15 January 2004

Yesterday I was able to see the tangible side of Shevet Achim’s work. It was just an “ordinary” hospital run with Elia, who has been making hospital runs for nearly a year (picture right). We picked up four mothers and three babies at the Gaza border called Erez. The day was filled with looking after these children and meeting the doctors, including an exciting addition to the hospital staff, Rullah, a young Christian Palestinian doctor from Bethlehem.

While five babies were either at the hospital or transported to and from Gaza yesterday, it was the story of three greatly divergent cases that triggered so many emotions. I watched and my heart was torn and inspired:

This was no ordinary hospital run, since not only was it my first trip, but it also moved me regarding the work that goes on, helping to restore the hearts of the children of this land. “Sometimes it feels like you’re only a taxi driver,” said Elia, “but then you realize you helped save a child’s life.” Logistics can save the day and life of a child.

We drove these three mothers and their babies (picture right) back to Erez border. They were filled with such differing emotions. We tried to comfort in little ways the mother who was mourning and questioning, and rejoice with Abdallah’s return to life and home, and pray for all of them as they returned to Gaza.

This morning we heard that a suicide bomber had blown herself and four soldiers up at the Erez border crossing. We were especially concerned since another mother and child were due to cross over there at this time to travel to the hospital for heart surgery. We heard they had crossed over just half an hour before the explosion—Praise God; now the border was sealed. I then wondered if the slain soldiers were the ones that I joked with yesterday and who gave permission so quickly for the three mothers and children to cross back home.

We ask you to join with us in praying for peace as we try to pursue peace here with the “logistics of life.”

"Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another" (Romans 14:19).
"Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14).



	15 January 2004
	Three Babies on a Hospital Run with Shevet Achim By BRIAN KVASNICA Yesterday I was able to see the tangible side of Shevet Achim’s work. It was just an “ordinary” hospital run with Elia, who has been making hospital runs for nearly a year (picture right). We picked up four mothers and three babies at the Gaza border called Erez. The day was filled with looking after these children and meeting the doctors, including an exciting addition to the hospital staff, Rullah, a young Christian Palestinian doctor from Bethlehem. While five babies were either at the hospital or transported to and from Gaza yesterday, it was the story of three greatly divergent cases that triggered so many emotions. I watched and my heart was torn and inspired: As a deathly skinny baby was evaluated with an amazingly sophisticated heart machine allowing the doctor to inform the mother that his heart was not in need of surgery, but that a syndrome affecting the brain was debilitating him (picture right). As a twice-operated-on toddler was scared to lie down to have a heart-check-up. The verdict was mediocre. The doctors thought he was doing fairly well but wanted to keep an eye on him as he hopefully grows out of certain heart problems. And in the meantime, the mother was advised not to punish him when he falls down or shows signs of weakness. As the mother of a young baby Abdallah was joyfully returning home with her son, now given a “new” heart, and a new opportunity to live a full life (picture right). This was no ordinary hospital run, since not only was it my first trip, but it also moved me regarding the work that goes on, helping to restore the hearts of the children of this land. “Sometimes it feels like you’re only a taxi driver,” said Elia, “but then you realize you helped save a child’s life.” Logistics can save the day and life of a child. We drove these three mothers and their babies (picture right) back to Erez border. They were filled with such differing emotions. We tried to comfort in little ways the mother who was mourning and questioning, and rejoice with Abdallah’s return to life and home, and pray for all of them as they returned to Gaza. This morning we heard that a suicide bomber had blown herself and four soldiers up at the Erez border crossing. We were especially concerned since another mother and child were due to cross over there at this time to travel to the hospital for heart surgery. We heard they had crossed over just half an hour before the explosion—Praise God; now the border was sealed. I then wondered if the slain soldiers were the ones that I joked with yesterday and who gave permission so quickly for the three mothers and children to cross back home. We ask you to join with us in praying for peace as we try to pursue peace here with the “logistics of life.” "Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another" (Romans 14:19). "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14). In God's grace, Brian Kvasnica brian@shevet.org return to top