Some Challenges to women of Koutiala, Mali.
I wrote an email to Jessica, the Head nurse at the Koutiala Women and Children's Hospital, to thank her for her help in delivering the last batch of blankets and to ask her some more questions about life for the women who come to the hospital. Here is a portion of her email.
'll do my best to answer your questions. Some of the challenges women
in Mali have: they tend to be viewed as property, they are "bought"
with a dowry...so they tend to not have a lot of rights. We've often
had women express interest and even belief in the gospel, but they
don't feel they can make a decision to accept Christ without
permission from their husband or father. Women in Mali (and women who
come to the hospital) work very hard. They pound their grain to make
"to" (one of the very common local dishes, a bit like a thick cream of
wheat cereal that is eaten with sauce), they wash clothes by hand, get
their water from a well (some, especially in villages, may have to
walk some distance to get water), they cook over an open fire
outside, go regularly to the market to buy items for sauce for their
meal (they don't have fridges so can't stock up on fresh things), and
do much of this with a baby tied on their back and maybe carrying some
load on their head. There are some women who have bicycles or mopeds,
but many women do walk wherever they go, or depend on their spouse or
another family member to give them a ride on their moped. Life tends
to be more about survival, less about planning and getting ahead.
Most women who come to our hospital are from the few neighborhoods
closest to the hospital -- they come on foot, bicycle, moto, or taxi.
There are people who come from a distance with public transportation
or a family member, or who are referred by one of our village clinics
and come in by the village clinic ambulance. Ina (Ina gave birth to twins
and received 2 of our blankets) was probably brought
in by moto/moped or taxi and lives in Koutiala, so she didn't have far
to come (a few miles). I'm pretty sure she was in labor when she
arrived at the hospital. I'm guessing Ina will have a young female
relative to help with her babies, or her older children, so there will
generally be someone who can go places with her to take one of the
babies so she doesn't have to carry both. Many Malians live in a large
compound with other relatives, or other families that may not be their
relatives but rent from the same landlord. There are usually family
members who can take care of children who are at home if their mom is
at our hospital (or sometimes it might be one of the older siblings
taking care of the younger siblings).
Lord break our hearts for what breaks yours
This is life in Mali. Even though there are some things that we could do to make life easier in the physical realm such as financing wells, providing medical assistance for common illnesses like dysentery or head aches or vaccines, life in Mali is still going to be hard. What if these women (families) could live in their circumstance with out fear, with out drudgery and with out weariness? The apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians;
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:10-13
We can't send freezers,mini vans or car seats over to help these women but we can pray for them to have joy in their daily "hard" life. They may not know how hard it really is, especially compared to our Westernized life, but what if they had a hope of something bigger than to just survive? What if they knew that they could have life and abundantly? Contentment, purpose and the love of a heavenly father that they have never known. No more fear other than the fear of the Lord.
Here is a scripture, a suggestion for prayer.
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. (missionaries, dr.s, nurses etc.) You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessolonians 1:4-10
I pray whole families and communities would receive the gospel and be transformed in a way that would lead to the gospels impact to be seen throughout all of Mali, the region of West Africa and the entire continent of Africa.
Use these blankets to your glory, may they be catalysts to Your truth and of Your love for all man kind. Thank you that we can join you where You are at work in the hearts of the people of Koutiala, Mali. We thank you for what You are about to do. In Jesus Name, Amen
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