As I write this, I am sitting in the Charlotte, NC airport waiting for my flight to Budapest, Hungary for my next medical mission. It has only been two weeks since my return from Colombia, and I returned with a viral respiratory infection that I have been battling.
Colombia was hot and humid. We held 4 clinics, saw a total of 1229 people with 211 salvations. The large majority of people who attended the clinics were Venezuelan refugees who do not have access to medical care in Colombia. One particular village we were in had a strong influence of witchcraft that the refugees had brought from their country. The pastors were so grateful we came to their communities to provide medical care as well as bring the good news of Jesus Christ. As we were beginning the trip, I recalled Isaiah 61:1; ” The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”. We were there to tell the people about the one who is able to bind up their broken heart, give them freedom, and release them from darkness – Jesus Christ. For two days, 5 countries were represented on our team: United States, Colombia, a doctor from Cuba, a dentist from Honduras, and a team member who grew up in Brazil as a missionary kid. We were able to provide prenatal care to pregnant women, antibiotics for infections, allergy meds, and remove decaying teeth as well as repair damaged teeth. One of the Colombian doctors was able to preform some more complicated procedures. One afternoon, he asked several of us to gather around an older gentleman and pray before he performed a procedure with a needle on varicose veins he had in his arm. After we prayed, the Cuban doctor told us it was a very dangerous procedure.
You May wonder why I travel on these medical mission trips. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says ” And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” I am responding to the call Christ has made on my life. He has placed a burden on my heart and called me to international missions. I am living for Christ, to show others the love He has for them.
Rainbows and Otter Pelt 