Chapter 6 - Page 76 - Rhasha's Bed

   Pepper finished giving the woman a sponge bath and covered her with a sheet. She frowned, noticing that Jim was deep in thought. “Jim,” she asked, “what are you thinking about?”

   Jim sat down on the fifth bed. “Pepper, we need a four wheel drive ambulance and paved driveway to the back of the hospital. And we need to build an emergency receiving area with an unloading dock. The dock needs to be the same height as the floor of the ambulance.” Jim looked at the children. “We also need an orphanage, with lots of toys.”

   He looked back at the dying woman and added solemnly, “We need a small morgue and, regrettably, a cemetery.”

   The nurse looked into Jim’s face and her expression softened in sympathy. She put her hand on Jim’s cheek and gazed into his eyes. “Jim, we can’t save everyone who comes to us.” She took her hand away from Jim’s cheek. “Let’s grieve for the people that die, but let’s celebrate with every life we save. I believe we’ll celebrate much more than we’ll grieve.”

   “Yes, Pepper,” Jim replied. “I agree with you. And in the process, maybe we can lead many of them to Christ.”

   Jim walked over to Rhasha’s bed and leaned over to kiss her cheek. Her eyes were wide open. He picked up the chair and carried it over to the dying woman’s bed. Jim sat in the chair and put his elbows on the edge of the bed. He closed his eyes and cupped his hands together, to pray. “Father,” he said, “please forgive me of my sins and please have mercy on my soul. I know I’m a sinner.”

   Pepper walked over to stand beside Jim and bowed her head. She placed her hand on his shoulder and closed her eyes.