(note: this says it’s posted by Heidi, but it’s Raelyn’s blog! Enjoy!)
Sometimes when you go on mission trips to foreign countries you
get sick. You may get a cough, the sniffles, a sore throat, or other things
commonly acquired by most people in the States. As for me, who happens to normally
have unfortunate luck when it comes to sickness, I end up quite sick. Yes, I
was fire burning in Calcutta with a raging fever amid other symptoms. Yes, I
did get admitted in a hospital in Calcutta, India. Yes, that is right, Indian
Hospital. But, before you panic please let me tell you about God.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose
I shared a room with a few other patients. One little girl, we’ll
call her Rosie, had been in a bike accident. She had four rods in her leg that
looked very painful. She had been in the hospital for a month. Julie, the woman
beside me, had something wrong with her nose. Through my stay in the hospital
my team leader, Heidi, and I were able to interact with and build relationships
with nurses, Rosie and her mom, and Julie and her family. (Please keep them in
your prayers!)
You see, in all things, God was working for good. And honestly,
even though being sick was absolutely horrible physically, I wouldn’t trade
health for the ability to shine the light of Christ the way we were able to
during that time in the hospital. Even through my sickness, God was able to
keep me strong, light hearted, and joyful. The people around us noticed. Did I
mention that we didn’t speak the same language? But God’s light was made known.
God’s power isn’t constricted by language or our eloquence with words. These
people noticed that there was something different about the American Christian
girls before them. How do we know? One of our contacts, who does speak Bengoli,
a common language around here, was able to communicate that the nurses and
families were saying that we were very good girls. Also, you could just see it
in the way they lit up at interacting with us. Such a beautiful thing.
God’s ways are above our ways, His thoughts are above our
thoughts, His plans are above our plans. Do I think God planned me getting
sick? Absolutely not. Do I think He was able to bring joy and glory and
goodness through a rough situation? ABSOLUTELY!!! In all things God works for
good.
Just to ease your minds, I am out of the hospital and feeling
much better!!
My Challenge to you (and myself): Even in the hard things, the
rough times, find joy; open your eyes, heart, and mind to see where and how God
is working for good because He is always near and He is ALWAYS GOOD!!
I love you,
Raelyn
