“Lord, I know you want me to go on this
trip. You’ve been so clear, and the signs are
many. Help me to be obedient. And help me
to be used by you in South Asia. Amen.”
Well, I obeyed, and God used me. I recently returned from a two-week medical
mission trip with OMS’ Dynamic Women in
Missions. As a nurse practitioner, I treated
many, many patients.
The trip exceeded my expectations to
be a door for God—to touch his children so
they might see his face and witness his glory.
In the clinic, I saw patients that had
complex problems. I listened and gave
them direction. I also prayed with each
patient. What a blessing! After assessing
the situation and explaining the treatment,
I reached for a hand and asked if I could
pray for each one. My interpreter said we
always received a yes. I held each hand and
prayed in English, with utmost sincerity.
Most of the time, the patient squeezed
or shook my hand before proceeding to
the door. Many times, the patient turned
around and put his hands together to pray.
I interpreted that as “continue to pray for
me.” I’m still praying.
God used me as his hands and feet to
reach out to the people to be touched by
God, see his face, feel his presence, and
experience his grace. What at great experience to be God’s door and know that
the people experienced a small part of his
awesomeness. I thank him every day for
using me to plant small seeds of his love in
the hearts of the South Asian people.
Several of the patients that had procedures returned to the clinic a few days
later to show me how they were healing.
Then, each one reached for my hand and
asked for prayer. I prayed right there and
then for each one. God is good!
In addition to treating patients, I also
taught a group of student health workers.
These students, from various villages in
South Asia, came to learn how to care for
their people because often professional
medical services are located hours away.
I taught them CPR, the cardiac system,
how to take vital signs, and assessment
techniques. But the greatest reward of
teaching these student was showing them
how to pray with the patients.
Now that I am back home, people ask
how the trip was, and my answer is, “It
was awesome, and I was God’s door!”
By Kathy Hetzler,
Volunteer Short-term Missionary,
One Mission Society
28
photo page 28: Short-term missionary Kathy Hetzler with
one of her patients photos page 29, top: Kathy hugs one of
her younger patients. bottom: Kathy taught basic medical
techniques to a group of student healthcare workers.
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