tough decisions

So here’s a tough decision that none of us have to face everyday but our social worker grappled with this situation today.  We found out yesterday about a woman in a village nearby who had triplets and was asking for help.  Our social worker, one of our American nurses and one of our interns went to check out the situation.  First of all, I must explain that village here means no running water, no electricity, charcoal or wood stoves, and dirt floors.  So they discovered the babies, all little girls, were born 2 months ago.  They were all small and probably came early (the mom didn’t even know she was pregnant with triplets until she delivered!).  One of the little girls is very small and sickly and may die.  The father fetches water for a living and earns probably $2-$3 a day.  The mother, age 22, is of course totally worn out and doesn’t have anyone to help her during the day.  She was given some formula when the babies were born but she feeds all 3 babies out of the same sippy cup.  She also is breast feeding.  A small tin of formula, that would probably last one day or two, cost $10 here.  Our group did bring two tins of formula and some bottles.   The social worker asked the mother about us taking the one sickly child so she could manage the other two.   The mother said that in her culture they believe that you cannot separate triplets or they will all become sickly.  She is asking us to take all the children.   

 

We really have not come to a conclusion as yet.  We know we do not have room right now for 3 babies, but even if we did, we really would not want to take all 3 children from an able bodied, sound minded mother and father.   As I stood on my veranda speaking with our social worker, the thought flashed through my mind, “wow, not a decision we face everyday!”  I am so often floored by the decisions we are faced with.  Decisions that affect peoples’ lives!  Would you pray for wisdom that comes only from God for us?  We praise God for the one who gives it.  Thank you for praying for us!