well we just got back from having pozole with our friend Ben. Ben is a 72 year old man who loves Zihuatanejo and just wants to serve God in whatever way He leads. He is humble and recognizes he is still learning.
You know I think that is the key...humility and open to being transformed from the inside out. He is an encouragement to us and I hope we were to him.
I want to tell you the story of Sulema.
I met Sulema in the hospital in April (I think). She had just had her 2nd baby. The birth was fine. The problem was the huge tumor, angiosarcoma, on her leg. It encompassed half of the upper and lower portions of her leg . She had been in Tijuana where she lived with her husband when she got pregnant which was also when the tumor showed up. They decided to wait till the baby was born before treating the mass. At that point she decided to come to our area where her parents lived and seek the support of her family and medical help. She was discharged from hospital to wait at her parents home for appointments with doctors in larger centers, I visited ..several times. We prayed and talked about how God was in control of the situation and that we could trust Him. They kept calling it a virus but I knew when they showed me the report of the ultrasound that it was cancer. I did not speak to them about what it is Jesus wants to do in each of our lives. To cleanse , forgive and make us new people who love and serve Him right into eternity...saved by His grace.
One day I went to visit them again and the house was completely closed and the neighbours had no information. I went 3 weeks in a row until the neighbour finally had a phone number. In time there was a form of communication by text messaging. I realized that the family had gone to another city in order to be closer to the area where she would get treatment.
I was so anxious for them knowing that this was serious and feeling very irresponsible for not having fully shared the gospel with Sulema whose life was now in danger. Somehow I had to fix this!! I went to my friend Alisa who had contacts in Lazaro and she directed me to a pastor who worked there on weekends. She did not hold out much hope since the city was large and the chances slim that they would be anywhere near this family . I had no real idea of where they were and only had the first name of Sulema.
Not too long after, we were in the seminary where this pastor worked on weekdays. By this time I was more than anxious about Sulema who now was an amputee and the "virus" had spread to her lungs. They needed spiritual and practical support and I was not there!! (by this time you can see that I have a problem in thinking that I must resolve all the issues!) As I began to tell the story of Sulema it was not long before he stopped me. "But sister, he said, we are already visiting her and taking care of her in a number of ways". I was confused for sure and asked if Alisa had already informed him of this situation. "No", he said, "they moved into a place beside some church members ..he is a nurse and has helped with her medications and his wife is helping with meals etc." "We have prayed with them and over time all came to know Christ as Saviour".
I cried..I was so moved by the grace of God. So rebuked by my arrogance in thinking I had to solve this...God had a plan..and I was only a small part of it. His team of believers working together for a common end...that the world might know!!
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