Complaining is not for her...not our Alma. She NEVER complains or grumbles..well, almost never. Sometimes she does complain that the pain is too much or one of her siblings is pulling her hair or she really needs to go to the bathroom. But, she perseveres. Sweet Alma is 14 years old and is confined to a wheelchair. From her waist down doesn't work....so she can only move her upper body.
Yesterday, we had the privilege of walking into her home. It's a great honor to be invited into a home in Guatemala, so we gladly went. Alma was lying on her bed. Let me stop to describe her bed so that you don't get some pre-conceived idea. There's a straw mat which is slowly coming apart at the edges because animals and siblings are pulling at the loose strings. Then there are 2 foam squares which are covered in an old cloth lying on top of that..maybe one inch thick. Something has been gnawing on one of those as well as foam is scattered about her head.
Chickens and cats come and go in the house and walk all over her. Some cats lie down beside her as if they are somehow guarding Alma. She pets them and smiles. But, she is in a lot of pain. You see, she went ot the bathroom several weeks ago and fell. She has to pull herself on her arms to the steps and then scoot her body down a full flight of concrete stairs. She fell going down those steps. And she was wounded on her rear. She is on round 3 of an infection.
A few of us stayed to help clean the infection yesterday, and I have to tell you that I almost vomited in front of everyone. This is not a band-aid sized infection. It is the size of a doughnut but about 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep. It looks like a doctor just shaved off part of her and sewed up what he could. Can you imagine? How is she supposed to keep that clean?
But, she doesn't complain. Instead, she smiles at us and sings a song about faith in the Lord. I cry. We all cry. She has unspeakable joy. That only comes from the Lord. What are you complaining about today?
