Success as a missionary is much like success in anything
else. You can measure the accomplishments numerically. It’s possible to quantify
each feet and every victory. A soul won to Christ’s Kingdom, a seed planted, a
wall of spiritual defense torn down. There is a critical difference in where
the credit goes, though. In any business venture the credit goes to those who
put in the hours but in ministry the credit always goes to He who divinely
guides the investments.
It would be easy for me to list all the things completed in
the clinic or the ministry opportunities that were successful while we worked
at loving those who need and deserve love. The reality of ministry, however, is
that every step, every completed task, and every relationship triumph is both
initiated and completed by the Holy Spirit. That being said, I am proud to
boast in what the Lord has guided me to do in the clinic. I want to make a list
of all that has happened while He has used me to care for my community on Helen
but please understand, if you have the impulse to think or say, “Great job Levi”
it was never my credit to take. Jesus has orchestrated each and every step of
ministry for me and my family while we have faithfully served these amazing
people.
Procedures:
As much as I would have liked to post a ton of pictures so
you could see the injuries and ailments that God brought to me, I felt like it
would be a greater honor to not share any identifying information about the
patients (even though there is no privacy laws here in Honduras).
Here is a list of the awesome things God has brought me to
heal… if you are not in the medical field, you may be wondering why I say “awesome”.
It is never awesome when someone is hurt or injured but, as my medical friends understand,
we are weird and that which is gross to most people is “awesome” to us. Here is
all that I have been blessed to help with:
Huge fish hook to the finger. Because the hook is barbed, it’s
impossible to drag the hook back through the insertion site without damaging
the finger more. So I used a technique, called digital block (numbing the
entire finger), and cut from the distal knuckle to the tip of the finger and
simply lifted the finger through the incision. A few stiches later and he was
right as rain.
Suturing a machete injury to the foot.
Removing an insect from an eye (didn’t actually succeed and
encouraged the patient to go to a larger hospital for assistance).
Help stop the bleeding from a facial injury of a child who
fell from a hammock.
Suturing multiple children’s injuries, a total of 7 staples
on scalp lacs, and treatment of 2nd and 3rd degree burns
on a few different patients.
Not to mention the standard coughs, stomach aches,
headaches, allergies, and standard clinic ailment.
We have also fallen head over heels for a little girl with sickle
cell anemia who suffers from severe muscle atrophy.
I have also witnessed God’s miraculous healing. There is a
man, we will call ‘F’ who suffers from a degenerative optic disease. He is… was
blind. Due to the severity of his illness, there was, by all accounts, no way
that he would have ever regain sight. As ‘F’ says, “My Jesus loves me!!!” I
went to visit him yesterday to make sure he was getting by and, PRAISE JESUS,
he has been healed! As me and Larry were walking down the path to say hi ‘F’
was walking by himself to get gas for his generator. HE RECOGNIZED US!!! I am truly
humbled that Jesus would find it pleasing to himself that I would be able to
participate in all that He is doing here.
Administration:
When I arrived in the clinic, the pharmacy was depleted and
had a lot of room for organization. This is where you get to see God work
because, if you know me, I am not the most organized person in the world. God
sent Brittney to help with this process. Through our discussions and a lot of
work on Brittney’s part, the pharmacy is well organized. When medical staff is
not on site Ted, a local islander who works as a staff member with M.E.I., and
other non-medical staff, will provide medication for the islanders. God put it
on my heart to make that process as easy as possible for non-medical staff when
I am back in the states raising money for our continued ministry in the mission
field, I color coded the type of medications. Cardiac meds are red, infection medication
(antibiotics) are green, respiratory is yellow, GI is black, etc.
The pharmacy is filled with smaller quantities of meds in
each bin and the bulk stock is kept in large locked cabinets. These two areas
are now organized in the exact same ways so that, when pharmacy meds need
filled, it will be easy for anyone to find and replenish used pharmacy
medications.
Everything is labeled, inventoried, and easy to dispense. In
addition to all the labeling, there is now a workable list of medication that
need to be removed from the shelves based on expiration dates. I am grateful
that God allowed me to simplify these systems for M.E.I. staff when we are
gone.
I have witnessed death, sickness, and loss while on Helene.
That being said, I have been witness to God’s provision, healing, and work. I
look forward to the day when my job is no longer needed. When pain and illness
are a distant memory and we get to praise Jesus daily for riding the world of
the consequences of sin through life everlasting. Until that day, I will use
the gifts and skills that He has blessed me with to love on His children.
Blessing
Levi
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