I had been there once. We ran out of food that time, which was very difficult since it was while children were holding up their bowls and plates. Since my heart tends to be especially tender for children, it was really hard to leave knowing that they might not receive the nourishment that they needed. We would try to have someone (a nurse if available) provide limited health care (usually antibiotics on cuts, etc) each time there was a feeding.
On Wednesday of our final week, Angela Grit (from Team Refresh) and my teammates (Team W.O.W.) Cara and Mary had gone to the feeding at the tent city as well. They had an especially hard time. After running out of food again, Mary was approached by someone about a sick person. Mary, the nurse, and the translator walked over to the sick person’s house since she could no longer walk.
Later on, Mary brought Cara and Angela over to pray for her as well. They struggled with how to pray for this woman since she was in so much pain. Should they ask for healing when she was in such bad shape or would that be more painful in the long run?
Mary has written up her experience of what she found in her blog: Lost, Part 1. Please note that it is a little graphic, so it is not recommended for children or those dealing with cancer (especially breast cancer). Her blog is:
I had heard Angela (Team Refresh) and my two teammates Cara and Mary talk about this woman since they had gone to that feeding. They asked my teammate Rebecca questions about the cancer since Rebecca is a nurse. Rebecca explained to our team the severity of the cancer.
As I heard the stories, I was thankful that I had not experienced seeing this woman’s obvious pain and suffering. I normally try to avoid anything relating to blood or oozing bodily fluids. On Thursday night, the three who had gone were telling their experiences to some of our squadmates. Mary was telling them that she wished she had tried to tell the lady about Jesus. She had left feeling like the lady had no hope. Mary was not sure if the woman could speak English.
When I woke up on Friday, I really felt like I needed to go to the feeding ministry that day. I really did not want to go since I had heard about this woman’s sickness. But, I had this strong feeling like I was supposed to go and pray for this woman.
We loaded up the van with the food and went to the tent city. When we arrived, the children started lining up with their plates and bowls. As we served them, we also took care of the medical needs that were presented.
When we finished, a few of us walked to the cancer woman’s house. As we were walking, we also had some children join us. As we entered, she was lying on the ground on a mattress. She was in a lot of pain when she moved. The nurse removed the previous dressing and bandaged her up again. The nurse was talking to her through the translator. When she finished, we took turns praying for her, and I held her hand while we prayed.
After the group prayer, I felt the need to talk and pray with her one-on-one. I asked her if she knew Jesus. She said she did. I talked to her about no longer being in pain in heaven. I said to her that “you could be dancing and partying in heaven.” She corrected me that she “would be dancing but not partying.” This made me smile. I prayed verses over her for peace and rest.
As we left her house and tent city, I had this overwhelming peace. Although this woman was in such pain, she would be going to heaven. She would no longer be in pain every time she moved her body. She had hope!
We had our worship service that night with all of our squadmates. As we worshipped together, I had my eyes closed as I usually do so I don’t get distracted by others. I imagined seeing this woman who had cancer being taken into heaven by Jesus. She was no longer in her painful earthly body but healed and young again. She was smiling and dancing in heaven (but not partying though)!
