Yesterday the Fellowship Bible Church team and our group met for devotions at 7 am. Dr. Alb led us for two hours in a time of prayer, singing, and teaching, He went over the roles that we would have in the clinic and the purpose of each role. He emphasized that we are using medicines to meet the immediate needs of the people. At the same time we show kindness and compassion toward them by listening attentively and praying with and for them in the counseling stations. Although they likely came into the clinic for a physical need, many also have deep spiritual needs and we have the great privilege of sharing the good news of Jesus with them.
Some things that Dr. Alb taught us during devotion time:
Romans 8:28-All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purposes.
Many people come on a mission trip with a list of things to check off and are extremely task-oriented. He wants us to redefine our role during the mission trip to also focus on relationships, not just tasks.
Jeremiah 33:3-Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Dr. Alb told us a story about the new ministry center. MMM just dedicated their expansion in May. When I was in Guatemala last summer Dr. Alb shared with me that the ministry is and has committed to stay debt-free. They had already begun building the new structure because God had provided all the funds needed for the building. However, there were many other expenses (primarily furniture and bedding for 24) that had not yet been supplied. For the ministry center to be most effective in housing teams it needed beds and other furniture.
Since the money had not come in for these additional expenses, Dr. Alb was concerned and asked God to lead him regarding this situation. Every day for the next two weeks he awakened early in the morning, which was unusual for him. Finally at the end of the two weeks he experienced something more when he awoke--a response. Dr. Alb felt that God was telling him that when he focused on the things that he did not have or the things he wished he had, that he was not focusing on his relationship with God. Then God led him to the verse Jeremiah 33:3, which I quoted above. God wanted Dr. Alb to focus on Him rather than dwell on what was still needed.
Dr Alb summed up his teaching when he said, “Medicines draw people in. Then we may listen to them, love them, meet their needs, and teach them.” This would be following the model of how Jesus loved and taught people when he was in the world.
We were about to head out to run a clinic in a rural Guatemalan village, and Dr. Alb finished up the devotional time reminding us of these verses from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.
What a great passage to keep in mind as we go out into the village!
An update from later in the day:
We saw 81 people in clinic today. I met with 8 people in the counseling station where I prayed for their needs if they wanted me to do so. All of them did want prayer, and one person particularly made an impression on me. He was out of work and his wife an 5 children did not have any reliable income. He had an accident (fell from a tree during work) and had several injuries, some serious. While his immediate injuries had healed he still had much pain as a result of this accident. Four of his children had pneumonia and he didn’t have any money to pay for their medical care. He wasn’t able to provide much food for the family so he frequently let them each while he did not eat. He said that he had been praying for a Bible because he wanted to learn more about God. He had a few parts of the Bible but not the entirety. I was so disappointed that we did not have Spanish Bibles on hand at this clinic. I’d really value your prayers for this man and his family.
An update from Wednesday:
We just returned from spending Monday - Wednesday hosting clinics in rural villages. I will try to post additional information on our activities and what I have learned tomorrow.
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