Today, my mind is filled with concerns. My body aches. The heat is so oppressive. Will I be up to my tasks today? As my mind turns to ask God these things, He directs me to my strength book. I open to Developer. It tells me my strength lies in finding the good in others; in seeking out roles in which my primary role is to facilitate growth.
In reading, my gut response is one of denial; “That does not sound like me”, I tell myself. Yet when I look at my day yesterday, it is exactly me. Despite my deficits, I was leaning into my God given strength. I was watching for and facilitating the growth of others. The Developer strength continues with the affirmation: do what you can do rather than what you can’t.
As always, God changes my perspective when I turn to Him.
I’m ready. Clinic day #2 here we go!
Dennis’ devotion on the bus ride encourages us to consider making prayer our first impulse when faced with the challenges of our day. A wireless connection, if you will and connection becomes my theme for the day.
We return to the same church. The heat factor is less though our thermometers still groan. They stopped entirely yesterday mirroring our own stamina issues.
I look over to Joe who is wooing his 2yo patient. The little boy is not interested in having Joe measure his upper arm circumference until Joe shows him his own muscles. The little one then mimics Joe with delight at comparing strength, a broad smile transforming his face. It is a perfect tactic and with connection made, the measurement is done.
Later, several high school boys, Joe’s contemporaries, come to clinic. As they wait on the bench to have weight and height taken, Joe takes the opportunity for a small prank that transcends their language barrier. While one is having his height measured, which takes a blink, Joe stands behind him and puts his finger to his lips, signaling the benched ones to stay quiet. When his patient asks if he is done, Joe directs him to stand still and waits to see what the boy will do. When the boy realizes he’s being pranked, they all laugh together. Connection made. Deed done with delight.
When I look over at Ari, I see that her interpreter is 8yo Adele with her mother. I marvel as I watch Ari take the reins of her station and teach what she has just learned to Adele. She teaches with ease and confident tenderness. It is hard to believe we have only been here two days. She is so self assured and comfortable with her work as if she is equally as well practiced.
Genuine faith has a habit of playing dominoes. One Domino informs the next which informs the next until there is a cascading faith reaction. Take clinic, for example.
Dennis encouraged the team today to respond with prayer as our first impulse. Domino #1a. Laura walked to a high school yesterday to offer the clinic to the students. Domino#1. Today the students came. Domino#2. One of those students came to CSI in great physical and emotional distress where he found willing hearts to carry his burdens and others to listen to God’s call to pray. Domino #3 and #4. With the help of our community of Domino/believers, our young man, accepting our care also accepted our Savior, Jesus. He left with his understanding parents several hours later. Holistically cared for, given physical and emotional acceptance, he was open to spiritual acceptance as well. He left with a calm spirit and our Living Hope.
The Lord gave victory to His anointed, CSI dominos. He delivered this needy one and He answered us all from His heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of His right hand, our Lord Jesus.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God and though our boy was brought to his knees, he did rise up to stand firm and able to become a Domino in his own right.
It is the marvelous, beautiful circle of giving put in place by God Himself:
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave…
Prayer for our sobbing CSI child
Psalm 20:1-2,5-8
[1]May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
[2]May he send you help from this sanctuary in Chiapas, Mexico
and grant you support from Zion.
[6]Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed warriors in CSI
He answers them from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand, our Lord Jesus Christ.
[7]Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
[8]They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
Psalms 51:10,12
[10]Create in us a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within us.
[12]Restore to us the joy of your salvation
and grant us a willing spirit, to sustain us.
Psalm 72:12-14
[12]For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
[13]He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
[14]He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.
1 Peter 1:3-4
[3]Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
[4]and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
It was a good day at clinic!
BHWB,
MexicAnne
Tripping with God: Stories of Faith and Inspiration 