Over the past couple weeks, the Weekly Reminder has run stories of our Jordan trip. Check ‘em out!
July 16 - The moments that make it all worth it.
(And remember, you can always read past issues of the Weekly Reminder in the archives!)
The Remember team arrived back in Charleston on Monday night at 11:30pm, after nearly 24 hours of travel. Looking back on the trip to Jordan, it is a joy to see what we were able to accomplish, from operating a clinic, to making new contacts, to fellowshipping with our fellow believers. The trip was a great success—and that is a result of the power of your prayers. In addition to the ministry that we were blessed to do, we wait in eager expectation to see all the blessings that have not yet come to fruition as a result of this trip!
We had three days of medical clinics, and our doctors were able to see around 80 patients, primarily Iraqi refugees with little access to doctors and medications. We packed medications with us, thanks to generous donations made by our sponsors, and those medications were used to meet the needs of those our doctors saw. What was left – thousands of dollars of worth of medications – was donated to local Christian clinics.
But the real ministry we did is not reflected in these numbers, but in the individual lives of those who were blessed.
One elderly lady was so grateful for what we were done for her that she clung to Lori, our nurse who was doing her medical charts, and started crying “Habibi, Habibi,” which translates as “beloved.” The grateful thanks of so many are impossible to duplicate in writing, but it was, and is, touching to see how much of an impact we made on each others lives and what we each can gained from this trip.
The success of this trip was made possible by the prayers of the saints, and by the interworking of the Body of Christ. While in Jordan, we worked with a variety of other ministries, each of which played a different, vital, part in the blessing. I can’t help but be excited when I think of how this working of the Body as a whole will lead to future ministry potential; the Body working to serve the Body – that’s what we are all about.
If there is one thing that has been evident on this trip - and I’ve mentioned it before - it is that God has been opening every door for us. From miracles at customs, to vital in-country contacts, to the patients that our doctors have seen, we’ve been jumping through those doors just as quickly as we can.
I’m not a doctor, but my lack of medical expertise has not stopped me from seeing the blessing that our medical staff has been to these Iraqi refugees. They’ve seen a multitude of illnesses, from the chronic to the acute, and prescribed dozens of medications (and donated thousands of dollars worth to vital local ministries!).
But I think the most important thing they have done is to pray for each patient. These men and women need so much more than medication; they need the healing and the peace of the Great Physician, and we have prayed for each one, child and adult alike. Their smiles and tears have made sure we know that our work is not in vain.
And we have pictures!
Two spirit-filled men who “just happen” to be doctors.
Lori is not just a nurse, but a friend to all she comes in contact with.
More updates to come…
(L to R) Nathan Glupker, Lori Harmon, Gabe Waddell, Dr. Chris McLain, Dr. Robert Clifford
There is nothing better than seeing God’s hand at work, and nothing has been more clear this trip. Though we make plans, His are so much better than ours.
Our local contacts have told us, “That shouldn’t have happened…” and “That could only be the Lord…” more times than I can count. Sometimes it has been overt miracles - and not the “minor” sort, either - and sometimes it has just been the outpouring of God’s love through His people. Either way, and both ways, His hand has been so evident.
It is Monday evening here now, and tomorrow morning we will be setting up our first clinic. It may be slow as we figure out how to transport the Iraqi Christian refugees to our doctors, but future days will hold even more.
On behalf of our whole team, thanks for your prayers - they are opening God’s doors for us.
The refugee crisis in Iraq has gotten a lot of news attention, but the problem is, the crisis is not getting better. Violence in Iraq continues to target Christians with oppression, forcing many to flee. USAToday ran a June 30 story detailing the ongoing problem.
These are the folks that we want to focus on as we head to Jordan just days from now.