Friday, January 28, 2011

"Have a Safe Walk Home"

Late Tuesday afternoon, our second day at Trascerros where we served a record number of people, Amanda examined an older gentleman. He had also brought his wife to be examined, and she was dying of throat cancer. Debbie examined her (get her to tell you that story). So Amanda finished examining the old man and he brought his wife over to Amanda. According to Amanda they said many things to her to express their appreciation (some of which she’s not sure she completely understood), and then the old woman, dying of throat cancer, took her hand and said “Have a safe walk home.”

Those words have haunted me at so many different levels. When we have friends come to visit, or our kids leave to go back to school, we say “Drive safely”. They are words you express to someone that is close that you care about. These words are the parting thought you say to express that affection. She said to us “Have a safe walk home”.


Geographically I’m guessing her world was very small. Almost everyone that came to our clinics walked, many for two hours or more. The world we live in is so big. We don’t walk anywhere. Consequently, our world is much more fast paced than hers. Are we moving so fast that we no longer see (or care) about those that are right around us? Have a safe walk home.


Finally, I thought about our spiritual walk. For Christians, we are all walking towards “home." Heaven is our final destination. What does it look like to walk there safely? I don’t know. But I’m sure it has much to do with staying close to God through His word, seeking to follow the road He has laid out before us. And, as we have learned in Honduras, there is safety in numbers. We need to share the message of Jesus Christ with those we meet so that we are walking towards heaven surrounded by others walking with Jesus.


This is my fourth mission trip. Logistically they have gone as smoothly as any trip I’ve been on. Your prayers preceded us to “smooth the road” and make it “safe." Thank you. In a few minutes we will be going to the airport to travel back to the United States. Thank you for being a part of our journey. I say to you, “Have a safe walk home."


Click here to see the 2011 mission team you have prayed for so faithfully this week.


1 comment:

Today's Curry County View said...

Libby This is David Sullivan....
I am linking to your blog if that is OK. I am starting a new photo blog with stories like the one you did about Amanda