Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Power of Touch

Jessalyn Massingill took this photo, and I think it captures some of the essence of the medical mission. There is a great deal of power and healing in touch, even with a gloved hand. We are, after all, a MEDICAL mission. We take every reasonable precaution to keep ourselves healthy and to communicate trust in our professional and medically appropriate approach. We follow the rules of the Zambian government, we seek licensure of all of our medical volunteers, and we follow medical protocols, but we are also a medical MISSION. We are there to be a witness to the Lord's love and mercy. Sometimes the two seem goals seem to compete, but most of the time they are nicely intertwined.

I want to encourage our team this year to seek this wonderful balance. You are going to be very tempted to sacrifice your own rest, health, and even emotional / spiritual balance to do as much as you can while you are there. I think the motivation is appropriate, but I want to encourage you to remember that you can't serve others if you are sick yourself, whether it be physically or spiritually.

Take care of yourself, find your balance, and you will be able to be a powerful witness to God's love.

KB

Audio Reports


Matthew Prather's Passing



One of the defining elements of Zambia Medical Mission is that we have encouraged participation by young people and families. Those in the picture worked last year in the children's ministry.

Matthew (lower right corner) and his brother Stephen (top right) participated in ZMM because of Dr. Benkhe.

Matthew had a heart for helping others.

Below is a message from Calab Ramsey (top left).

I’ve been in touch with Stephen and he says that he and his dad definitely need our prayers. He says his dad is extremely torn up about the everything, he says that he's trying to stay strong for his dad but he's also torn up. His mom has a bruised brain and a fracture at the base of her neck and two broken ribs, she is not breathing on her own. she has good pressure in her head and she is somewhat stable so they are cautiously optimistic. About Matthew, I've realized through my own tears that I shouldn't worry about him because there is no way that he isn't in heaven right now, he was too kind-hearted not to be.