Over a month ago we were introduced to a young girl, Mitzia, who is seven years old and has had to have dialysis since she was seven months old because her kidneys were failing. Out of desperation, the aunt of this young girl's mother, who is a Christian, got in contact with us because for a number of years already the doctors have had her slated for a kidney transplant yet nothing has happened. She came to us to see if there was anything that we could do to help with the situation. Several years had already passed with the family being in limbo, waiting for the transplant to take place and for whatever reason they kept getting different reasons or excuses from the doctors that they couldn't do it yet, even though they already had a donor in place, the little girl's grandmother (who is only probably in her 50's or so...) Though there really is very little that we can do other than come alongside them and put the situation in God's hands, I also thought of a good friend here in San Carlos, Juan Carlos, who has many connections to people in different areas of the public medical system and other people of influence. He's been knocking on those doors to see if he can pull any strings and to see if there is any way to apply some pressure on the situation and get things moving beyond this limbo stage that they've been in.
Of particular concern, a bit over a month ago little Mitzia began to take a turn for the worse and the regular dialysis that they were doing with her at home was not longer effective and they've now had to take her into a children's hospital in a city about an hour and a half away three times a week to have it done there. This is not a family that is particularly well off and the burden of having to go such a distance so often is taking it's toll on an already difficult situation.
They came to us not knowing what else they could do. A couple of days ago, my friend and I decided to go pay them a visit to encouragement them and see if there had been any developments on their end with the doctors. Unfortunately there weren't any changes in the situation, just that the doctors kept giving them different excuses for why they couldn't or wouldn't schedule in the transplant. To help give you an idea of the medical system here in Mexico, it's a mix between public and private health care. Those who have good jobs or the means to pay for it have access to good medical care. For those who don't, there is a public system in place for them as well, though it is a slow, cumbersome process, sometimes full of bureaucracy. It would seem that for whatever reason, this poor family has been getting the run around with little hope in sight and a little girl in desperate need of help.
As we sat there visiting, Juan Carlos challenged them to put their faith in the Lord in the midst of this situation, knowing that He is ultimately in control of each of every situation. He encouraged them to trust the Lord to go before them, and make a way where there seemed to be no way to go. We prayed with them but before doing so, Juan Carlos took Mitzia's hands and asked her some questions. "Do you believe in God?" An innocent, childlike "Yes," was the reply. "Do you believe that God made you?" "Yes." "Do you want to thank God for your life?" "Yes." "Do you believe that God can heal you?" "Yes." I don't remember what other questions he asked but each one was responded by a simple yes that you know came from a simple, childlike faith. And with that we prayed. There was such a sweet sense of God's presence as we prayed one couldn't help but be moved. As the tears flowed down we acknowledged together God's presence with us and His sovereignty over even this situation. We prayed that He would bring healing to her body in whatever way that He chose and that ultimately He would be honoured and glorified. I don't know who's prayers rang louder in God's ears, whether it was any one of ours or whether it was Mitzia's own prayers, but I do know that God heard us and filled us with a sense of His peace and presence.
As you think of her, would you lift up a prayer? This coming week some of Juan Carlos's contacts are having a meeting with some people of the leadership of that particular hospital and it would be great to either get some answer as to the incredibly long delay or to put some pressure on the situation, to get something done. Pray also for this family. I know that the aunt is a believer and though the others would way they believe in God, I don't know whether they truly have a personal relationship with Jesus. Pray that above all, God would be honoured and glorified in that family!
I'll be back soon to give you more of an idea of what I'm up to these days and to keep you informed on some of these things that I've been sharing about. God bless!
They came to us not knowing what else they could do. A couple of days ago, my friend and I decided to go pay them a visit to encouragement them and see if there had been any developments on their end with the doctors. Unfortunately there weren't any changes in the situation, just that the doctors kept giving them different excuses for why they couldn't or wouldn't schedule in the transplant. To help give you an idea of the medical system here in Mexico, it's a mix between public and private health care. Those who have good jobs or the means to pay for it have access to good medical care. For those who don't, there is a public system in place for them as well, though it is a slow, cumbersome process, sometimes full of bureaucracy. It would seem that for whatever reason, this poor family has been getting the run around with little hope in sight and a little girl in desperate need of help.
As we sat there visiting, Juan Carlos challenged them to put their faith in the Lord in the midst of this situation, knowing that He is ultimately in control of each of every situation. He encouraged them to trust the Lord to go before them, and make a way where there seemed to be no way to go. We prayed with them but before doing so, Juan Carlos took Mitzia's hands and asked her some questions. "Do you believe in God?" An innocent, childlike "Yes," was the reply. "Do you believe that God made you?" "Yes." "Do you want to thank God for your life?" "Yes." "Do you believe that God can heal you?" "Yes." I don't remember what other questions he asked but each one was responded by a simple yes that you know came from a simple, childlike faith. And with that we prayed. There was such a sweet sense of God's presence as we prayed one couldn't help but be moved. As the tears flowed down we acknowledged together God's presence with us and His sovereignty over even this situation. We prayed that He would bring healing to her body in whatever way that He chose and that ultimately He would be honoured and glorified. I don't know who's prayers rang louder in God's ears, whether it was any one of ours or whether it was Mitzia's own prayers, but I do know that God heard us and filled us with a sense of His peace and presence.
As you think of her, would you lift up a prayer? This coming week some of Juan Carlos's contacts are having a meeting with some people of the leadership of that particular hospital and it would be great to either get some answer as to the incredibly long delay or to put some pressure on the situation, to get something done. Pray also for this family. I know that the aunt is a believer and though the others would way they believe in God, I don't know whether they truly have a personal relationship with Jesus. Pray that above all, God would be honoured and glorified in that family!
I'll be back soon to give you more of an idea of what I'm up to these days and to keep you informed on some of these things that I've been sharing about. God bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment