Remind me, Lord…..

I am a firm believer that God places individuals in your path that have an impact on your life. Below is one of those instances.

My wife, Teresa, and I are regular volunteers at El Ayudante. On our last trip, I had a very moving experience. On Monday morning, we arrived at the clinic to work in Spiritual Care. As we walked in the door, I was told that a young girl had broken her leg. I walked into the treatment room and saw Keyti lying on the exam table. Keyti is 15 yrs old and has cerebral palsy. I could tell by looking that her femur was fractured. The Dr and nurses splinted the fracture as best they could. The staff of El Ayudante prepared to take her and her mother to the hospital in Comayagua, and I was asked to ride along. We carried her to the truck and carefully placed Keyti in her mother’s arms for the 30 minute bumpy ride. When we arrived at the hospital, her mother passed out at the door. There were 100’s of people waiting to get in. Everyone moved aside and told us to get the child and mother inside. I laid Keyti on a dirty gurney in the hallway, and she looked at me for the first time. For some reason she connected with this gringo. A Dr came to her side. He spoke English. I explained to him where the fracture was. We worked together and set the fracture. After applying the cast, we waited for close to an hour for the cast to harden. Her mother had to leave during this time to fill out papers.

I was told later that normally you are there all day. God cleared paths for us. We were in and out in less than two hours. I held Keyti’s hand and tried to comfort her. She never took her eyes off of me. I could see a calm come over her as we looked at each other. During this time, God reminded me of some things. He reminded me of His love for those who can’t help themselves. He reminded me how great a mother’s love is for her child. Her mother carried her down the mountain that morning. He reminded me that He takes care of the little children. He reminded me that our faith should be like Keyti’s faith was in me at the time: the faith of a child. He reminded me of Romans 8:18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. She will have a body like Christ’s someday. No more pain. No more suffering. He reminded me of Hebrews 13:2. Be not forget to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

I may never see Keyti again in this life, but I will see her again when our time here on this earth is over and we will forever be with the Lord. Until then Keyti will stay with me as a reminder of many things.

In his Service,
Marvin Mefford