For Jonathan Sake Outreach Day 19- Nerland

Nerland’s mother has been bringing her to outreach for the past 2 years all the way from PdP. It take an hour by tap-tap to get to the mission and costs her $1.00US to travel to & from outreach each week which is equivalent to about a days work. Nerland is full of JOY & always has the biggest smile on her face. She also has quite the personality…she loves to make silly faces, tease you, & joke around with you. People are just drawn to her. Her mother shared the other day that Nerland was born “normal” with no disability but got sick when she was little that resulted in her inability to walk. When Nerland stood she was in a crouched position unable to stand straight up. She could take steps with assistance of someone’s hands or a walker but tired quickly and walked crouched. She loved working on walking during outreach and with much practice got pretty good at using a little green walker we had. Nerland had never been able to go to school before secondary to her physical disability until this year. We were able to pay for her schooling & get her mainstream into a school next to her home with a walker. Since she can get around with the walker she now has access to an education. Nerland loves school & loves to learn.

 I have had the privilege of visiting Nerland at her home on a few separate occasions. The first time I visited the entire family was at church right down the road & so mom pulled Nerland out of church & took us to see her home. They live with extended family in a small one room home with dirt floors. I did not have a translator & so was unable to get a lot of information. I do believe that Nerland is an only child (not positive on this though). I did enjoy playing with Nerland & laughing with her. She has the best laugh/giggle! The second time I visited. Nerland she was at school & so her mom took us to see her. It was so fun to go visit Nerland at school…to see her in her uniform & how much she loves school. Nerland was excited & so were her teachers.  We were able to bless her family with a solar power Christian radio from Radio. 4VEH. They were beyond excited & started cheering! Her mother was so sweet & helped us find 3 other outreach homes. On the way back one of the Short-Term American missionaries stepped in mud and Nerland’s mother was so sweet. She ran ahead to her house to find a gallon or so of water and came running back insisting on washing her feet. What a servant’s heart!'

Nerland’s mother ADORES her daughter & I really saw this in October when Nerland had bilateral foot surgery (tendon releases) to help her walk better. Every October we are blessed to have an orthopedic surgeon & his team comes down. Nerland’s surgery went very smoothly. She woke up from surgery with a BIG smile (who does that?!?!). She went home 2 days later & returned a week later to start therapy. The type of surgery she had required her to be casted both legs up to her thighs but she was able & encourage to start standing and walking as soon as possible. I was AMAZED the next week when she was already dancing around & walking with hands held with her new casts on…of course with a huge smile followed by lost of giggles! She actually walked so much that her wore out the bottom of her casts which required us to take the casts off early & replace with new casts. Unfortunately the new casts were put on without enough padding around her thighs causing open sores. I worked with the doctor to create removable casts that still held her legs in the correct position so that her wounds could be clean & healed. During this time she was bringing her daughter 3-4x a week at one point (which was a financial burden but she did it because she only wanted the best for her daughter…we did help her off-set those costs but she did not know we would do that). Before I left to come home for Christmas she had her high casts cut off and was placed in just foot casts. Nerland was doing great despite the few set-backs. When her high casts came off though she lost the ability to stand straight and was unable to stand to walk. Her mother quickly questioned her decision of letting her daughter get the surgery…wondering if she made a mistake. Her daughter could at least stand enough to walk before surgery…I spent an hour with a translator explaining to her mother how if you don’t use muscles for 6 weeks you will lose strength. I reassured her mother that with exercise and practice she would regain skills & even be able to stand straight like in the casts. I have instructed her mother on stretches and exercises to do at home & she was to bring Nerland 2x a week for therapy. Since being home I have heard that Nerland is doing well. She is gaining skills, her casts have come off and she is now in her new braces and shoes. I heard she was very excited to receive her new shoes!

There is definitely something special about this family and the JOY…LOVE…LAUGHTER that radiates out of them. Please keep this family in your prayers!

·         Pray that Nerland would continue to gain skills specifically the ability to walk independently

·         Pray that Nerland would continue to learn in school

·         Pray for Nerland’s mother & family to grow in their love for God and understanding of His word and In God’s word they would find peace, hope, and encouragement.

·         Pray that Nerland’s mother would find a job that can bring in a steady income for their family