WHERE MY HEART IS

I decided after a few trips to Jamaica, that though I really enjoy the medical clinics with the Dr.'s and nurses, I feel most useful at the Infirmary. Someone is usually kind enough to go out of their way a little to drop me off there, while the others head out to the clinic for the day. To go up alone is a little intimidating. Most are, but not everyone, is friendly. One of the mission guests reported an abusive incident by one of the staff, and ever since then, I am looked upon with more suspicion it seems. I have carefully tried to build relationships with the staff, and when I bring food treats, I make sure they get some as well. We have had some staff retreats for educational and relational purposes, and to simply tell them we know what a tough job they have and how much it is appreciated. We really want to encourage them, in what is a very tough occupation. and is considered a job of very low status there. I tell them it is a Call of God. A job of the highest order.
I usually take up a couple of water coolers, and spend my day, making sure everyone gets a cup of water. Some patients are able to get water for themselves, and others who are bedridden can not. Sometimes when I take water to Princess she drinks 5,6,7 glasses if I let her. I don't know if she's that thirsty or afraid that she won't get anymore when I leave. I try to take enough to make 2 rounds through each of the wards. It takes all day to do that, and spend a moment with each person. I'm really looking forward to the time, God willing, I take a team up there and have many hearts and hands to work. Then I'll be able to focus more on each individual, and maybe have time to get to know them better, know their story's and talk about Jesus. I'm sure they have more to teach me about Jesus, than I have to teach them, that's for certain.
I was going from patient to patient one day, and suddenly just felt very disheartened. What was this accomplishing? I was changing nothing. Nothing was going to be any better the next day for these people, because I was there. As I was handing a cup of water to one woman, I hear in my spirit, "even a cup of cold water given in My name." The reference is Mark 9:41, where we are told that to give even a cup of water in Jesus name to His own, has a reward.
Well, I'm not looking for the reward, but if loving with a cup of water to His own pleases Him, it's not insignificant to Him, evidently. It's because we're trained to only look for the big things, not the small. Steve told me after this particular day, "you made their day better, today, because you were there. That's what you have to focus on."
One of the younger men when given his cup of ice water, took it gently in both hands and turning to the others said with a grin and a giggle, "it's SO COLD!"
Even now I want to cry when I think of that memory. Icewater! All it was, was icewater.
I may be there to serve, but it's me that's getting the lessons. My awareness of my poverty grows with each trip up that hill.
It makes me think of what Mother Teresa said to her hosts, when she received the Nobel Peace Prize. They had thrown her a lavish party, and when asked what she thought, she said" Never have I seen such poverty." (ouch)
Which just goes to show you, never try to dazzle with wealth, a nun who has taken a vow of poverty to serve the poor!
Rev. 3:17 - because you say, "I am rich and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, poor, blind and naked, I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich, and white garments that you may be clothed, and the shame of your nakedness would not be revealed; and anoint your eye's with salve that you might see; as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be therefore zealous and repent."
Yes...Mama T had her eye's wide open. I like to think of her in heaven, with the people she served and loved. She sits with them, not with a crust of bread in poverty, but at the banqueting table of the Lord himself. She probably is thinking, "now THIS is a party!"