Monday, November 24, 2008

Medicines, Missions, and Magic...

Last week we had the awesome privilege of hosting our first ever medical mission team. The team of medical professionals sacrificed their time and money for an opportunity to bless others.
The team came prepared with basic medical equipment and several trunks stuffed full of vitamins and prescription medications. The plan was to spend some time on the front end doing house calls, and then open free clinics in the local churches. Over the course of the week God allowed the team to treat over 550 patients!
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It was incredible to watch God work through the team. They compassionately used their skills to treat the people's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. It seemed that every patient was prayed for at least once, which led to several of the patients praying to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Out of all the incredible stories, some tragically sad and others full of joy, one story stands out to me the most. It was the team's very last day, we had closed the clinic and were ready to walk out the door to go home. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. As I opened the door, I recognized the elderly woman standing in front of me. It was Maria. She lives in a small shack down by the river, and had the reputation of being a practicing witch.
MariaYes, I said a witch, as in black magic, casting hexes, and brewing potions. She came asking for physical healing, but had no any idea what she was about to receive. I quickly explained the situation regarding her reputation of being a witch to the mission team. They embraced the challenge.
As she limped up the steps, and the mission team sprang into action. One of the doctors took her into the closest bathroom, which was suddenly transformed into an exam room. The rest of the team started to pray for this woman. They laid hands on the walls of the examine room, they prayed over the new socks they were about to give her. As they bathed the situation in prayer, God answered! Before long this woman was sitting in a chair surrounded by the mission team. They engulfed her with the love of Christ, and she responded by praying and committing her life to God!Since the incident, we have visited her, and given her food and prayer. She is full of smiles, and praises God for sending the missionaries. I don't know what kind of magic or sorcery Maria practiced in the past, but now she has the awesome power of the love of Jesus Christ in her. Although it's not really magic, it almost always feels magical.

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