Medical Mission Trip - May 3-10th 2012
This is why we go….
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you do for one of the least of these, you do for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Suggestions for using this devotional:
1. Make time every day to read through this in the morning and ponder how the scriptures relate to your work throughout the day.
2. Take time to let the words of God speak to you through these words in print, through reading the whole chapter where these verses are from, and through listening to God’s spirit speaking to you in silent prayer.
3. Each evening, jot down a few thoughts about something you learned, a person you met, someone you want to remember and pray for at home.
MAY THIS DEVOTIONAL BE A BLESSING FOR YOU AS YOU SEEK TO SERVE, HEAL, AND BRING HOPE TO THOSE IN NEED….
Here is a prayer of blessing to ponder as you begin your work in Haiti:
May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so that you may seek truth boldly and love deeply within your heart.
May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world (Haiti), so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.
And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator, Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide, be with you and remain with you, this day and forever more. Amen
The team who read this devotional daily.
Day One:
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; he will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Philippians 4:6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
What feelings do you have starting out this trip? Such a beautiful country from the air! The closer to the ground we get the more we can see the tent cities and the impoverished way of striving to survive. Write down at least 3 things you are pondering today. Take note of names of all you will be living with this week. 1. Excited! 2. Feels weird to get upgraded to first class when going on a mission trip to Haiti. 3. Hoping my traveling companion, church member, Yoga instructor, Susan, has a good trip since she is trusting me in this!
Your first day is full of excitement and exhaustion both emotionally and physically. May you rest well this evening and ponder this scripture assurance to give you strength and peace for tomorrow.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Loving God, we thank you for our safe travels this day. May I be a blessing to all I meet and may our brothers and sisters in Haiti sense your love through me. Hear my prayer requests this day: for the people we are about to meet at the medical clinics. …………….. Let me listen to your message for me as I pray: trust in me. Be still, be at peace. Amen
Day Two:
Psalm 34:1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
Now that you are settled in your new home for the week, what have you learned about Haitian people already? They make wonderful chicken, beans, & rice, the fruit is amazing! And they have beautiful smiles! Our guides/shepherds are taking great care of us. Riding in a TapTap is fun! This country is struggling to deal with an overwhelming problem of poverty and lack of basic needs being met. Yet, there is much hope and the people we meet are so grateful we have come to see them and their beautiful country. They deserve much respect for their strength and for their hospitality to strangers.
What are your goals for this week besides learning cross-cultural healthcare skills? Learning all I can about the differences and similarities between Haiti people and the Dominicans that I know so well from previous trips.
Ponder the following verses and consider the importance of keeping your focus on how Jesus would respond to all you meet -- including your house-mates.
Psalm 145:18,19 You, LORD, are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you in truth. You satisfy the desire of those who fear you; you hear their cry and save them.
My faith helped me today when: I was hot and tired and wanted the last patient to come through the clinic faster. Prayed that we can see all who showed up and we did.
I will always remember: The little boy, I gave my FFP visor to so he would keep the scalp bandages in place.
Journal notes: Thankful for healthcare in the US and for a place to sleep that doesn't have chickens and dogs making noises all night long. There is something we miss in the US when we no longer live our lives outdoors simply being with people all day, and spending time in a village where they all know each other.
Day Three
Jeremiah 32:41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in the land with all my heart and soul.
God created each of us to feel “good” when we help others. It is a blessing to be a blessing and physiologically the brain and circulation are improved by helping others. How did you feel today after giving of yourself? Thankful to be on the giving end. It takes great humility to be on the receiving end. What would you like to remember about this day? Worship under a "Tree of Life" felt closer to God and each other. Visited a hand pumping water well like used in the olden times in the US. They are so thankful to have clean water! We take it for granted. What are you thankful for? The sermon about "Self-care: love your neighbor as yourself." Who that you have met and on your team do you want to lift up to God in prayer? All who are shepherding us. Today we went into downtown Port au Prince and they were very careful to stay close to us. But no problems. We even bought some handmade keepsakes from Haiti at a market.
Romans 5:1 Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Where did you find peace for your soul today? When we worshipped under the tree. Looking up into its gorgeous branches while listening to the singing of the people was heavenly! Did others help you with this? Yes, our Pastor Valentin, his wife and kids and the whole community of Kwa Kok.
Almighty God, help us to focus on what we can do and not be overwhelmed by the great need here that seems impossible to heal. Give me good hope that you are working through me in obvious and mysterious ways. Help me to trust that I am where I am supposed to be doing your work to bring grace and love to all. Help me love as you love us. Amen
Journal notes: It is sad to see the ruins from the earthquake two years later still crumbling down....
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!
By this time on the trip you may be feeling tired of being in a group. If you live alone and typically can control your environment and schedule this kind of trip can be especially hard. How do you cope with the hardships of mission work? By now I am sleeping well because I am used to the bed and the sounds. Having less water in the shower makes showering take longer. But it reminds us how precious water to wash with is! Looking for things to be thankful for.....Not hard to find!
How do you deal with the temptations to judge others and devalue personal relationships when you are tired? Go away from the group for a little quiet time.
How does a focus on the way Jesus coped with stress help you cope? Yes, he prayed and had no fear. What de-stressing method do you use? Prayer, yoga, journaling, meditation, talking with a friend? All of the above....
Psalm 32:6 So all your loyal people should pray to you in times of need; when a great flood of trouble comes rushing in, it will not reach them.
Everlasting Creator and Sustainer, help me cope with the fatigue that is setting in. Make me an instrument of your peace and strengthen my ability to be empathic towards others. Give me your comfort when I am sad, give me your wisdom when I am discerning the right decision to make and give me your peace that surpasses all understanding even in the midst of chaos. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen
Journal Notes: Learning some Creole! Bondje beni ou means God Bless you! Assisted a nurse at the Haitian Christian Mission Bandage up an accident victim who had a huge gash in his forehead. I admire this nurse very much and her ability to care for whatever comes into the clinic with no anxiety about it. Nurse Genines was so brave and peaceful while stitching up a terrible wound. She and I also worked together to help a young woman journalist from the US who came in with a concussion after being in a car accident.
Ephesians 5:8 You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light.
The trip is coming to a close very soon. Before you know it you will be saying your goodbyes! What do you want to say or do for your new friends before you leave them? How do you want them to remember you? How will you remember them?
How have you been changed? Found I have an affinity for Haiti. I love the people and the countryside beauty. What new understanding or “light” has been shown to you or on you that has helped you serve well during this time in Haiti? I have come to have more hope in human resilience after seeing the women carry so much weight on their heads and necks and the general perseverance of the people is so admirable! They show you how people can survive with very few resources and still have joy and care for others.
Journal notes: I am so thankful I trusted the Spirit's lead to come to Haiti and to bring my friend Susan to teach Yoga to the graduate nurses as a self-care method - and to teach the patients in our medical clinics while they waited to be seen. All has been a true blessing and it has all gone very well!
Day Six
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." —John 10:10
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." —John 10:10
The work of a nurse often brings holistic life in a way that no other profession is able. We are taught to look at the whole person, not just their disease. Nurses are skilled at enhancing the body, mind, and spiritual functioning of their patients. Psychological/spiritual healing and physical healing happen in concert with one another. How have you observed the power of your gifts and talents for healing at work here in Haiti? Where did you (by the grace of God) make a difference in another’s life?
How have you been changed/healed, made more whole, as a result of coming on this trip? I can see that I too have the resilience to go on mission trips to Haiti and it can be safe and inspiring at the same time! I will be back and in the meantime I have many new friends to pray for and remember.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." — Ephesians 2:8,9
Eternal and Loving God, our rock and our salvation. We thank you for all we have experienced together and individually here in Haiti. We thank you for the wonderful family of Valentin who took such good care of us this past week. We thank you for the leadership of Carrie and all who shepherded this flock. And we thank you for the friendships we have made and the memorable times we have shared together. May I say my farewells in a way that honors my new friends with a sense of hope and joy. Give me the words that express my heartfelt thanks and love. According to your will, bring me back to this place or elsewhere so that I can continue serving those in need with the additional skills I have attained during this trip. Amen
Journal notes: Leaving for the US today because I have to go back to finish some papers for my Doctorate in Ministry in Science and Theology. I can share this experience on my blog.
Day Seven
2nd Corinthians 9: 12-15: "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, people will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!"
Thanks be to God for you and for your willing spirit and loving soul. May you feel God’s grace surround you and may the angels carry you home safely as they sing, “Well done good and faithful servant!”
I feel blessed to have met some of the Haitian people who have survived many more challenges than my life will ever have to deal with. I am so soft and lazy compared to the people of Haiti who possess much courage as they tackle the challenges of each new day. We were One when we smiled at one another, and in church we held hands and sang together as old friends do. I am glad to have had this chance to meet more of our global family and honored to serve them with the few skills I brought with me.
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