My mission blog is really a journal for me and is often personal & this entry is just that. I am happy to allow others to read it but PLEASE know this is NOT about me & the good I was able to do here - this story & experience is about a loving heavenly father who loves all of his children of all ethnicities, religions, and circumstances and how He answers prayers & works miracles in everyones lives for good.
Let me first put this story into context. I am blessed with wonderful people in my life who when I go on missions selflessly, quietly and confidentially give me "sacred funds" and tell me to use it to meet the needs that I see when I am on my missions - there is no criteria & no plan. In some instances I am able to reach out to local church leaders & ask them about needs in other instances I ask the Op Smile coordinators & other times I am led to or placed in situations where the need is apparent to me after I meet someone.
Here in Tangier on the first screening day I met Khadija (I thought it was Khady) and her mom & was instantly drawn to them, spoke to them a bit as the mom spoke English a little, drew her blood, took a photo with Khadija & the mom took a photo of my nametag. I heard later that they were from Senegal & had a difficult time getting here. I even looked up Senegal on my phone & a 5 hour trip from another country in West Africa seemed reasonable to me (my geography skills are pathetic).
I was told they were staying at the shelter & thought of them when with these funds we bought blankets & heaters for the shelter; but then I was in the midst of the chaos & long hours of the mission. Fast forward 5 days to Wed night - I am on call & at the hospital unitl 11 pm. I was given the next day's surgery schedule & was so excited to see Khadija's name on the schedule. Late that night as I was going back & forth with the next to the last patient on the stairs between the OR & pre op I "ran into" Khadijas mom & we talked about her surgery the next day & I said I would be there. I continued to feel like I needed to help them & had talked to someone about a 2 hour train vs the 5 hour bus for them to get home & her mom mentioned that & I thought it was good & didn't want her to know I may have had any part of that assistance & I was just excited they were getting surgery & transportation home (or so I thought).
Thursday was a hectic day but the one time I went into child life for no more than 5 min Khadija & her mom were there - we talked & hugged & took a photo. Khadija had surgery late that day & I saw her in PACU as promised & kept her mom up to date when the surgery was going long & again felt in my heart & spirit so strongly that I needed to help them - but I thought I had & I was...but there was this nagging feeling I still hadn't done all I needed to do for them but I was busy & pushed that thought aside...
Friday night as we sat down at the final dinner/party Abigail sat be me...(she is the student who was sick that I took care of). She said that Ambra the Program Coordinator asked her & Caroline the other student to get a few patient stories to send back to Op Smile. The students had also bonded with Khadija - she & her mom were so loely & warm & truly their spirits I think drew people to them & the students had interacted with her often & become her "friends". So on arrival at dinner Abigail starts to share her story & it was Kahdija & this is what she told me....
Khadija who is 14 & her mom traveled here form Senegal...another African country. It was a 5 hour FLIGHT from Senegal to Casablanca & then the 5 hour difficult bus ride from Casablanca to Tangier (I had totally missed out on the flight part). It has been a difficult life for Khadija - at school every time a teacher would ask her a question because of the cleft palate & nasal deformity she has difficulty speaking & the other kids her whole life had made fun of her & laughed at her - she has had no friend her entire life except her sister. Her mom heard about Op Smile & over a long time saved enough money (about $500 US) to get herself & Khadija here but she did not have any money to get back & was not sure who or when they would get back to Senegal yet she was praising God & so thankful for Op Smile saying that without them this would have never happened because it was a complicated case. She said that her entire family and friends in her town have been praying for Khadija & for all of the volunteers & the entire team and that God is good to them....
I FINALLY knew what I needed to do - I needed to get them flights home...I looked on Kayak & flights for Sunday were about $250 each person, I knew that the fast train to Casablanca was about $50 per person as I thought that was already taken care of but it wasn't the mom when she told me that she would get help to get home was simply expressing her faith to me. I got up from the table in the middle of the party & went to Madame (head of Op Smile Morocco & told her the situation & my desire to help (she is who coordinated the heaters).She said we would do it in the morning....after all this huge party was going on, it was loud & she essentially was the hostess. So many things went thru my mind. Mostly that sometimes God tries to work thru you but you don't get the right message.
I felt like I was given a second chance to do one of the things I was sent here to do...clearly I wasn't listening with precision when God was trying to guide me the first time, I could imagine this council of angels in heaven saying "we sent Nancy Kraus there that thru her generous friends we could answer this faithful mother & families prayers & Nancy caught on & connected with them on the first day - that was perfect but somewhere along the way she got a little off track & thought she was done when she hadn't done what was needed. She was seeing them & helping them thru the surgery but she missed the bigger part so we need reinforcements to get these people home...send in Abigail to help her they already have connections Abigail & Nancy & Abigail & Khadija. And that s how God finally got my attention :) The Operation Smile team had no idea about her or her situation or her "story" with 289 patients screened & 180 surgeries it is hard to find one need when theyr are often so many - it's that needle in the haystack unless you wont find unless you are directed to it - the Op Smile team was grateful we found out & wanted to help this patient.
If you think of the hundreds of steps that took place for all of this to happen - there are no coincidences....this family coming to this mission, generosity from friends that was significant, Abigail on the mission. Me meeting Khadija at screening, Abigail getting sick & I cared for her, the other times I "ran into" Khadija & her mom, Abigail choosing them to "interview", Abigail sitting next to me at dinner among 100 people at a party, Abigail sharing that story....this is a well orchestrated plan by a loving father in heaven to bring all of this together to care for Khadija & answer a mothers & families prayers thru others - which I believe is often how prayers are answered thru the hands & hearts of others on earth.
This was all I could think about the entire LONG party & after the party I confirmed with Madame the plan to go to the hospital & find them at the post op check (they were still staying there overnight) & offer the assistance. When I told Abigail & Caroline & Brittan the plan they wanted to come to & Abigail was such a big piece of this I wanted her to come for sure. SO as we got back to the hotel at 1:30 am thinking this was out morning to sleep in before our flight none of that mattered & we all planned to meet in the lobby at 7:45 to go & find them & do this :) My heart was bursting.
So this morning I went to the ATM to get Moroccan money & then the 5 of us went (including Pete the student sponsor) and Nour the local Program Coordinator was out interpreter as she spoke French. We found Khadijas mom, found an empty room & brought her in & reiterated the story above - which I did thru MANY TEARS...I told her that it was clear to me God was answering her prayers thru us & it was such an honor to be a part of her miracle. We made sure she had the money for the flights & for the fast train. The students & Brittany all gave her extra money for food & unplanned needs All in the room were tearful & she expressed much gratitude, hugged each of us tightly - told me thank you for listening to God & being my angel...and then we walked back to the hotel, quietly at first with some reverence for the experience we all just shared in - then talking more about how it all lined up....miraculously.
So I can go home feeling that I truly did ALL I was supposed to do here...I have finished my mission in Morocco & am ready to go home - feeling humbled, blessed, grateful & definitely a better person that I was when I came 2 weeks ago. I always pray to do what I am supposed to do wherever I am & I am grateful to be one of the many instruments in God's hands that made this happen & thankful that He finds a way to work with my imperfect self & repeats Himself & finds a way to communicate to me when I don't always "get it" the first time.
I am headed to the airport now...ready to leave the country & people that have forever changed me
Let me first put this story into context. I am blessed with wonderful people in my life who when I go on missions selflessly, quietly and confidentially give me "sacred funds" and tell me to use it to meet the needs that I see when I am on my missions - there is no criteria & no plan. In some instances I am able to reach out to local church leaders & ask them about needs in other instances I ask the Op Smile coordinators & other times I am led to or placed in situations where the need is apparent to me after I meet someone.
Here in Tangier on the first screening day I met Khadija (I thought it was Khady) and her mom & was instantly drawn to them, spoke to them a bit as the mom spoke English a little, drew her blood, took a photo with Khadija & the mom took a photo of my nametag. I heard later that they were from Senegal & had a difficult time getting here. I even looked up Senegal on my phone & a 5 hour trip from another country in West Africa seemed reasonable to me (my geography skills are pathetic).
I was told they were staying at the shelter & thought of them when with these funds we bought blankets & heaters for the shelter; but then I was in the midst of the chaos & long hours of the mission. Fast forward 5 days to Wed night - I am on call & at the hospital unitl 11 pm. I was given the next day's surgery schedule & was so excited to see Khadija's name on the schedule. Late that night as I was going back & forth with the next to the last patient on the stairs between the OR & pre op I "ran into" Khadijas mom & we talked about her surgery the next day & I said I would be there. I continued to feel like I needed to help them & had talked to someone about a 2 hour train vs the 5 hour bus for them to get home & her mom mentioned that & I thought it was good & didn't want her to know I may have had any part of that assistance & I was just excited they were getting surgery & transportation home (or so I thought).
Thursday was a hectic day but the one time I went into child life for no more than 5 min Khadija & her mom were there - we talked & hugged & took a photo. Khadija had surgery late that day & I saw her in PACU as promised & kept her mom up to date when the surgery was going long & again felt in my heart & spirit so strongly that I needed to help them - but I thought I had & I was...but there was this nagging feeling I still hadn't done all I needed to do for them but I was busy & pushed that thought aside...
Friday night as we sat down at the final dinner/party Abigail sat be me...(she is the student who was sick that I took care of). She said that Ambra the Program Coordinator asked her & Caroline the other student to get a few patient stories to send back to Op Smile. The students had also bonded with Khadija - she & her mom were so loely & warm & truly their spirits I think drew people to them & the students had interacted with her often & become her "friends". So on arrival at dinner Abigail starts to share her story & it was Kahdija & this is what she told me....
Khadija who is 14 & her mom traveled here form Senegal...another African country. It was a 5 hour FLIGHT from Senegal to Casablanca & then the 5 hour difficult bus ride from Casablanca to Tangier (I had totally missed out on the flight part). It has been a difficult life for Khadija - at school every time a teacher would ask her a question because of the cleft palate & nasal deformity she has difficulty speaking & the other kids her whole life had made fun of her & laughed at her - she has had no friend her entire life except her sister. Her mom heard about Op Smile & over a long time saved enough money (about $500 US) to get herself & Khadija here but she did not have any money to get back & was not sure who or when they would get back to Senegal yet she was praising God & so thankful for Op Smile saying that without them this would have never happened because it was a complicated case. She said that her entire family and friends in her town have been praying for Khadija & for all of the volunteers & the entire team and that God is good to them....
I FINALLY knew what I needed to do - I needed to get them flights home...I looked on Kayak & flights for Sunday were about $250 each person, I knew that the fast train to Casablanca was about $50 per person as I thought that was already taken care of but it wasn't the mom when she told me that she would get help to get home was simply expressing her faith to me. I got up from the table in the middle of the party & went to Madame (head of Op Smile Morocco & told her the situation & my desire to help (she is who coordinated the heaters).She said we would do it in the morning....after all this huge party was going on, it was loud & she essentially was the hostess. So many things went thru my mind. Mostly that sometimes God tries to work thru you but you don't get the right message.
I felt like I was given a second chance to do one of the things I was sent here to do...clearly I wasn't listening with precision when God was trying to guide me the first time, I could imagine this council of angels in heaven saying "we sent Nancy Kraus there that thru her generous friends we could answer this faithful mother & families prayers & Nancy caught on & connected with them on the first day - that was perfect but somewhere along the way she got a little off track & thought she was done when she hadn't done what was needed. She was seeing them & helping them thru the surgery but she missed the bigger part so we need reinforcements to get these people home...send in Abigail to help her they already have connections Abigail & Nancy & Abigail & Khadija. And that s how God finally got my attention :) The Operation Smile team had no idea about her or her situation or her "story" with 289 patients screened & 180 surgeries it is hard to find one need when theyr are often so many - it's that needle in the haystack unless you wont find unless you are directed to it - the Op Smile team was grateful we found out & wanted to help this patient.
If you think of the hundreds of steps that took place for all of this to happen - there are no coincidences....this family coming to this mission, generosity from friends that was significant, Abigail on the mission. Me meeting Khadija at screening, Abigail getting sick & I cared for her, the other times I "ran into" Khadija & her mom, Abigail choosing them to "interview", Abigail sitting next to me at dinner among 100 people at a party, Abigail sharing that story....this is a well orchestrated plan by a loving father in heaven to bring all of this together to care for Khadija & answer a mothers & families prayers thru others - which I believe is often how prayers are answered thru the hands & hearts of others on earth.
This was all I could think about the entire LONG party & after the party I confirmed with Madame the plan to go to the hospital & find them at the post op check (they were still staying there overnight) & offer the assistance. When I told Abigail & Caroline & Brittan the plan they wanted to come to & Abigail was such a big piece of this I wanted her to come for sure. SO as we got back to the hotel at 1:30 am thinking this was out morning to sleep in before our flight none of that mattered & we all planned to meet in the lobby at 7:45 to go & find them & do this :) My heart was bursting.
So this morning I went to the ATM to get Moroccan money & then the 5 of us went (including Pete the student sponsor) and Nour the local Program Coordinator was out interpreter as she spoke French. We found Khadijas mom, found an empty room & brought her in & reiterated the story above - which I did thru MANY TEARS...I told her that it was clear to me God was answering her prayers thru us & it was such an honor to be a part of her miracle. We made sure she had the money for the flights & for the fast train. The students & Brittany all gave her extra money for food & unplanned needs All in the room were tearful & she expressed much gratitude, hugged each of us tightly - told me thank you for listening to God & being my angel...and then we walked back to the hotel, quietly at first with some reverence for the experience we all just shared in - then talking more about how it all lined up....miraculously.
So I can go home feeling that I truly did ALL I was supposed to do here...I have finished my mission in Morocco & am ready to go home - feeling humbled, blessed, grateful & definitely a better person that I was when I came 2 weeks ago. I always pray to do what I am supposed to do wherever I am & I am grateful to be one of the many instruments in God's hands that made this happen & thankful that He finds a way to work with my imperfect self & repeats Himself & finds a way to communicate to me when I don't always "get it" the first time.
I am headed to the airport now...ready to leave the country & people that have forever changed me