Greetings fellow prayer warriors. Thank you so much for your prayers during our mission last week. I am pleased to share with you that our team was able to do 12 surgeries, apply casts to children with club feet and unhealed broken bones, see 750-800 dental patients in the local schools, and adjust crutches, repair doors, and filing cabinets.
Here are a couple of stories I would like to share with you and ask prayer for. We did surgery on baby Elvis, who has hydrocephalus, and we put a shunt in his head to drain the fluid and keep his head from swelling. We are praying the shunt works, that it won’t get infected, and that he will be able to get the follow up care he needs in the capital. Upon hearing that we had a neuro surgeon with us and did neuro surgery, another mother brought her 10 month old baby who also had hydrocephalus. He had already had 2 surgeries for shunts to be placed and they had failed and the shunt was infected. His head was severely enlarged. We gave him antibiotics to help with the infection as he already had an appointment in the capital this week. Without the proper intervention both of these babies will die soon.
The rest of our surgeries were orthopedic, meaning pertaining to bones. Most of the patients had been in moped accidents. Several had been treated previously but due to the cost and availability of medical care, had not seen a surgeon and their bones were not healed or they were infected.
We were there after a recent hurricane which meant the mosquitos were much worse than usual. Some even flying in the operating rooms. We monitored and protected our sterile fields closely. We ask that you pray these patients heal quickly, that the mosquitos diminish, and that they don’t get infections.
As this ministry was a blessing, the biggest blessing came from being able to lead devotion with our group of 26 and share that you can’t earn your way into heaven. You can have a 100% guarantee that when you die you will spend eternity in heaven. You don’t have to hope you are good enough or that you go on enough mission trips to get into heaven. This was a misconception some on our trip had.
Here is the bulk of my devotion that I shared with them. Christianity is often said to be an exclusive religion. When in fact it is an inclusive religion. Everyone is invited to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. People who choose not to accept Jesus, exclude themselves from God and Jesus, and therefore exclude themselves from Christianity.
Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That’s all there is to it. The Bible clearly tells us that we have to have a relationship with the Lord through Jesus Christ. If we believe God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, and was raised three days later, and ask Him into our heart to be our personal Lord and Savior we will be saved. Meaning, we will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus.
Accepting Jesus sounds simple, but why don’t people do it? Here are some reasons people don’t accept Jesus, share Jesus with those around them, or feel held back in their walks with Jesus. First we weigh out the cost. What is it going to cost me financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically-time, location, family, friends, etc. What will others think of me? Will others expect more of me because of my decision? If I have to make changes in my life, am I willing to do what God is calling me to do or am I going to put myself first and do what is comfortable.
Secondly we have a fear that we will be rejected or fail in our walks with Jesus. We feel if we share Christ, and others don’t accept, then it is something personal or we don’t have enough training. We also fear we won’t measure up or will make mistakes and can’t live up to the standards Jesus sets before us.
Thirdly, our focus is wrong. We feel we don’t need God, we are doing just fine on our own. God often times allows tragedy to draw us to Him and show us He is in control. We also feel we are already there. God has each of us on this earth for a purpose. When we fulfill that purpose those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior go to be with Him. If we are still here, then God has more in store for us. He wants to use us so we must be willing and available. He has already gifted each of us with the ability to be equipped to serve His purpose.
With all of this said, I would encourage each of you reading this to seek God out to be open, pray diligently, and be flexible to what the Lord is guiding us to do. This could be to read the Bible everyday, memorize scripture, go on mission trips, share Christ with those around us more diligently, lead a devotion group or mission trip, etc. There is always room for us to grow and do more.
I was blessed to be able to do surgery to help these people out physically, but I was surprised as to where my mission field was. I was expecting to share with the locals, but instead felt called to share with my own teammates. Just because someone goes to church or is even on a mission trip, doesn’t mean they know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. This was a reminder of opportunities God has for me that I can miss or take for granted. Please pray for Lester, that he would understand that God’s grace is sufficient.
Within the next week, I will post pictures of our ministry including the two babies for whom I’ve requested prayer.
