Fannie's Story

I would like to introduce you to Fannie. Fannie lives in Ombili with her two young sons. She lives simply, like most people do in Ombili. She is in the process of building a new house. Before you conjure up images of a two-story house or a quaint little bungalow near the beach, you must realize that a new house in Ombili is not what you are thinking. Fannie's house is made from clay blocks that she and her two sons mix, then mold. She has been working on this house for sometime now, but it is only about one-third complete.

I met Fannie about two weeks ago. She had gauze wrapped around her leg and her hand. The bandages were blood-soaked. It seems that Fannie was heating water or oil in a large pot over an open fire. When she removed the pot, the liquid inside sloshed out, and Fannie was burned very badly. She received burns on her right leg and her left hand. She could hardly walk at all and could not close her hand or straighten her leg. I asked her if she was seeing a doctor, and she told me that she was supposed to go to the hospital every day to have her wounds dressed. I could tell that the dressing had not been changed in a few days, so I asked her if she was going to the hospital every day. Fannie said, "I can't. I do not have money for the taxi, and it is too far to walk." I gave Fannie some antibiotic ointment and Tylenol and tried to explain to her the importance of moving her hand and leg and keeping the skin flexible. When she tried to move her limbs, it was excruciating. Then I asked her if I could pray for her.

It was one week before we saw Fannie again because Fredna and I were out of town, but upon our return I was absolutely astounded! There were only two small places that were still weeping on her leg. The burns have almost completely healed! Her skin pigment has not returned completely yet, but she looks fantastic compared to what she did look like! I told her that God had heard our prayers, and He had given her a special touch. She immediately agreed!

There is another part to Fannie's story... While Fredna and I were away for the week, Fannie came to the Ombili church looking for me. She told one of my workers that she came to show me her leg and tell me that she now believed in prayer. Fannie told my worker that when I asked if I could pray for her, she said okay, but she didn't believe that prayer would help. Now she believes that there is a God and that He hears and answers prayer. Fannie says she can't wait for our first service at Ombili A/G - she and her two sons will be present!