pray that they will see more of HIM & less of me

As the man struggled to speak to me in English, tears rolled down his cheek, describing what had happened to his brother.  His brother had been traveling from the interior of Guinea to Conakry when he had been attacked by bandits, was robbed, beat, and he had his right eye slashed with a machete.  As soon as the man started talking to me, I knew that Mercy Ships couldn’t physically do anything for his brother- because all Mercy Ships surgery slots for eye & maxilla-facial patients were/are full…I dreaded saying no to the man… I hate saying no to people, but it is part of my job…when Mercy Ships surgery spaces are full or we don’t have a doctor that can treat the patient’s aliment, I have to say no… My heart hurt for this man and his brother, as it does for every patient I come across….But, for this one….I couldn’t bring myself to just say no… My schedule for the next few days was lighter than normal so I agreed to see the patient, even though I couldn’t really help him.  I gently, but firmly told the man - that Mercy Ships would not be able to operate on his brother, but that we would see him nonetheless & offer any advice we could…  I didn’t want to offer false hope…

The patient was a middle-aged man, a taxi driver, and his injury not only threatened his vision, but his livelihood- if he lost the vision in one of his eyes- he would not be able to work as a taxi driver & his 5 young ones at home were going to face serious challenges.  The patient was hopeful…I was doubtful…what was I really thinking- when I agreed to see him? I knew we couldn’t offer him physical help… I prayed quietly under my breath- asking God to somehow touch this patient…   I saw him 4 days after his initial injury- the swelling in his eye had subsided significantly, but still he had no vision. He couldn’t even see light… I arranged for him to see our eye surgeon.   The surgeon confirmed that the patient would not regain his sight & he needed an operation.   The eye surgeon and I contacted a local clinic & they confirmed they could perform the operation the man needed.

Upon telling the patient that Mercy Ships couldn’t help him & that he was going to be blind in his right eye, we offered to pray with him if he desired- he accepted….We offered a simple prayer and I again apologized that I could not do anything for him.  I felt horrible- the patient was going to be blind forever in that eye- he would very likely lose his job, and the livelihood of his family was in jeopardy. Oh, man…  I expected the patient to be angry or beg me for help- as they often do- if I have had to deliver less than ideal news…but as this patient spoke in his local dialect, I noted he didn’t look angry…instead he looked entirely at peace and was smiling… my translator told me that he was thanking me profusely for my time and for seeing him. He also reported he didn’t know how he was going to repay me… Through a translator, I told the patient I helped him because God loves him & cares about him & if he told others what God had done for him, that would be enough thanks… I then handed the patient an offering we had quickly gathered to cover the cost of his operation at the local clinic (a clinic I had made contact with while I was on the Advance team in Guinea- back in May-August 2012) and sent him on his way. Nothing but thankful phrases rolled off his lips as I escorted him off the ship.

Days have passed since I saw the patient that had been attacked with the machete.  But, a few days ago a fellow crew member pulled me aside to say…”Good job! I don’t know what you did- but the man I was sitting next to kept pointing at you- saying… ‘she is the one, that girl, she is the one that helped us so much…’ so great job!”   I said- I didn’t do anything special…I was simply doing my job… 

I saw the original man again- a few days ago… he stuttered as he tried to communicate to me in English…but this time he stuttered words of thankfulness with a huge smile on his face… He requested a picture of me for his brother.  He said his brother cannot stop talking about me & Mercy Ships.  Through his broken English- I managed to understand his brother wants to remember the one who showed such kindness to him…And he said his brother is telling all the people in his village what I/we did for him… I don’t normally give pictures of myself to patients, but for this one I may…and I pray that whenever he sees my photo or when he thinks of me…that he will see Jesus…

Pray that what they all see is more of HIM & less of me...