IN THE HANDS OF GOD'S CARE

UNDER HIS CARE
In a peculiar way, my mother who never intended to be a “nurse” by default had many opportunities to minister to the physical needs of those who brought their ill loved ones to our house.

Mother

By observation and sheer necessity she learned much from the nurses assigned to Zapotitlan.  When we moved to Cuau, closer to a clinic, the nurses were assigned other remote posts with other missionaries and mother became the “go to Sra. Ediger’s” for minor medical issues.  Don Lorenzo would take the more serious ones in the Jeep or Land Rover into Puebla if available.
I recall my mothers' day being interrupted  many times.  On one occasion an anxious mother rushed up to our house (I was about 10) carrying a toddler in her

 rebozo (shawl).  As she unwrapped the child, the eyes were rolled back and he was limp. Mother took a look and I took off.  I do not recall what transpired next, however, the child may have ingested some poisonous mushrooms.
Mother in turn taught others her limited nursing skills.

Piedad Luiz ,my nanny (left), Maura, Ed's Nanny, Celia & Aurelia

The illnesses of the children were frequently presenting themselves in stomach disorders due to lack of cleanliness on the part of the mothers.  They had difficulty grasping the concept of cleanliness and using clean/boiled water to drink.
Mother would patiently teach our maids and nannies the importance of good hygiene.  As a precaution, she would periodically administer to us kids the most disgusting, horrible tasting parasite medicine I have ever tasted.
No matter how disguised, we would most often vomit that first doze.  It was a putrid orange substance with disgusting  results.
I was not allowed to run around bare foot as parasites can even enter the body by traveling through the bottom of feet.  I have memories of the Mexican rural who ran around bare foot most of the time on occasion digging out a parasite with a hot needle.
Just like the nurses, Mother always carried around an arsenal of the latest medications and knew how and when to administer them along with a prayer.  She could give shots with the swiftness just like those nurses.  In those days one could stock up on medications  at the pharmacy without prescriptions.

BABY SISTER, Emily R.

My sister, a baby at the time, nearly lost her life to malaria.  The mosquitos got through the netting the night we camped out on a remote airfield waiting for the plane to come the next day.MOSQUITOS & MALARIA trip to Mecatlan CLICK HERE
Tommy broke his leg due to my negligence.  I was about 10 and he was a toddler.A BROKEN LEG Click here
Nathan, a pre-schooler, was violently ill with dysentery after having consumed a frozen popsicle made with dirty water. 

NATHAN

On this occasion Mother was in Ixtepec while my Dad had gone to another village and there was no way to contact him.  Mother happened to have her arsenal of the latest and best medication and Nathan pulled through.  We give God all the praise for the healing and the wisdom that was given to my mother on those occasions.  I am sure there were many other occasions not mentioned.

DAD & MOTHER

How we praise God for the many other instances not mentioned, showing His love and mercy and constant presence, protection through out our lives.  In light of all the modern conveniences of today it is hard to comprehend that yes, we really went through all those past events.