There was a knock at the door. Sister Marilyn responded. The woman at the door almost collapsed. She had walked for eight hours carrying her daughter on her back.
The main character in the story is Flodia, the daughter. The setting is the village of Tobin, in the Diocese of Kumbo in Cameroon, Africa. (This is the anglophone area).
Flodia suffers from a crippling disease – sickle cell anemia, characterized by episodic pain and leg ulcers. She is in need of specialized care. A doctor from England treats her in the village hospital. During the past eight months she has undergone nine operations. Her pain is excruciating. When she can endure no more she is given morphine and she sleeps. She smiles. "To witness this smile," says Sister Marilyn, "is to peek into heaven." In the doctor’s eyes Flodia deserves a certificate of bravery.
Flodia’s mother, Roska has three other children, Mary Ann who is in grade 2, Erastus, in grade 3 and Luke who is two years old. They simply cannot continue to live miles from the hospital. They need a home nearby.
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Roska, Flodia, Mary Ann, Erastus and
Luke in their new home. | Sister Marilyn considers their situation. She will use her donated resources to buy a house and eventually a wheelchair. (Flodia’s right leg was amputated in August. The other leg is at risk). Sister explains that the house they bought was nothing special but an adequate little building. "We pasted pictures on the walls to hide the cracks," she says. For this grateful little family this would be "home".
To be accepted in the new community and in the school the children had to be tested for AIDS. They were all found to be HIV negative. Sister comments, "I see little miracles every day." The children are required to pay school fees. Nearly all are sponsored. There are 130 children in the Grade 1 class at the local school.
Sister Marilyn works with women at the Elizabeth Seton Centre. "I am so impressed with these women," she says. "I am humbly evangelized by them." She assures me, "The kingdom of God is among them". Since these women have been raised in an oral tradition they learn the gospel stories in pidgin. Gradually realizing the love of Jesus for each one personally, the women experience a sense of personal worth. They no longer feel alone. They gain confidence to apply for identity cards which in turn allow them to vote. They lose their sense of powerlessness.
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She sparkles! | Living in this area of Cameroon is hard. The rains used to be regular, mid-March to mid-October. Climate change has now limited the growing season. Food is simple fare – mainly fufu (which is like a solidified cream of wheat) and njama – huckleberry leaves. It is not uncommon for women to beg for their families. Yet when Sister asked one woman who already had several children, to accept another orphaned child the woman accepted without hesitation. Work at the coffee co-op Sister likens to slave labour – 700 francs (about $1.00) for two full days’ work. This is Tobin, Cameroon and this is Flodia’s world.
Today she is going home – to her new home. She has a beautiful new dress for the occasion. Sister recalls the suffering endured by this sixteen year old girl (who appears to be about eight) and says to me with love and admiration in her eyes, "When Flodia is not in excruciating pain she sparkles."
As told by Sister Marilyn von Zuben CND
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