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God has called the church to care for persons like Milon. The
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has tried to be faithful to that
calling by harnessing its resources of people, money, and know-how;
working cooperatively with indigenous churches in other countries;
and reaching out to people in need. As a medical missionary working
on behalf of the church, I have opportunities personally to care
for sick people with special needs. I took responsibility for
managing Milon's care, because I knew he needed special attention
in order to survive. I arranged for him to receive all the medicines
and nutritional supplements he needed, with help from the hospital's
Malakar Memorial Fund. Individuals and congregations of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) have contributed money to this fund, designed
to help sick people who cannot afford the medical care they need.
Milon recovered from his tuberculosis, gained back all his weight,
and then kept growing as a teenager. He came to me regularly to
complete his TB treatment, and then I continued to see him on
my occasional visits to his village near Rajshahi. As his lung
condition did not allow him to do the vigorous work of rice farming,
he needed to learn a trade that was physically less demanding.
So I helped arrange for his admission to the tailor's training
course at the Nazareth Centre, about 120 miles away in Savar.
He became one of their star pupils, and he was proud to show me
the new sewing machine he received upon graduation. I told him
I would enjoy helping him get a table for the machine, as he was
eager to start his own business and begin supporting himself.
Even though the results of mission work are not always evident,
the fruits are real. When the church uses its gifts to reach out
to others, it can change their lives. And it changes ours as well.
Once when I was attending a large church fellowship gathering
in a neighboring district, Milon traveled 40 miles to attend with
a group from his village. As the nearly 300 people chose their
places on the ground for the initial worship service, Milon came
over and sat next to me. God had given him to me as a friend,
and as a brother in Christ—one of the greatest fruits of
our mission. I am grateful to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
for the opportunity to receive those fruits—God's gifts
of goodness and love, even to me.
Your brother,
Les
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
117 |
