Trip 7, October 2008
This will be my seventh trip to Ecuador to work with Dr. Jane Weaver in San Lorenzo. I so enjoy these opportuities to serve God through serving others. The people of San Lorenzo have very limited opportunities for medical care and they are quite privileged to have Jane there in their midst. Through the delivery of health care she has brought health and hope to many people who otherwise would have to live and die with their malady. To be a small part of Jane’s ministry is such a highlight for me. The best paycheck I ever receive as a physician is to see a patient’s life changed for the better because of the care I was able to give. When you see the healing process first hand and receive the thanks and gratitude from the patient, you can’t walk away from that without a sense of fulfillment. It is such a thrill to realize that this person is now better, possibly cured, because of what I was able to do for them. Yet, it’s more than that. It is filling a call placed on my heart to walk with God to this area and be His hands, His mouth, His eyes and His feet to serve the people there. By reaching out and touching those who are hurting, I am able to help them actually see God at work. God’s healing power takes over and He then receives all the glory and praise.
As I prepared for this trip I came across some of Jeremiah’s writings that gave me the theme and mission for me to travel to Ecuador, undertake the hard work there to assist Jane, do this at my own expense, subject myself to risk, all to serve God. The real effort in all of this is to learn to know God even deeper. When I walk with Him through stressful and stormy times, I learn to know Him better. He reveals Himself in ways that only in the context of that storm could I understand. Thus, Jeremiah frames this trip for me in chapter 29, verses 11-14 of his book. God was speaking to him and Jeremiah recorded those words. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you home and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Yes, Lord, that is my goal, my plan. I want to seek You and know You even more than I do now. Everyday, Lord, I learn from You and learn more about You. Yet, after all these years I still face an infinite task of learning to know You. I want this trip to be an exercise of seeking You and finding You. I want this trip to be an opportunity to help others on this journey of seeking and finding You. Lord, wrap Your arms of love around me and protect me. Likewise, wrap Your arms around Phyllis as she stays home but supports me all the way in these trips. Also, Lord, wrap Your arms of love and protection around Jane and her team. Enable all of us to do a mighty work in Your name in San Lorenzo. Thank You, Lord, for the clear path to You. I can find You, I can learn more and more about You, when I seek You with all my heart. Thank You, Lord, for calling me to walk with You to San Lorenzo. Thank You for the privilege of serving You there. Thank You, Lord! Amen.
Medical Missions 
Marv:
I really appreciated you sharing of this at the prayer time in last Sunday’s Dialogue Class. I have remembered you in prayer each day since you left and will continue to do so.
Just got the e-mail, too–what a taxing schedule you have before you! I will pray God gives you stamina and that He works through your healing hands!!
Blessings.
Hi Marv,
You have my prayers.
Don’t we serve a wonderful God and Father?
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom all things were made, I pray that we may always be led to give You praise and thanksgiving for all Your wonderful works before men.
Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. (1Cor 9:15).