Banana leaves and incense sticks

Sometimes I forget the impact that Steve’s physio work has on people’s lives. All I see after a day of training physios of varying skill levels, working with people in pain using a second language is the impact on him – the tiredness, the stress and yes, even the occasional irritability.

But the other day I got to see first hand the work.

One of our older neighbours came by to look at the kids while we were leaving our front gate. After a little small talk, Steve asked her about the box made of banana leaves with burnt out incense sticks we had previously seen outside her gate on the rubbish pile. She was puzzled by the question but after some encouragement she explained that a kru khmai (a Khmer healer / witchdoctor) had instructed her to burn the incense to ward off trouble. She seemed genuinely surprised that we didn’t do these kinds of things and murmured to herself when we explained that we trust Jesus instead.

While I sought to keep the kids off the road, Steve pressed a little further. But was there some specific trouble? Yes. She had broken her forearm two months ago during a fall. The kru khmai put some herbs on it and wrapped it up with a bandage, instructing her that she needs to appease the spirits that are causing her such trouble… hence the banana leaf boat.

Steve gently asked if he could have a look. Her forearm was still slightly swollen and her hand was now stiff with little movement. Steve gave her exercises to help reduce the stiffness and regain mobility, patiently showing her again and again so that she would remember them when she returned home. He warned her that at 63, she wasn’t going to heal quickly but if she was diligent she should see some improvement.

Before parting ways, Steve said he’d like to see how she was going in one week. She and I chuckled together that he will want to know that she was actually doing the exercises so she’d better do them. Then she returned home and we went off on our family outing – the kids glad to finally get moving.

As we walked, Steve ranted and raved about the incompetence of, and the useless scaremongering by, the kru khmai that has most likely left this woman crippled. While I silently listened and prayed for the woman’s healing, I was glad for the opportunity to once again see Steve in action and be reminded of the impact he is making in the lives of people everyday.

I love you, babe.