Anyone remember that old school show Touched by an Angel? I can’t recall much about the show except for the title, but since being on the AFRICA MERCY SHIP I have adopted the show’s title as a theme in my life. There is this lady on the ship, who I work under half of the time, and day after day I get more convinced that she is NOT human. I get more convinced that she has to be an angel (not really, but. she is just one of those people).
(she has 5 children and 10 grandchildren). EVERY single time I see her she
hugs me. She treats EVERYONE like they are the most important person in the world. EVERY encounter she has with me or the next person leaves a mark. When our trip, The World Race ,is mentioned, she almost goes into tears as she speaks life into us and what we are doing. Investing in people, loving on people, being Jesus to people is what she does-it is WHO she is.
Just yesterday, Annie Walker and I were helping her with labels in her cabin (which lasted maybe 5 min). The next thing we know, we were almost in tears (of joy), and an HOUR had passed by. This woman spilled her heart in front of us. She began to express how Amazing the ministry of the Africa Mercy is, and how blessed she has been to work with them for about FOUR years now. She told story after story about the African’s she has met, and the stories they have.
There was one thing she said, that really touched my heart that I want to share. “We don’t have many instant miracles happen on this ship.” She went on to express that this ministry is able to impact so many more people through the process of healing. When a person gets a FREE surgery to better their life, that individual is NOT the only one touched. The family is touched, because they couldn’t have provided for a surgery financially, and now their family member has been blessed for FREE. The family has to be a part of the process, because they have to have family members with them for pre-op and post-op. The community is touched by the process of healing through these surgeries and this ship, because they get a chance to interact with people who are madly in love with Christ, and who are taking time to pour out the love of Jesus on this country. This woman went on to say that, every healing of the body after the surgery is a miracle in itself–its just a miracle that took a process in order to bring more people to salvation. This ship has story after story about being the hands and feet of Jesus, and seeing salvations!
She has such a pure heart for God. I have been continually blessed by God, by this woman, and by this ship this month. It has been such an honor to work alongside so many men and women of God!
IN HONOR OF MARY LOU!
