The year was 1968. We were living in Maradi, Niger Republic when an unidentified virus hit Dave. We didn’t know it was a virus; we only know that the antimalarial medications weren’t working. He was getting sicker and sicker.
Finally we realized that he would have to go to our Mission Hospital – at that time in Nigeria and 600 miles away. In Nigeria Dave lay in a hospital bed for weeks while drug after drug was tried.
After some time word came that I should leave our work in Niger and go down to Nigeria to join him. Then I KNEW it was serious.
“Christmas is coming,” the doctor said. “The children will want to spend Christmas at home. When they return to boarding school, you’ll have to go to the U.S. for evaluation and treatment.” And that’s what began to happen.
Throughout the Christmas school break, a very weak, puny Dave struggled to the table for meals, then collapsed back into bed.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE PRAY? HE ANSWERS!!! We stayed in Africa for five years that term – strengthened – in answer to prayer.
From the memoirs of Hazel Knowlton
