The Word was heard today…Friday

What an amazingly crazy day today in Bamacounda! It began in our regular fashion, with team worship and prayer at the hotel. We are all so thankful to have the opportunity ask God to bless our day, to seek His face first thing in the morning.

The team hit a stumbling block this morning when one of our indispensable translators was unable to make it due to a close death. Thankfully, our African team members are flexible and willing to serve where needed, and so was true this day. Pastor N’Gor knows so much medical terminology now that he could effectively do triage on his own! He began to anticipate my questions, and would answer them before I ever asked. Also, I know that his arms must be like that of gumby, as he was pulled in a million directions to translate for us, yet he remained so resilient. We are so thankful for our kind, compassionate African pastor.

We ask you to lift up a special child in prayer this day, Anastasia, and her mother. Anastasia has been to the clinic each day in Bamacounda so far, but had not had the opportunity to see the Dr. yet. We were preparing for an afternoon filled with children from the local school, and were preparing to shut our doors for patients until tomorrow. Pastor Ryan said that he was not sure why, maybe her repetitive pleading, maybe the pain in her eyes, but he felt strongly convicted to let her in, although we were not allowing others. Her mother presented Anastasia in the triage area with blindness, and upon history and examination Dr. Ray realized that she was born blind with congenital cataracts. I know that it was heartbreaking for him to look into her mother’s desperate eyes and tell her that there was nothing that he could do to help her, but it was an invitation from Heaven to share the love and hope of Christ. As the team gathered around and lifted the infant in a prayer of faith in the healing powers of Jesus, there was a river of tears flowing from the mother. As we reflected back on that moment, Dr. Ray said “I believe we touched Heaven for that little girl,” and the team agreed that the Spirit was in the room. I ask that you each pray a special prayer for Anastasia and her mother, that Jesus’ will be done, and believe with all your heart as you pray that He can perform a miracle through and in her. What better way to bring hope to a sorrowful, poor village than for her to be healed.

We also had the immense pleasure to treat the more than 80 children of the local school today. They gathered around in a circle in front of their arrival at the clinic, and began to sing for the team. Their songs were of Jesus, and were a great blessing to all who heard. Pastor Ryan was asked to share a moment from the Word, and in answer to prayer, he was able to share a salvation message including Romans 10:9-10 with more than 80 school aged children as well as many, many bystanders including the Imam (the Islamic spiritual leader) of the village! In addition to their ever important spirit, we were able to care for them medically as well, and it was a hectic but rewarding time. Praise God!

Please pray for the strength of the team. There is much physical and mental exhaustion, and tomorrow is our fourth and final day in Bamacounda. It will be a very trying day for the team, as it will be an intensely emotional time in the afternoon when we have to pull away from the clinic with the eyes of lost souls who have not yet heard of Jesus’ love for them in our rear view mirror. It is our prayer that He will raise up a man of God to lead this village, to lead the hearts of those who are seeking Him. Please continue to pray for the health and safety of the team; pray that Pastor Ryan will have the opportunity to share the gospel with the crowd tomorrow, that as many ears can hear as possible, that the hearts of those that hear will feel the love of the Spirit within them. We love you all and miss you!

Until tomorrow…
Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence! As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, your coming would make the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame! When you came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked! For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a god like you, who works for those who wait for him! Isaiah 64:1-4