It was a situation I never, in all honesty, expected to find myself in. A fellow missionary had phoned asking me to see a short-term volunteer who was, “suffering from a bit of asthma.” Two hours later I was in the back of our pick-up truck, performing resuscitation when the bumps allowed, while my husband desperately tried to get us to the nearest hospital that had an ITU. Those twenty minutes of trying to keep the youngster from the jaws of death, will remain etched on my memory for many days to come.
I sat in the hallway of the hospital, waiting for news of the patient in ITU, the adrenaline slowly draining away. I suddenly felt very vulnerable. I knew in theory, of course, that by serving in a developing country I was putting myself at risk of tropical diseases, road traffic accidents or muggings, but I had brazenly assumed God would protect me. After all, He had asked me to go in the first place hadn´t He? Didn´t I have a right to expect a certain level of protection in return? Surely God would protect His own?
But now I was face to face with a missionary fighting for their life far from home and the resources of a first world health system. Indeed, had I stopped to think about it, I knew very well Christian missionaries had died in service many times before, while they bravely helped people in wars and epidemics such as Ebola virus, just to give two examples.
I realized my assumptions were all wrong. When I complained to my Ecuadorean onhealthy bactrim husband, “But I thought God would protect us!” I felt afraid, let down and confused. My husband gently responded, “God does protect us. Every day we have is a gift from Him.”
In Ecuador, Christians almost invariably start their prayers with a simple “thank you” for the precious gift of another day of life. They do not take it for granted (as I did) that they will wake to spend another day with their loved ones. They expect hardship in their lives, and they receive each moment of happiness with gratitude. When tragedy does strike they know that God is right there with them, offering them the strength and comfort they need.
It dawned on me that I had no right at all to expect God to protect me from danger (though He may graciously choose to do so). He never promised me a long, healthy, and problem-free life. He asked me to take up my cross and follow Him. I resolved to thank God each morning for the gift of another day. With His help, I want to make every day count. I choose to trust my Heavenly Father to be with me whether the day brings good or ill, and I pray that those who are suffering because they took risks for the gospel might know “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Eph. 3v18. Christ, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, is with us, no matter what.
Posted by Dr Andrea Gardiner
CMF member serving in Ecuador
Read her new book ‘Guinea Pig For Brunch’ here.