cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe
and
watches...Jesus is in that cholera camp, amongst the vomit and the diarrhoea, full of compassion for these people. I asked myself where Jesus would be at Christmas and I knew he would be here, so I wanted to be here too.’
The scale of the problem can seem overwhelming. One area of a local town (home to 20,000 residents) has no clean water available and the sewage system is not functioning. During my visit, I saw that the public toilets were two feet deep in faeces, with a writhing mass of maggots - and still in use. Adults were getting drinking water from broken pipes that well up amongst sewage; children were playing ball in the sewage, as well as eating fruit with dirty hands. The community has lived like this for seven years. It has gotten so used to living in the sewage that the people do not seem sad. On the contrary, many smile and the children play happily.
As I walked alongside rivers of sewage, I was reminded that in heaven there are rivers of living water running through the streets. 5
The Celebration Health
team have seen that God wants them to be agents of
6 nucleus easter ‘09
reformation in this town and throughout Zimbabwe; they long to see living water provided for these people now. This will involve rebuilding infrastructure and changing behaviour.
biblical truths come alive
In a country with so much need, biblical truths seem to come alive. One doctor said that they are ministering to Jesus himself when they help those stricken by the cholera crisis. Jesus will say to those who have lived in obedience to him:
‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
Right: Disinfecting cholera beds Below: John (third from right) shares a meal with the team
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’6
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