Upon arriving in Swaziland, I didn’t really have a passion for the hospital ministry. Matt visited the men’s ward every day, yet I was reluctant to follow him. That was until I met Wandile and Ncamsile.
Wandile and Ncamsile were ‘bed mates.’ Matt and I visited Wandile regularly, as Matt knew her from when he was in Swaziland in ’06. She went to be with the Lord only a few weeks ago after suffering from HIV/AIDS and TB.
I continued to visit Ncamsile. Over the past 1.5 months I’ve seen AIDS and TB slowly take over her tiny body. At first she was able to feed herself and wash herself. However, in the past few weeks her weakness took over, and she had to rely on me (and others) to feed her, take her to the bathroom, and bathe her.
A week ago I visited her during the evening visiting hours. She was so weak she barely had the strength to talk and even swallow her food. That night she threw up all her food in front of me. She felt so ashamed, and my heart continued to break for her. I gave her a copy of the New Testament as I left, and told her over and over again that God loves her. I shared what Jesus had done for me, and how He wanted to be Lord of her life. I told her how she didn’t need to be afraid.
As I left that night, I prayed, “Lord, if she’s ready to go, take her now. She doesn’t need to suffer any longer. However, if she’s not ready, give me or someone else the opportunity to tell her once again how much you love her.”
That same night she called a nurse over to her bed, “I want to accept Jesus into my heart,” she told the nurse. Not long after the nurse prayed for her, the Lord took her to be with Him.
I praise God that Ncamsile no longer has to suffer. I can just see her sitting at the feet of Jesus, not suffering, but delighting in his presence and soaking in every word He’s saying.
