Late in July when Timo noticed an elderly man struggling to get water and food, he spoke to him and followed him back to his home to assess his needs. For the past 6 or 7 years, he had been living in a hut he had constructed of various accumulated materials. On a Saturday , Timo took several of his friends from school with him to give the man a helping hand. When they arrived, they realized the man was close to death and needed to get to a clinic. Timo called me, and as he and the boys carried him down the hill on a narrow path, I met them on the closest road with the car.
They took him to the hospital where he was given and IV and admitted. Later that afternoon, Timo and Iwent to the hospital and to the market to buy sheets and a blanket, as the hospital does not provide anything, but the bed. We made up his bed, talked briefly with him and prayed for him. He seemed to be comfortable on the soft sheets and bed, thanked us and smiled.
On Monday evening, the doctor told Timo he was discharged. Timo and the boys took him back to his place and Timo left a neighbor the medicines to give to him the next morning. Sadly, when the neighbor went on Tuesday, the man was dead. There was no family, no service, no coffin. Some neighbors dug a grave opposite his hut, wrapped him in the new sheets and blanket and buried him. The boys came just as he had been buried and we prayed.
We were comforted to know that in his last hours of life, he had known compassion, kindness, and gentleness. This experience had a profound effect on some of the young men.
They took him to the hospital where he was given and IV and admitted. Later that afternoon, Timo and Iwent to the hospital and to the market to buy sheets and a blanket, as the hospital does not provide anything, but the bed. We made up his bed, talked briefly with him and prayed for him. He seemed to be comfortable on the soft sheets and bed, thanked us and smiled.
On Monday evening, the doctor told Timo he was discharged. Timo and the boys took him back to his place and Timo left a neighbor the medicines to give to him the next morning. Sadly, when the neighbor went on Tuesday, the man was dead. There was no family, no service, no coffin. Some neighbors dug a grave opposite his hut, wrapped him in the new sheets and blanket and buried him. The boys came just as he had been buried and we prayed.
We were comforted to know that in his last hours of life, he had known compassion, kindness, and gentleness. This experience had a profound effect on some of the young men.
The Hut
The Man
Timo and Charles carrying him
In the clinic
Timo (right) with school friends at graveside.
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