I just spent the last hour and half of my morning at a funeral for a one month old, HIV+ orphan who lived at Haven 1. Her name was Debbie and she was the tiniest, most precious thing I have ever held. It was not so much a funeral, but a burial. I have heard about what African funerals are really like and this was not it. Perhaps because it was a baby, or perhaps she didn't have much family here in Kalomo.

We went to the morgue behind Kalomo hospital where Debbie's body was wrapped in her pink blanket, lying on a table. We all walked through and looked at her peaceful body. It was definitely the most intense sadness I have felt since being here. We all walked through the building, the out the other side where we waited, cried, and thought about what we were currently experiencing. No words. I'm not sure what we were waiting for exactly, maybe for her relative to spend last moments with her, or just to give time in general. Mama Cecelia and Beauty were there. Beauty is the auntie in the room where Debbie slept in the Haven. Aunties are incredible. They spend their days caring for a room full of babies -- feeding, changing, loving, holding -- all of it. Their hearts are totally poured out into these babies.

Finally, Mama Cecelia walked back in to the room, picked up Debbie's body, and we walked down the road a little bit to where a couple of men had been digging her grave. Mama Cecelia is so gentle. One thing about African funerals is there are no caskets, so Mama just laid little Debbie right into the ground with a bag of things that came with Debbie to the orphanage. Shawn said a prayer, and a Zambian man read scripture from Matthew about Jesus and the little children, and how we should be like children in order to gain the Kingdom of Heaven. It was short and beautiful. Then, two younger men picked up their shovels and proceeded to fill up the grave. No casket, so the dirt literally covered that sweet baby's body. It was hard to watch.

However, I am thankful for this experience.I know that God had this planned long before we even knew and that He will continue to work through this. There is a certain joy I feel because I know Debbie is done suffering and won't live a life full of struggles. I can't put much more into words.

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When we all get to Heaven, what a day of REJOICING that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory.

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Blessed be your name, on the road marked with suffering.
Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be your name.

Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say:

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

You give and take away.
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say:
Lord, blessed be your name.

Amen. :)