It was an Honor
I(Brian) started my day as usual at ICM office with morning devotion; a time to worship God with songs and hear a short sermon from a local pastor. God was already stiring things in me that morning during worship. I joined the medical team this day as I jumped into a van with another world racer and ICM staff. We drove for over an hour through windy roads, multiple villages, and the chocolate hills (one of the wonders of the Philippines). On the road, the other world racer and I swapped stories – how God has worked in our lives to bring us to where we are today. I love diving into peoples story.
Within one minute after arriving at the church, one of the ICM staff informed us that the pastor’s grandson had just died one day ago and they would like me to pray for them. We instantly felt the heaviness of the place, so we stepped outside to pray over ourselves first.
After we walked back into a side room, with the mom sitting at a table dedicated to her baby son, Sheldon. She showed us a picture of him and we just sat there in silence. What do you say to a mom who has just lost her son.
I closed my eyes, started to pray only two words, and just started to cry. It was something I couldn’t control. I spoke two more words and cried again. I thought please just let me speak, don’t cry. At that moment, the sadness was gone. I started to pray. God gave me the words. All I remember was saying how good his life was, so full of joy. There are things we don’t understand- like why this mother and father lost their first born son at four months old to meningitis.
After we prayed, I asked them what joyful memory
they had of Sheldon. The mom said he could already say mama and dada. I instantly knew just how special their son was at just four months old and said “Wow, that is a gift from God, that’s awesome.”
they had of Sheldon. The mom said he could already say mama and dada. I instantly knew just how special their son was at just four months old and said “Wow, that is a gift from God, that’s awesome.”
The day continued with me praying for each of the patients that saw the doctor. People come to the church that can not afford medical care and get to see a doctor and receive an exam and proper medicine. I prayed for one person after another for over an hour. I felt the Holy Spirit flow through as I could feel what each person needed- some needed physical healing while others needed spiritual healing. A healing of the soul, pain, only God could restore. It was an honor.
