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Monday Aug 4, 2008 Entry by Erin Kittelson |
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A few thoughts from the day… The Body of Christ To be honest with you all, today was a tough day. Our debriefing session tonight took longer than usual. As I looked around the table, I saw looks on my team-mates faces that said, “Did we actually do anything to help today?” The poverty here is overwhelming. We saw it today in our clinic and then studied it tonight during dinner and afterwards in a program about how we can put a face to poverty. The pictures we see on the TV in America do not do justice to how bad it really is. I wish I could write more about it, but it would turn into a full-length sermon.
As we talked tonight, we came to realize, however tough the day had been, that we are only a small part of a huge picture. There is a new word in my vocabulary: esperanza. It means “hope.” God has been working in the Dominican Republic for a long time! He also has been working in each of our lives for a while. How awesome that now we get to see it come together. God knew as the previous Calvary teams built the churches and houses that we as a team in 2008 would be able to use them for His purposes. As we despair about all that needs to be done, we have esperanza that God will continue to work and the future remains to be seen. We are privileged to be part of the body of Christ. We are reminded that we are only called to trust and obey and do what He has prepared us to do. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if working for God not for man.” (Colossians 3:23) Twelve and a Baby To this point, every time we have counted to make sure everyone was in the van, we have asked if we had “twelve and a baby.” So tonight while we gathered around the table to debrief, we tried to count twelve and it hit us… Mark’s not here. We said good-bye to our favorite optometrist this morning. We hope your trip home was safe and swift, Mark. Please Pray We are emotionally drained after today. Please pray for stamina for the team to face the same stuff tomorrow. Vanessa is not feeling well and could probably use a day off to recover, but she is strong and will want to tough it out. Pray also for the 18-month old Haitian girl who came in this afternoon close to death. We gave her what help we could and were then able to get her admitted to the hospital (something her mother had unsuccessfully tried three times previously). Pray also that God will send the money necessary to pay for her hospital stay. Please also keep our families in prayer. It is hard to be gone. (Just ask my parents who are graciously caring for my three children these weeks!) We are praying for you all and could not be doing this without you backing us up. Hey, the bananas are ripe!!!Erin Kittleson
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Last Updated ( Monday, 04 August 2008 )
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I really believe you all have begun a movement/mission that Calvary will continue to pursue. We have the best in medical care and resources and to take them to the poorest is a "God Thing". I know my life was changed forever when I was 16 years old and worked in a Christian Service Corp in a New Jersey ghetto for a summer. My vision and heart for the needs of others was changed way back in 1969. The images of that experience are still fresh in my mind and heart. I pray that for you as well.
This is what I am praying for all of you...that you will never, ever be the same...that God will open up a deeper compassion and a sense of gratitude for His faithfulness.
Praying for your endurance, your safety and wisdom and creativity to perform tasks without the backup support we are so used to here in Rochester. Thank you for your sacrificial service....5 full days of clinic this week is no small thing.
Thanks again...blessings in Jesus, the "Esperanza and Anchor of our souls".
Faye