When I woke up this morning, I asked God one thing: to give me new eyes and a new heart to see things as He wants me to see them. Now, late in the evening, exhausted in body but soaring in spirit, as I look back on today, I can say that God answered my prayer.
This was one of those perfect days. I'm not saying it was easy, but it was perfect. Why? Because God was here. He was so close, His presence a constant reminder that He never leaves our side. I can look back on today and in my memory, He is standing there, plain as day, sweet as the dulce treats we handed out to the kids, and more wonderful than my heart can contain.
What happened today that was so incredible? Life. Just life. With God right in the midst of it.
Early this morning, part of our group left for an all-day medical mission. The other part of our team went to the new church, where they've been doing construction and tiling the entire basement that has been, until now, a dirt floor. The tile is gorgeous! I hope one of them will share their experiences.
Those of us in the medical group went to a new location today - a school in a more urban area outside of Guatemala City. It amazes me how fast we've learned to set up and take down our portable medical station that gets loaded and transported on a pick-up truck each day. Folks were already lined up outside as we arrived. We carried everything up a flight of stairs and started setting out our medical supplies. By this, our third day, we were pretty organized. We were also running out of basic medicines.
The location was unforgettable. We were in a small school auditorium - meaning a wide-open room with an elevated platform, nothing fancy. As we looked out the windows along the side of the room, we could see a volcano spewing smoke. Now that's something you don't see every day.
When you're doing an all-day mission, it's important to scope out the bathrooms, especially in a place where hydration is crucial. Dehydration and high altitudes do not go well together, as I discovered yesterday. We were shown a public bathroom outside in the courtyard, under a grate, down a flight of stairs. Without a guide, you'd never find it unless you tripped and fell over the grate. When that bathroom became unavailable two hours later, due to the appearance of two giant padlocks on the gate, and after prayers for favor, we were offered the use of facilities at the municipal government building across the street. An armed guard smiled as he let us in. God was with us.
Within minutes of our arrival and setup, our patients began to form a line. The line continued down the stairs and outside, and folks kept coming from 8:30 to 4:00. We saw more than 150 patients today. Lots of folks had skin rashes of different kinds. Stomach disorders were prevalent. Malnutrition, especially among children, was a huge problem. A 7-year-old girl, for example, looked like she was 4 years old because of poor nutrition. Several kids came to see the doctor by themselves, with no parents. A 12-year-old girl was pregnant and in need of better nutrition.
A little boy had a horrible laceration in his thumb, and he was in great pain. I prayed over him as one of our nurses treated him. He alternated from holding his breath from the pain and smiling as we told him what a good job he was doing. I know he felt the Lord's presence, because I could feel the Holy Spirit all over him, and he was so calm.
Throughout the day, we were constantly aware of God's presence. There were times when we needed to find a particular medicine or supply, and digging through the boxes was like looking for a needle in a haystack. I got to where I immediately asked God - "Lord, we are tired and we need this medicine. Please pop it up for us to see." And He did. He always did.
I know nothing about pharmacy or medicine, and I don't speak Spanish. Yet by the power of the Holy Spirit, I was able to find whatever medicine was needed, give instructions in Spanish, answer questions, and bless each patient as they left with a smile. They weren't smiling because of anything I did or said. They knew God was smiling on them, and they responded to Him.
God worked so beautifully among the team. We moved so well together, and God moved through us. It amazes me how He can bring people together from different places and backgrounds, with different experiences, and assemble a medical station that moves in unity. It shows what He can do in the Body of Christ. We really can move as one with Him.
We had frustrations too. It was frustrating to run out of vitamins -infant vitamins first, then children's, then adult vitamins. If we could just pop down the street to Wal-Mart and buy more. This was our second round for the week. We take so much for granted at home. It was frustrating to have a cataract patient who needed and couldn't afford surgery. It was frustrating to give out a bag of 10 Ibuprofen tablets for consuming pain, knowing the source of the pain will still be there when the bag runs out.
At the same time, I believe God heard and is even now answering our prayers that those without vitamins would be nourished by Him; that surgeries would be provided by Him; that the source of pain would be lifted by Him. I believe He will do all those things. I believe it because He was standing right there with us today, and He loves His people. I believe it because He tells us to ask, and we did.
I left there feeling physically exhausted but spiritually uplifted. My memory of today is not one of lack and pain and things that couldn't be done. My memory is of the amazing presence of the Lord. I have such hope because of Him. I believe the patients we saw today were renewed in hope as well.
Tonight we shifted gears and ministered to about 75 very lively children in the cobblestone street in front of the new church. Before you get worried, let me assure you it's more of a cul-de-sac than a street. There is no through traffic to get in the way of the children's activities.
We put together an impromptu dramatic presentation of Noah's Ark - one team member read the story from a Spanish children's book, while the rest of us acted like wild animals (not too much acting involved, it's our natural state!) and climbed aboard our four-door mini-van ark.
We then brought out the jump ropes and tug-of-war ropes. What started out as four to a side in tug-of-war became an exercise in herding cats. It ended up a free for all, with about 12 kids tugging on each side and one very exhausted pastor in the middle. The kids had a blast and so did we. We ended the evening by handing out glow-stick bracelets and stuffed animals.
There was so much more God did today. If I tried to describe it all, I would be writing well into tomorrow, and He has more in store for us then. I know there are specific moments I will remember from today. Others I might not remember. What I will remember most, though, is God's presence with us. So close, so attentive, so much a part of everything we did, in every moment. I want to keep that awareness of Him. That is now my prayer for every day. He is always there. I don't want to miss that anymore.
Pray for us tomorrow. We will be climbing a volcano.
Blessings and love from Guatemala - Janet Eriksson
I tried to go back down the mountain by horseback, but it proved too difficult for me. The lava path was too steep and it was exhausting trying to hold on. I ended up walking, sometimes sliding, the rest of the way. We made it safely, before the storm.
