Baby Jonah Muhindo, 8 March 2008

Last night we got a phone call that Melen was in labor. I had asked to be with her when she delivered, and when I talked to Jonah’s sister they were still at home, waiting but soon heading to the hospital. We planned to meet in 2 hours . . But this being baby six I went 45 minutes later to pick them up. Only to find they were already at the health center (she stays right next door). I burst into the delivery room to find that she had just delivered a healthy baby boy! She never even made it to the delivery table, but had him on the bed the midwives use to sleep in when they are on call. I thought this might be a real moment of grief, but instead I think the joy of this baby outweighed the reality that he is already fatherless. Labor and delivery are a women’s world anyway, so his absence was not strange yet. It was fun for me to be the one to clean and weigh the baby, and hold him to warm him while Melen cleaned up. Two of my favorite nurses, Agnes and Rose, were in the room, as well as Jonah’s two sisters Sophia and Janet. I’ve been through a lot of life with all these women, especially in the last couple of months. It was a rare sweet moment, the bright white clean delivery room, the laughter of the women, the relief of Melen, the burbly grunts of a newborn, the bustle of care, taking time to pray together. An hour later Melen was ready to go, so we headed out to the truck in the darkness, to drive the hundred yards up the road to her rooms. We sat by lantern-light while he eagerly began to nurse. Melen smiled. I’m sure that in spite of the ultrasound she didn’t REALLY believe this child was a boy until she saw it with her own eyes. Having a son is crucial in this culture, even more so for a widow. A quiet sign that God was caring for her, after five girls, a boy to carry on Jonah’s name. We pray he will be courageous and true as his father.