What Do You Want, God?

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Galatians 6:9-10

I woke up Friday morning and read through the book of Galatians as I prepared my heart for the day that lie ahead of me. I was reminded in chapter 5 that we walk by the Spirit and that no matter what we should seek Him and He will guide us. Friday was new territory for me in regards to pallative care and pallative caregiver ministry. I don't know what I am doing, but God does. I don't know what He wants to come of this and how big it could be for the people in Nyimba, but God does. I am a planner and am afraid to start something unless I know exactly what is going to happen before it happens. So this was a "growing up" day for me as well.
I just asked the Lord to go with me, prepare me, and asked Him to keep my ears and eyes open to any ministry that He set before me that day. (I should pray this everyday but fail to, honestly.)

At 8:45, Zeria and I were set to leave to meet Samson before we headed to the villages to meet the patients. There was a knock at the gate and the headman of Samson's village came and asked us to give his daughter a ride home from the hospital. She had a C-section and needed transport. God opened a door and it was a ministry to the family although it set us back an hour.

We met patients at Samson's home then walked a few 100 meters to another patient. Her name is Katherine. She has been sick for quite sometime. She doesn't have anyone living with her and she does not go to church anywhere. As we talked with her, I was overcome with how bad her circumstances were. The Lord just nudged my heart to share Christ with her. She had never heard the Gospel presentation before and in her feebly voice with tears in her eyes she prayed to receive Christ as her Lord and Savior. It was awesome to see her smile as we explained to her from John 10:27-29 that nothing could ever snatch her out of the Lord's hands because she belonged to Him now.

We visited more patients and on our way through the village we came near to a well. Coming down a path to the well was a very old woman who was blind. Her bare feet shuffled their way to the well. We greeted her and kept walking, but something in my heart didn't feel right about just walking away. Just then, she ran into the small fence that bordered the well. I looked at Zeria and Samson and said, "I know we are late, but we must take time to help her. She needs our help!" I gave Zeria my bag, we drew her water and I carried the water to her home for her. I was astonished at how far she had to walk to get her water to her home. It was about 400-600 meters down a rocky, ditch-filled path. I was surprised she made it without falling. As we walked, Samson shared Scripture with her and encouraged her. It was so sweet to see him take her hand, guide her, and use those few minutes to encourage her with God's Word. Samson told me that she and her husband are both blind. I was humbled and it was an awesome feeling to have taken time to minister to this precious woman.

Our day was long, but seeing the joy on the faces of the 12 patients that we visited as we shared God's Word and prayer with them far outweighs any prize or victory that I could attain on earth. Again, I don't know exactly what God is going to do with this ministry to pallative care patients, but I know that He will show me and guide me each step of the way. Not only did I learn about relying on the Spirit in regards to ministry, but learning to truly listen to Him and follow Him each day as I go about my daily routine in order not to miss a time to share the love of Christ in the simplest of ways.

Please pray that God would continue to guide me and show me what He would have me to do in regards to the pallative care ministry and caregiver training.
Pray that I would not be afraid and would remain passionate about ministering to the sick.