Reflections

Wow!  What an amazing, abundant week. I'm home now, the washing machine has been hard at work on my suitcase full of dirty clothes, and I've spent this past week in my sanitized, convenient in most every way office setting, treating patients much the same way that I did in Jamaica.

I've been battling a little bacterial infection since I got back last weekend, but I wouldn't trade the experiences I gained there for the world.  What's a little trouble in this life?

It's always so jarring to come back to all of the excess that we have here, and in kind of a negative way.  Walking into Krogers for the first time after a trip is a little overwhelming.  We are so blessed with so many needs right at our fingertips, but we also have so much that we don't need.  And, so much less is necessary to lead a happy life.  That has been one of the most enduring impressions that I've received from my Jamaican friends through my previous trips.  I only hope that I can apply it meaningfully to my everyday life.

 

I went into this trip hoping to gain a better sense of Jamaica by slowing down and breathing in all that my patients had to offer.  I feel like I did learn much more on this trip than on my previous trips.  I gained a better sense of the culture, and a better sense of the physical poverty of the people, and of their lack of spiritual poverty.  What a joy it was to have the opportunity to spend time with them.

Through the 2 weeks that our clinics were operational, over 900 patients were seen.  In the 1 week that chiropractic was offered, about 90 patients were treated.  A theme that we repeat many times as we work is that we only wish to offer a hand up, not a hand out.  It's the whole give a man a fish, or teach a man to fish premise.  I pray that the Jamaicans were helped up, because I know that they  spoke to all of our hearts who were serving them.  The server gains so much by serving, sometimes it seems selfish to me!


God's grace is abundant, so if you have any inkling or nudging curiosity inside you, I would so highly recommend that you check out ACE's mission opportunities or consider a service project located more near to you.  The blessings are great!

Thank you for following along on my little blog.  Hopefully you'll see me back soon, posting about my next mission trip!