Tracy
Last month I got an email from my mom, hearing words I never thought I would hear, "Tracy has cancer." My sister-in-law, Tracy, hadn't been feeling well for a while and knew it was more than just "not feeling well". Through a series of tests and the removal of her thyroid, cancer was found. She is still undergoing tests and appointments to kick this thing as they have found more cancer in her lymph nodes.
My friend, Marilude
Last week I visited Marilude down the road. We both had the flu bug a month ago so we hadn't seen each other for a while. When I got there she was still sick, battling a bad headache. She was in bed most days due to this relentless headache. I had those headaches too but Advil took them away so I could function throughout the day. I couldn't believe she was still sick! I couldn't imagine STILL being in bed! I felt the Lord was prompting me to bring her some Advil that day. So I did, trusting the Spirit's leading. The next day I visited her to see how she was doing. She was up and about! The headache was gone!
Laying in bed, 2 things came to mind about Tracy and Marilude. The first thing, I was glad Tracy lives in the United States. She has access to good health care and all measures will be used to kill the cancer. My friend, Marilude, here in Haiti? She left the doctor finding out she is anemic and has bad headaches. There was no plan to help relieve her from the headaches. Not even medicine. The second thing I thought was, I am so glad Tracy and Todd(my brother) love the Lord and have Him to rest in. I can't say that for my friend.
While living here in Haiti I have come to find that there are 2 specific needs which cross the cultural divide. Physical and spiritual needs. If these 2 needs aren't met very little hope is found. Having hope makes all the difference in the world. For example, my sister-in-law, Tracy. She has hope. She knows the Lord will carry her through whatever comes her way. Even through the most difficult words such as "you have cancer", Tracy has hope. Despite not really knowing a whole lot about the battle before her, she has hope. Tracy is surrounded by good, skilled doctors and nurses and she has hope in the Lord. Does she growing weary? Yes. Does she feel lost, wondering what is going on? Yes. At times, does life feel like it is too much to bear? Yes. Yet, they(Tracy and my brother, Todd) can cling to verses such as Matthew 11:28; "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light." What if they didn't have those precious words to cling to at a time like this? What if she didn't have the well-trained doctors and nurses able to treat the cancer? She would have no hope. Which makes me think of my dear friend, Marilude. Putting myself in Marilude's shoes I would feel defeated and weary. No health care. Headaches so strong I am in bed, not knowing when they will end. No medicine available to take the headaches away. (And there is a simple, over the counter, cure for her headaches. Advil.) No Jesus, comforting me and spurring me on. Ugh! There would be no hope for tomorrow.
What does this mean for me living here, in Haiti? The need to be tuned into the Holy Spirit, yielding to It's call, is key. When the Spirit prompts, I need to act. But only when the Spirit prompts. I can't act because I 'feel bad' for those around me. That would cause a whole lot of other issues for myself and those around me. I have been here over a year and continue to learn about these "helping" issues. It is tricky line to walk in this culture and environment! At the end of the day, I have to trust God to lead me in these new-budding relationships, giving me wisdom, discerning each situation. And at the end of the day my friend needs Jesus so she can have hope. So she can "Come to Jesus" for rest. So she can ask herself, 'what value is in this trial that the Lord would have me walk through it?' So she can cling to Isaiah 41:10; "..do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
To wrap this up, Tracy and Marilude have both encountered difficulty yet their outcomes and outlooks are very different. They both are women, created by the same God and are sick. They were born into 2 very different countries and cultures BUT their needs are the same! These 2 simple needs cross the cultural divide. Now all I have to do is keep working to truly figure out what that looks like here in Haiti! Wish me luck!
