Philip Cron, a World Race alumnus from the January 2011 T Squad, recently reposted this story on his blog, and we want to share it with you. While Philip and his team were in Mozambique, he met a little girl who was suffering from a blood disorder. Without a transfusion, she would soon die. So, like Jesus, Philip literally opened his veins to save a stranger. This is his story:
“…Freely you have received, so freely give.”
How did Christ feel when he gave his blood to God’s people freely?
This month God gave me an experience I will never forget, and with it, a name that is forever imprinted on my heart. God gave me Mae, a beautiful young girl with a medical need that required immediate attention.
I met Mae while visiting the local hospital in Dondo. We decided to pray over the children that day. At the end of the long hallway in the last room, I found Mae.
Mae is seven years old and suffers from sickle cell anemia. When we met her she was with a woman who we believed to be her mother, but we soon found out the truth. Mae’s mother had died and her father ran away leaving Mae and her three-year-old brother abandoned in an empty house.
Jacinta, the woman looking after her, heard about the children and rescued them from the cold, empty home. When Jacinta found the children they were very malnourished and weak. Mae had intestinal worms so Jacinta brought her to the hospital where it was discovered that she also suffered from sickle cell anemia.
Jacinta is already busy with three children and is expecting another child soon. This means together Jacinta and her husband will be looking after six kids. When I heard Mae’s story, I was moved by Jacinta’s compassion towards Mae and her brother.
Mae was so sweet and had the gentlest spirit. I noticed that she was feeling very weak and tired. Jacinta explained to us that the doctors were having trouble finding blood for Mae, and she didn’t know what to do.
My first thought was, “I am O+ so I could donate blood to her.”
I told our translator Lovemore I could donate, and the next thing I knew I was being tested to make sure I was O+. The test came back positive, so the doctor hooked me up to an IV and I gave 500 ml of blood to the hospital.
Giving blood in Africa was an experience I will never forget. Shortly after I gave blood, I passed out into the arms of Lovemore. While passed out, I had a vision of a white light and someone calling my name. In an instant I woke up, wet my pants, and got soaked by the “doctor” who was squirting glucose water all over my face.
It was the strangest feeling I’ve ever had. I was so confused about where I was and what was happening. It took me an additional 20 minutes to fully recover.
I got to hold Mae’s hand as they gave her my blood.
She was so brave and never shed a tear. This experience was very special to me, and throughout the entire process I could feel God’s presence.
During Mae’s blood transfusion, I became very emotional because when I was her age, I too had a blood deficiency which led to an emergency blood transfusion. Someone donated their blood to me so that I might have life. All those years ago I was lying in the same position, receiving blood from someone who I will forever give my utmost thanks and gratitude to.
I am constantly reminded about the blood that Christ gave to us. I think about how excited I was to give my blood to Mae and am blown away to think that Jesus gave His blood freely with a pure heart.
He gave it even though he knew we were unworthy.
He could see the bigger picture.
He knew that behind our junk there was truth and goodness.
Christ knew that by giving his blood we would be set free. We would be given a future to worship our Father and a chance to follow his example by giving grace freely as he did.
I will never forget holding little Mae’s hand as she received my blood, as she received Christ’s grace, and how God’s overwhelming love filled that dark hospital room. All glory be given to God.
In place of a scar where he gave blood, Philip’s arm now bears a tattoo that reads, “Freely give.” A permanent reminder of God’s free gift of grace and our calling to freely give to others.
