Jamaica Medical: Miriam’s View

My 14 year old daughter Naomi and I were able to go on the July Medical Missions Trip to Kingston Jamaica.  This was Naomi's first time serving on a mission trip, and I had not served overseas since I was a teenager.  I knew in my heart that the initial urge to go was from the Holy Spirit, but I'll be honest, the day before the trip, I wasn't feeling it.  Our lives are busy, and part of me just wanted to stay at home where it's safe and I'm in charge of my time.  Well, it turns out that all of us on the trip have really busy lives, and staying "safe" and comfortable is our default choice.  But as Mark DeCourcey told us during the trip, God promises us security in Him, but not necessarily safety.  That really hit home to me, as I looked around at the poverty, as we drove on the roadways, and got a sense for the element of risk we were taking.  That's when a part of my faith that had been dormant for a while began to awaken in me. 

  

It was obvious to me the solid relationship our church (SCCC) has built with Upper Room Community Church.  Fellowship with them was sweet and friendships run deep. The way God used each person on our team and theirs at URCC to serve the community was phenomenal to be a part of.  We held a free medical/dental/eye clinic for 2 days by way of public announcement within the community around the church. Helping the Jamaicans run their medical clinic was incredibly eye opening and humbling for me. I've been a nurse for a while, but this was helping folks with a greater need, and who in turn had a greater appreciation for the care than I had ever experienced before.  I loved being able to address not only physical and emotional needs, but also spiritual, by way of offering prayer to those who wanted it before they left the clinic. We were able to give out free Bibles, medications prescribed by the Jamaican doctors and processed by pharmacists who were volunteering at the clinic, and Gospel picture bracelets/scripture cards.

 The second morning, there was a snafu with the announcements, and no line was forming outside, like it usually did.  We all prayed at breakfast, with true faith that whatever happened that day would be because that is what God had willed, and then we thanked Him for the outcome, before knowing what it would be.  We then did our part to bring in more people, and the next thing we knew, people started coming. Even more people than the day before.  Pretty cool to watch God work!  Many people that I saw in triage opened up to me about struggles; physical, emotional, and spiritual, and I cannot describe the rush I got from just letting God use me to encourage them, to guide them in sound medical advice, and to ask if we could pray for them. 

When Pastor Daryl asked Naomi and I to take a turn serving in the prayer tent, I told our team later, I was dreading it.  Doing medical triage is my thing, but sharing the gospel message with and praying for complete strangers was way out of my comfort zone.  And praise God, He used us still.  I'm not even sure how, but Naomi and I found ourselves sharing the Gospel, and praying over people and just trusting God to work, and hoping that as they thanked us and walked away, that they would be as changed and blessed as we had been in praying for them.

Each evening Mark gave us individual printouts of notes of encouragement from our prayer partners back home.  That was really awesome, to read those right at the time when you needed it most. I could feel their prayers from far away making an impact where we were. Wow. Through these, and through meaningful conversations with my team members, my own daughter, and Jamaicans at URCC, God was showing me that this trip was just as much for my spiritual growth as it was to help the needy, and that when we pour ourselves out, He WILL fill us back up.  

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The leadership conference we held at the church the next 2 days was also such a blessing. It was humbling to hear pastors and folks serving within the local churches ask for prayer and guidance as they willingly choose to do the difficult work of standing strong in Jesus as beacons of light in the middle of so much darkness. At one point, we all stood and held hands in a circle as we prayed for God's church across the world- that was a powerful picture and deep encouragement to me.  

Throughout the trip we ate local catered food (yum!) that they graciously prepared and served us daily, and our last day was spent enjoying a gorgeous mountaintop restaurant and coffee plantation tour.   I'm so grateful that Naomi and I had this amazing, unforgettable opportunity!  I'll leave you with a passage that impacted me while in Jamaica:  2 Corinthians 4:10-18

God bless,

Miriam Dausman