Stop and Think

I was recently asked what exactly what exactly does a medical missionary do on one of these trips. Wow, I had to stop and think. Because, honestly, the easy answer would be, we medically treat people. Duh. But really, do people really understand what a medical missionary is? I really was kind of awestruck by this, because I have such a passion for missions, and when I talk to people about it, if nothing else I want to convey that there is such a HUGE difference between our lives here and those in other countries and impact and devastation of poverty, disease, illness, and death on those people. For these people in other countries, basic needs are not met daily. They do not talk about side issues like health insurance or their children’s day care costs, like we so often hear about here in the U.S. They are simply grateful for food and shelter and so appreciative for ANY assistance.

My skills as a nurse really are opportunities to medically help those who otherwise would never received treatment and medicines, but it's also another opportunity. For using these critical skills to go places others can’t go and to touch people others can’t touch.

Every time Jesus sent out His disciples and apostles, He always told them to heal the sick and preach the Gospel, It’s not that we heal so that we can share God's word. We’re not ‘bait.’ We heal and share the Word together in obedience to the commands of Jesus. It’s like a two-handled plow: You heal, you share God's love and you push forward – and God cuts the path so He can plant the seeds of the Gospel through His power. Life isnt about proving God to others, it is not even my job to win souls (that responsibilty belong to the Holy Spirit) It is all about being obedient to Him. Loving Him above all else and letting that love reflect to the world around me. As I sit here and think about all the people in my life growing up who just loved me, that's it, it brings a smile to my face because I cannot describe the profoundness and awkwardness of receiving something your not used to getting from those around you, but yet you don't want to let go of. If God prompts me to share with others, pray for someone or speak His words, I do so in obedience, but my responsibility first and foremost is to love and obey Him. During my trip to Cambodia, to see how my medical peers allowed God to use them truly was inspiring to me.

Many of us feel secure in showing the acts of kindness. However, when God whispers in our ear or nudges our thoughts towards helping those outside our comfort zone, I have been known to freeze. It is too scary to contemplate it or it requires more sacrifice than I am willing to make at that time. I have said "no" far more times than I have said "yes". I easily thought of a million reasons to justify not serving, but in reality I only needed one to accept the call...because God asked me to. He didn't ask me for a resume of my qualifications nor does he care if I have to put aside my agenda in order to do as he is asking. He wants me to stop dwelling on my fear and keep my eyes on Him.

I have come to believe that we shouldn't be scared of the great acts of service that live within all of us. These acts are the ones that cross our minds and we quickly dismiss them as inconceivable or requiring some special power that we surely lack. They are the acts that would require us to take a leap of faith and go beyond the borders of our comfort zones. But what we need to remember is that God knows what we are capable of better than we do ourselves. He calls us according to our gifts and if he says we are qualified, who are we to argue?