Today was our last day of mobile clinics. Last night we traveled 7 hours from yesterday's location and because we have another 7 hour drive home today , we had to make today's clinic only 1/2 a day (just 4 hours). Do the math, that's 14 hours of travel for 4 hours of clinic. Some would say that is too much travel for too little work. However, when you consider we saw 133 patients with 33 praying with our evangelist s and 11 more very interested, the cost of time traveled is of no consequence. When you see the church who came from Pu Wiang (which is a church started by mobile clinic work) come to share their faith and join in the effort to plant this church, the cost of gas and food and lodging is so little compared to seeing and being a part of this great work. The numbers just don't add up because God doesn't measure things in dollars and sense.
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Today's clinic was in a new area where there is no church and no Christians. The day began with much hope an anticipation. Patients came at a steady stream all day long. The school gave us all their kids, all day long. The teachers made sure each one got to see the doctor. We made sure each one heard the Gospel. We wound up seeing 168 patients. 9 of them prayed with our evangelists and 9 were interested to learn more. What a great start! But there is more, there was a young man that was leading the new work. He had been to one of our clinics two years prior and gave his life to Christ at that time. He only waited two years to have a mobile clinic that he could return the blessing of knowing Christ by telling others his story. Doug was so blessed to have some time with Pop today. What an encouragement he was to all who met him.
We arrived to our next clinic this morning at 8:30. We set up in record time, opened registration, and no one came. Doug gathered several of the men on the team and prayed for God to send people. Then the pastor gathered everyone and we all prayed again. I posted a live video and asked viewers to pray. By 10am we had our first patient. Throughout the day people came trickling in every few minutes. We ended the day seeing only 39 patients. Our lowest patient numbers ever. But...5 people prayed with our evangelists and 2 more were very interested. And... not in those numbers was a family who had seen Doug for their babies skin rash earlier in the day. They thought he had psoriasis. Doug confirmed for them it was NOT and sent them home with meds and the Gospel. They called the pastor later in the afternoon to say they wanted to become Christians. They would be there in Sunday. (First time this has ever happened!) Also another couple that came in the afternoon, after seeing the doctor, Gasem shared the Gospel with the husband and Doug share the Gospel with the wife. Each one, after hearing the Gospel message desperately wanted the forgiveness that Jesus provides....yet they were not ready to give up there old traditions. As they were leaving, Gasem felt compelled to talk to them once more. (A first time ever for a Gasem) As he did, the couple realized they both had the same thoughts about wanting forgiveness. They promised they would come back on Sunday to more fully understand things.
So, our numbers were few but the fruit was spectacular. First time ever! Image may contain: one or more people, tree and outdoor Today's mobile clinic was at a house church in Ta Klee. This was our first time in this little town. We had a steady flow of patients who just kept coming. Many said they were told they had to come because the doctors were really good. At the end of the day, we saw 190 patients, 7 praying with our Gospel sharers and another 5 promising to come back on Sunday to hear more. When we gathered to share the stories, our local believer Miss Um, thanked the American team for the way they conducted themselves all day long in the hot muggy conditions. Their sacrifice brought people closer to the Gospel than ever before. She shared with many patients how these people came to show them just how far the love of God can reach. She explained that our team were not getting paid to come and give them free medical care, they were in fact paying to come, not to make merit, but to show them the love of God. Every touch, every smile, every bit of care that went into preparing their meds was a chance for these people to experience God's love in action. They spoke not a word of Thai but they were in fact, "silent witnesses" Miss Um was so grateful to have the opportunity to lead many to Christ today. She felt much of it was due to the silent witness of the team from America.
We began our day in the parking lot of our hotel ready to hear from the national partners about what today might look like. The husband shared logistical details and the wife shared how she has dreamed of this day for many months. She and her husband have helped with evangelism in this area for several months. They have had us help them in other areas with mobile clinics in the past. She said every time she came to this place, the feet of Buddha, she couldn't shake the feeling that a mobile clinic would be very helpful here. So much opposition and so little light here. She began making calls to see if we could come and help. Today was the day, her dream come true. And her efforts were not in vain. The local church planter was very excited about the change in the community today as many of those who have been strongly apposed to the things of God, came to the clinic and had their opposition melt away as they were cared for by the clinic staff and local Christians. The pastor spoke specifically of one women who had been the leader of those outspoken of Christians and anyone interested in Christianity. After being seen at the clinic, the pastor noted that all her animosity had been completely swept away. We saw 105 patients with 5 of them brave enough to want to learn more about God.
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