Sometimes you are more ready for a challenge than you expect. Monday morning I was told that there was a “crazy lady in the church yard.” Then came word “and she is no clothes on.” I quickly grabbed some of Bella’s clothes and ran over to see how I could help. A large group of neighbors had gathered to watch for sport but some were genuinely trying to help. There was even a news crew filming a very large unclothed lady. I quickly deduced three things. She was not going fit Bella’s clothes, she was deeply troubled and all the sightseers were aggravating her even more. I asked Ivanildo to keep everyone away from her as I ran to call Dr Fernando for advice as both the ambulance and the fire department did not want to take responsibility.
Maria wandered back out to the road and would not let anyone near her. She threw bricks, metal and wood at anyone who tried. She yelled obscene, jumbled nonsense. Suddenly, a black dog barked at her and she started to cry. Maria turned, reached out her arms to me and began to cross the road crying “Mamãe, Mamãe.” I gulped, asked God for courage and opened my arms. Miraculously Maria let me put a dress on her and her aggression calmed momentarily. She agreed to go on a short trip with me (to the hospital) but our car was not available. Maria took off towards the river. Two neighbors were very concerned for her safety so we went to the river to find Maria. By the time we trudged through the bush trails to the river’s edge, Maria went floating by with her bright orange flip flops sticking up in the air, a good sign of her buoyancy. After following her progress to a bend in the river and feeling there was nothing more I could do, I went home to make lunch. 30 minutes later a crowd was yelling at my gate. Maria was back.
Two young men were holding her hands. One of them had swam out and brought her back to shore, dressed her and came to find her “mamãe.” Even though Maria did not remember me, she agreed to go for a ride with me. The two gentle body guards agreed to come with us and Art drove. Divine intervention allowed for us to get Maria into the car and arrive at the local hospital. Since she had escaped from there the night before, no one was too thrilled to have her back so soon. But I insisted and Maria agreed to go inside with me. Her nephew was there with his sick wife and introduced himself to me.
Mr Life Guard, Maria and I all waited for over an hour in a bare room. Art stood guard outside. The hour included spoon feeding Maria lunch (at her request), convincing her to stay in the room and listening to her disturbed raving. After her three injections, Maria got even more aggravated and began to wander all over the hospital. We finally decided to drive her home to help her nephew who felt responsible but had no support. After a long hot, noisy drive across town, we were all thrilled when she went into her father’s house. But he was angry and frustrated because he thought I was from an official organization for mental illness. Maria’s parents are elderly, tired and not capable of giving Maria her medications rigorously.
We drove away feeling relieved yet burdened. Maria is falling through the cracks of a system that tries, but cannot keep up to the demand.
The next day the news showed Maria in my arms in front of the church. Not much of my 5 hours with Maria made much sense but the fact that she “chose” me and actually listened to me at times, felt like a Jesus deal. Somehow in her troubled confusion, Maria sensed love and comfort. Since I was trembling at times, I know that all I had to give came from Jesus. His love penetrated Maria’s tormented mind and wrapped His arms around her. I was just the white lady with the bright red sunburn He chose to flow though.
Wow, what a story, Deanna. Amazing act of Grace. Thanks for sharing it.