Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Do I Have the Power to Heal?
The other day a boy came into the hospital that was severely anemic. He had Malaria. He had not been well taken care of by his family. I could hear him screaming… I knew that kind of scream. When children who come into the Emergency scream like that, they don’t survive more than a few hours. He was dying. I have seen too many children come into the hospital die because they come too late. Their parents don’t understand that Malaria needs to be taken care of right away. They wait too long, trying to cure the sickness with traditional methods or buying medicine they don’t even know the name of in the market. I stand over the child, checking his oxygen level ever so often. I need to save him! There is something in me that needs to know this one will survive. I finish work at 2 pm. I’m going to come back to the hospital to check on this child. For some reason, even though I’ve seen many cases of children die of Malaria, this child is stuck in my mind. I pray for him that afternoon over and over again. I go back to the hospital in the afternoon solely to check on him. He has received blood and Quinine for Malaria. Amazing… he is doing fine! He is eating and moving around. I stop and think… why is this child one of the fortunate ones? Why do the others get death, and this one gets life? I am grateful that this little boy could have life… but sad at the same time that I didn’t intercede for the other children who came in. I know for a fact that my hands did not heal that child. It was only by the power, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ that he was saved. I have come to realize my need to be on my knees. The hospital is not fully equipped to take care of patients properly, but our God is equipped. No hospital will save more people than a hospital where God is present. He is our healer, counselor, and Sovereign Lord! Every day when I pray with people or by myself, now I say these exact words: “Thank you God for giving me life, breath, and a heartbeat”. I know that God has me here for a purpose, and I slowly understand it more and more.
Today was Sabbath. I am now a co-director of a choir group at church. We meet three times a week. Sabbath afternoon, Sunday afternoon, and Friday night. There goes my rest… this afternoon I was feeling so exhausted. Caitlin and I spend the time after church making lunch with Avava, a close friend who is also the director of the choir. He was so interested in every little ingredient we put in the pasta and mash potatoes. I knew that we had practice in 2 hours so I wasn’t going to be able to get rest yet. At the moment our meal was over, I got a call from Kalda. He said he needed me to come and see a patient in Maternity. Avava quickly rushed me to the hospital. Another miscarriage. I didn’t get done helping until about 4 pm. I was an hour late to practice. I got my guitar as quickly as possible, and ran to the people waiting for me. I taught them the song “You’re Love is Amazing” by Phillips Craig and Dean. After an imperfect practice with the out-of- tune sopranos and the overpowering basses, we were finally finished. As the group would go to the church for the end-of-Sabbath worship, I would sneak away to the house for rest. Just as I thought I would get some sleep, Avava informed me that the group was going to visit a patient in the hospital. I gave into my selfish ambition and said, “I feel so tired, and I need to get some sleep”. He looked at me with disappointment. As they started walking to the hospital, I began to walk with them. Coming up to my house, Avava asked me one more time… “Do you want to come with us?” Without hesitation, I changed my mind…”YES!” I felt I needed to be compassionate, and it wasn’t the time to do my own thing. When I told Avava, he said with excitement “I knew from the moment I met you that you were the daughter of a pastor! You are living a Christian life!” I realized after talking to him how much it meant for me to do even a little thing as sacrificing sleep to see someone who was ill. It wasn’t for the sick person that I went, it was for the people who would really cared about my actions. Avava made me realize that by my actions here in Cameroon, I can be a witness. It might be surprising for you to think that this relieves me because it is hard for a Christian to walk the walk and talk the talk. I tend to be a people pleaser as well… so it is stressful when people are looking at my actions 24/7.. God has broken me to the point where I am learning to be dead to myself, and let Christ be my reputation. The language barrier as well as the age barrier requires me to use my actions rather than words to show truth. Also, my mother always tells me that going oversees is easier because people always love you… this is also true. There is not a lot I can do wrong to these people because they love anyone. Anyway, my point is that I don’t have to be afraid of my actions if I am in communion with my heavenly Father. He guides me and strengthens me each day here, and I know that He will be praised through all of this. I’m only a human and there is not a lot I can do, but I am “FLOORED” by the things God has already accomplished through me. I never did get to sleep today, but I have energy to last me… I know, one of these days I’ll crash, but until then… Party Adventist style?
Posted by Elissa
From a Student Missionary currently in Koza #9