The Death Of Moses: Part 3
June 05, 2008
Continued blogs from Traci VanSumeren: 
Monday morning Krystle and I took Moses back to the hospital. After being there from 8:30am until around noon, and some blood-work and x-rays later, the doctors decided to admit him. They wanted to treat him for pneumonia and malnutrition. It was terrible watching him get poked with needles, but we knew it would be for the better if this helped him grow healthy.
Krystle volunteered to stay at the hospital, as I have been trying to get some time in by myself with Gary and Lisa Black. It was hard to leave them there; I've felt like he is my responsibility, and I didn't want it to seem like I was passing that off when it wasn't convenient for me. Aaron reassured me that that wasn't the case, and I was beginning to feel at peace about not being there with Moses. So I had dinner and stayed overnight at the Blacks.
This morning around quarter to six Gary came in the room to tell me that Moses had passed away about a half hour earlier. I talked with Molly to get a bit more detail, and apparently he just stopped breathing.
It has been a roller-coaster day. Aaron and I rode down to Nsoko to meet up with Pastor Gift to go tell Pelile. We ended up not being directly there when Gift told her, because he felt it would be more appropriate to have some of the women from the community there. We waited at the Carepoint and worked out some of the funeral arrangements. Gift said Pelile was crying, but consolable.
I have been a mess all day. Back and forth—sometimes laughing while we play cards, and other times breaking down to the Nisela staff as I explain why we're back (Nisela is the reserve we stayed at during our time in Nsoko). I know that this was all a part of God's plan…and that because of Moses, hopefully awareness has been raised about situations like this. 
My question for you is, what will you do? I'm not worried about being comforted, mourning will run it's course. I want to know what you, my family, my friends, my supporters, the people I trust…what will you do to prevent this from happening again? What will you do to encourage me to never be the same; to never take life for granted; to never waste a second thinking about what I can do for someone else's life.
*The cliché—life is short—does not even begin to describe how I feel. Sometimes I just start to think about the goofy little faces he made when he ate—how wide he opened his eyes—and I start to cry.*
My eyes welled with tears as I carried the tiny little coffin toward Pelile's house. It was around nine and nearly impossible to find her house in the dark. After wandering for a bit, we finally found it. Some go-gos (grandmas) were staying with her, and she and the kids were already asleep. Pelile and Siphiwe woke and sat up when I came in. I knelt and set the coffin down on the mat next to Pelile. I leaned over to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek and she immediately began to cry. Though she does not understand English, I said, "I am so, so sorry," and began to rub her back. Her pitiful whimper cut through me, and I could barely hold in my own sounds. I sat silently with tears streaming down my face. I don't know that I've ever felt so helpless. When her cries faded, we quietly left.
Once we were a few yards from the house I couldn't hold it in any longer. I let out my sobs and let my body shake with the emotion I had been holding in. I calmed myself down enough to get in the car, but tears flowed easily on the quiet drive home. I wouldn't wish this feeling upon anyone.
Early the following morning we went to the funeral. Most of the adults from the community were there. The women stayed with Pelile at the home while the men went to the burial site and prepared the plot. In the canopy outside the house we held a short ceremony in which Seth spoke and the women sang some traditional SiSwati songs.
The go-gos brought Pelile and the coffin out, and after one more song, we began the long walk to the cemetery. Pelile sobbed the whole way there, and eventually grew too week to walk further. Seth carried her in his arms for a while, and when she became too heavy, a go-go put her on her back and carried her the rest of the way. The women sang the entire walk.
When we arrived at the site, the women continued to sing while the men finished preparing the plot. At points Siphiwe cried on me or Krystle and it broke my heart even further. Seth spoke briefly again, and then they invited everyone else to share. One or two Swazi's spoke, then Molly, and me. Knowing my emotional state, I waited as long as I could to stand, but one of the go-gos I worked with pointed me out, and I stood. At first I couldn't say a thing. I stood there with so many eyes on me while I sobbed. After a few moments, I began to talk about how much the family has impacted me and how grateful we were to share in the life of Moses. I don't recall everything I said, I just spoke what was on my heart.
These have been the toughest days on the race. Never did I think I would face death on a personal level…and certainly not to this extent. I am not angry with God, and I have not questioned Him at all. I know that if God needed to take Moses, His plans are far greater than even the ones we prophesied over him. I trust him. Can you believe that in just seven weeks of life (and only two in ours), Moses was able to change so many people's hearts? God's plans are a mystery, and I am happy to be a part of them.
End
For those of you who were moved by Traci's story understand that what she experienced happens every hour in Africa. Seeing the conditions that many children are forced to live in is a true reality of daily life for many mothers, and children. The pain that is brought by seeing such suffering brings many questions with very few answers. However, I believe that God makes a way, for history has shown with ministries like World Racer, and Children’s HopeChest, 5for50, and countless others, who are bringing help to many in parts of Africa with more opening up each day. For today God is moving more to step up to help more than ever. So that the basic needs to sustain life can be given to the innocent victims of a Government that lacks compassion for its own people. Therefore, where man fails, God will then send His children in to help. He sends me, and you, and who ever else with a heart to care and a love that breaths Jesus.
Therefore, if you feel moved to help and would like to become more involved in helping children like Moses, you can go to: www.hopechest.org or www.5for50.com for more information. Tom Davis, author of "Red Letters" the book that Traci talked about earlier is featured on my profile, it is the little black book with the red blot in the middle. Proceeds go directly to help children like Moses and countless others left orphaned due to aids. You can click on Tom's book and you will then see a link that will take you to Amazon.com where you can purchase it, or you can go to 5 for 50 website at http://www.5for50.com or Childrens HopeChest at http://www.hopechest.org or Tom Davis website at http://www.cthomasdavis.co
Children’s HopeChest and Adventures in Missions helps orphans in Africa and around the world. Your donations go to help those children and I've been a supporter for over three years. The organizations are members of the ECFA, which audits the books yearly for accountability purposes. So I would encourage to invest only in those organizations that are members of ECFA, for you know your money will go where it should.
Whatever you can do will be used and is greatly needed, but do reach out to help in some way, these children need our love and the HOPE that comes along with it.