A Letter Home
by J. Michels, USA, from a visit to India in
January 2007
Friends,
First off thank
you all so much for the thoughts and prayers that accompanied me
and our team from Arizona on our recent mission trip to India.
To say the least this trip was typified by firsts. On a
personal level this was my first ever trans - Pacific flight,
let alone going out of the North American Continent. The first
time I was away from my family and the first time that I had
prayed over common villagers in a third world country in a
church that had only the foundation and ceiling poured. As a
group we helped open the first Christian church built by ICMC
and our youth pastor, Scott Bloyer, presided over the first
marriage in this church. We witnessed over 150 teens give their
lives to Christ at a youth conference in a land where only two
percent of the population is Christian. We drank from coconuts,
ate whatever was presented, consumed much Indian tea, and dined
on rice and dahl for eleven days.
Personally, on the
medical side of things, I was able to see well over 400
children, staff and students combined. The illnesses ranged
from scabies, asthma, infected lesions to mumps and
appendicitis. Although overwhelming at times, a simple smile
and ‘thank you uncle’ was all the payment needed. One child,
Rebekkah, made apparent the urgency and necessity of our medical
care. Rebekkah is a four year old that came to me late Tuesday
night at 10:30 p.m. She was in respiratory distress and
suffering from a common upper respiratory illness. She was
still smiling although you would never know that her parents
gave her up at two months old just because she was a female.
With an anti-histamine, cough syrup and focused breathing to
calm her down we were able to get her out of her asthma flare
and have her present to a pediatrician in the morning for
medications I did not have available.
You realize one
thing quickly, that American standards are not maintained nor
are they expected. The medication that I took over was very
appropriate, yet difficult to use secondary to lack of
infrastructure and appropriate follow up care. For upcoming
trips I now know how to narrow the focus of medications and
improve delivery. Interestingly, I believe this process will
ease with the hiring of a new Christian Physician who will
hopefuly be on staff early this year. I was privileged enough
to be asked to assist in the interviewing process of this
physician and was pleased by his desire to treat the children
for he is a Brahman. A man of upper class status, who if Hindu,
would not be seen treating the untouchable orphans or others in
a lower caste system. Amazingly, the estimated cost for his
service is approximately $6,000.00 USD per year. Upon hearing
that price, I immediately had another guilt trip.
Next, a question
that was raised several times before I traveled to India. ‘Why
India? Why not Phoenix, Los Angeles, or even New Orleans. Don’t
these people need help as well.?’ My response is absolutely, no
questions asked. Yet we in the U.S. have a system set up to aid
these people, and no matter how divided we may seem or appear to
be, the Indian culture throws away these children to fend for
themselves. Unless there are people like Dr. Jayaraj Krishnan
who is willing to take in these orphans, they would undoubtedly
reach their unnecessary end.
My second response
to this question would be that as a Christian the goal is to
reach those who are unreachable; those in small villages,
orphans and widows in a culture that sees them as a blight on
their society, and to those who believe in many stone gods that
have no prevailing life to give. These children are now given a
chance to grow and live a productive life. A life which will
allow them to re-integrate back into Indian culture and possibly
change their world from the inside out.
This next
statement is a simplification on Hindu religion versus the faith
of a true Christian. An observation from an outsider
none-the-less. One could truly see the difference between a
Hindu and Christian in India. Hindu’s seemed to me to have eyes
that were hollow with a ‘sunken in’ facial expression that
rarely changed. Indians who accepted Christ as their one and
only Savior truly had hope and joy in their eyes that penetrated
your heart. A hope that they and their country would rise above
a system that encourages them to be ignorant and to not achieve
greater than their caste identification.
Jason Olcott, our
fearless team leader, displayed this image perfectly. He
befriended a local shop owner from whom we would purchase water
and make daily phone calls back to the U.S. After a week of
generosity, smiles and great conversation, Joselyn invited our
team into his home where his wife made the best Indian coffee,
but also asked Jason to prayer over his house and family.
Joselyn and his family, Hindu’s, were trying out God and Christ,
just as many Americans do in church every Sunday. But by simply
being himself and an ambassador for our God, Jason was able to
introduce this man and his family to that glimpse of hope that
may have never been apparent before our visit.
This is just a
sampling of what took place. There were many other medical and
‘God’ stories that go hand in hand on this trip. I am working
on typing my written journal notes and putting them on the web
in blog format within the next few weeks. Hopefully this will
allow everyone to experience how powerful both medically and
spiritually this trip was for myself and the rest of our team.
I encourage all of
you to think about your position in life and if you are using
your gifts to the potential that we are called to perform.
After returning from this trip I realized three things. One,
that I can always do more for my wife and children, they are the
most important ‘things’ in my life.
Second, I am not
using my talents and gifts in the ways that I should be. I
need to make myself more available and less selfish.
Third,
spiritually. this trip was a roller-coaster that was screaming
on every turn, I now feel that sense of being undignified is
justified through our expression of faith. Being
undignified, or getting your nails dirty in a spiritual sense is
what I meant when I introduced my first letter ‘Out of the
box.’ Too often we stay in our box, or comfort zone, sometimes
we have to reach out into the unknown to grow emotionally,
professionally, and most importantly spiritually.
For more
information on our trip, Pastor Scott Bloyer, posted a blog on
his myspace web site. To access go to springoflife.org, under
the student ministries tab go to Scott’s India blog and follow
the link to his myspace page.
His Grace is
Enough for Me.
J.
This letter was
originally penned the day after I had returned from India. I
had to let it sit for a few days before I decided to send it
out. Not only for re-writing and Lynn’s big red pen, but also
to see, just to see what would happen in the week following this
Odyssey. For certain, I personally have been riding an
emotional roller coaster. Leaving an area where I was felt
needed and having the ability to fill in the gaps to arrival in
Phoenix and having too much time to think about how I could
continue to help. I also found difficulties in returning to my
current position. Although comfortable and financially sound, I
am being pulled into a different direction. I have not figured
that one out yet, but I also realize that I must give that up to
God and he will provide the direction.
Of the utmost
importance, how have I been able to be ‘used’ for the orphans
and ICMC. Well, this is an ongoing process. First, I have
found that although I do not have the gift for public speech,
the passion and love that I have seen emerge through my voice.
I hear myself talking, but step back and don’t believe the words
and emotion that flow from my heart. Speaking passionately
about ICMC has allowed me to interact with other health care
providers, to inspire them to search out their desires and match
them with their ability to do mission work. The list continues
to grow; a family practice physician and her medical assistant,
an E.N.T. surgeon, an internist and his residents and a few
nurses all have shown interest. If only one of them goes then
think of the ‘snowball’ affect that this will have on others.
Next, just by
communicating with friends and family members we have not only
reached those that I had originally contacted but also several
others. For instance, my aunt in Illinois shared our trip with
her high school students. Their fire and passion lead them to
commit a portion of the funds raised from a recent drive to ICMC.
No way this act would have happened without spreading the word
and sharing the faith.
I want to thank
you all for your time, patience, and open mind regarding ‘my’
cause. There is no way I would have been able to do such a task
without the support of my wife and family, our parents and
extended family, and you all with your prayers and money. Thank
you for letting me share my passion and enthusiasm with you
all. If anyone has any questions, concerns, remarks or
critiques, please let me know.
Humbly,
J. |
