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February 2001, Part 1
Hello! I greet all of you in Christ’s name!
I’ve so much to say today that I’ll have to send the
letter in two parts. I just returned from a nice, but tiring trip
to the capital city of Croatia, Zagreb. It was my great joy to
donate $6,000 to two hospitals that treat children with serious
illnesses. The funds for this specific project were generously
contributed by some of you through your Presbyterian congregations,
while others of you provided me funds in the form of salary support,
which enabled me to carry out this project. Either way I am truly
grateful, and you will see why below!
It was more exhausting than I thought spending all that money!
Wednesday and Thursday were filled with shopping, but on Friday
I got to see the children using the toys and played with them!
That is my real joy! I traveled and spent the money with a special
education teacher and a social worker who work with the children,
one from each hospital. It was challenging for them to decide
what to get—there are so many educational and fun things
they could buy. However, by letting them pick out the toys, games,
books, musical instruments, audio-visual electronics, and art
supplies, I allowed them to get just what they truly needed and
what they knew would be most useful and pleasing for their particular
patients. Several Croatian TV reporters came from different channels,
and also a radio reporter and a couple of newspaper reporters.
I actually gave my interviews in Croatian, for the most part!
On Friday morning I went to the first hospital, Rebro, which
has a pediatric unit treating various types of illnesses, including
heart, kidney, liver, lung and neurological diseases. As I looked
around the playroom I saw children giggling as they swam around
in a tub of balls. Later, a three-year-old boy felt so relaxed
in it that he peacefully fell asleep! He had been crying in pain
from an injection just minutes before. I also observed a group
of adolescents playing a rousing game of "Monopoly";
they were so engrossed in it that they had to be reminded to go
to lunch! Meanwhile I was helping a four-year-old girl being treated
for a brain tumor onto one of the riding toys. She was hesitant
at first, but then a big smile reassured me that she indeed liked
it! I also found myself putting together several jigsaw puzzles
with the help of some very able patients and holding a frail,
scared, little girl who was content just to cuddle and watch others
play. After some time in the playroom I ventured into several
patients’ rooms to visit and play with those who were unable
or not allowed to get out of their beds. I built a huge tower
of blocks with a toddler (well, six blocks is huge when you’re
that age!) and let him have the joy of knocking it down. Some
things are universally pleasing to kids! A nine-year-old boy and
I also worked together against the timer to put in all the pieces
in "Perfection." Ah, the power of teamwork! All of these
toys and more were purchased with the funds.
In the afternoon I went to Salata Hospital, which has a pediatric
hematology-oncology unit and a rheumatoid unit (treating juvenile
arthritis and lupus). Although there is a playroom here also,
I visited most of the children in their beds, as many are too
sick and weak to come to the room. A six-year-old girl, whose
spirit was undaunted from the rounds of chemo, always managed
to beat me at the game "Connect 4." Try as I might I
could never figure out her special rules, but we had fun anyway!
The social worker told me to pay a special visit to a boy, 8,
who used to be vibrant and full of laughter, but now he usually
just lies in his bed, almost motionless. I know almost all boys
of that age love helicopters so I brought him one and a couple
of cars and trucks. Before I knew what was happening he was busy
spinning the propellers and making helicopter type sounds—the
action was thrilling and exciting as we rescued vehicles stranded
under heavy boulders and collapsed ice caves (well, actually pillows
and layers of sheets and blankets, but hey, ya gotta have imagination!).
Meanwhile in another room I stopped in and visited a boy who was
carefully trying out his musical improvisation skills on a new
toy piano. I played a couple pieces for him from my repertoire,
which believe me isn’t much, including "Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star," "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," and "Camptown
Races." While no great music was made that day by technical
standards, we shared some music of the heart!
As I saw the children happily playing with these toys, I felt
so proud to be a part of such a wonderful project. God blessed
me so much that day! He allowed me to experience a bit of heaven,
which is a place where children will no longer be bound in the
oppression of pain and sickness, but rather free to experience
His never-ending mercy and joy! I sincerely wish all of you who
have supported me and this project could have been there with
me in person, not only in spirit. For experiencing what I did
is so wonderful and moving that you all deserve to share in it!
Your brother in Christ,
Brett McMichael
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 79
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