We leave the ward and head down the elevator to floor 5.
I had already been stared at as usual throughout the whole night. Matter of fact, I have gotten quite accustomed to having people stare at me when I pass by places. Walking to a restaurant? Staring. Going to the grocery store? Stares.
But this time, there were so many people in this particular ward and as soon as we enter, everybody stops what they are doing and glares as if they have seen a ghost. I look to my left and people stare. Straight ahead of me and to the right are no different. It's like all eyes were on me.
I lose it. Tears form in my eyes and I cannot take anymore of being the center of attention. At this point, I am about to give up. I think in my head,
What is the use of going to this hospital for ministry if all I get is looks from people who don't believe and won't even begin to accept anything other than this god? Papa, I need your help. I can't do this anymore.
Before I can finish this thought, we turn around to find a woman who is holding her hands to her chest, saying one word, pray.
In this story, all I can think of is the Scripture where it says: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9)
Man, when I am at the very end of my rope with one hand hanging on for dear life, the Lord pulls me back up.
Before that woman came to us, we had prayed for nobody. After she came to ask us to pray for her dad, we prayed for four or five more people and their families that the Lord led us to on different floors that we visited. I'm not saying that the staring stopped, because it didn't. But it wasn't as overwhelming as it had been starting out. This is how hospital ministry has been this month. It has been challenging on many levels, but the Holy Spirit moves through us and He helps us. It's all necessary growth to season us for kingdom ministry. It's a refining process, but nobody said it was easy. And if they did, then I'm not so sure they are doing it right.
