Trembling on the path to Healing!

In a recent blog I told the story of a woman whose joy was restored when we were able to provide her with a simple pair of reading glasses. That same day began with a dramatic walk of bravery and allowed all the other healing ministry that day to happen. The village of Nagar was a very conservative Islamic community which practiced Purdah... a tradition where woman often are not allowed outside the walls surrounding their homes except under unusual circumstances. As outsiders we were viewed with great fear. We were the first group of people from outside the community to penetrate the veil of Nagar. Though the local leaders had announced that free medical care would be provided over the Mosque loud speakers we waited for nearly 40 minutes and no one was coming to the school building where we had set up to perform exams. Finally, after nearly an hour we looked through the windows of the school toward the open courtyard and saw a hunched older woman moving slowly in our direction. As she drew closer we could see that her whole body was shaking. It was not the shaking of muscular disease but from raw fear. She was afraid of what might happen to her as she put her health into the hands of strangers. But what was greater than her fear was the excruciating pain of a dreadful eye disease known as Trachoma. It is an infection which gradually causes the eye lashes to turn inward and scratch the most pain sensitive area of the human body: the cornea or outer surface of the eye. She had an advanced case and must have lived in unending searing pain for a long time. As we examined her she continued to tremble and as we talked with her through local translators she seemed resigned to her fate of ongoing pain. We gave her the medicine needed to effect a complete cure with detailed instructions to take the medicines over 2 weeks. She left with her haunched appearance slightly more steady.
Two weeks later we returned and the trembling and forlorn look of depression was gone. A broad smile greeted us and she kissed our hands as a sign of affection and gratitude. Another life changed, another day of pain removed and God was pleased. I resolved in prayer once again to not waste my life.. not a single moment. Will you join me in the adventure of serving others?
Jim