Our intern shares her thoughts on collaboration and compassion
Working together
After hearing story upon story about how God moves when the body of Christ functions as one unit, it still seems that we underestimate how great the impact of our efforts to love and serve our community can be. Every time I attend a Compassion Clinic, whether it is to observe or to serve, I am always reminded of the enormity of Gods power expressed through life-changing moments for every individual involved as a response to the obedience of His people.
Over 200 people went through the medical line to receive medical care and just as much, if not more, went through the dental line receiving X-rays, teeth cleaning and extractions. So many lives were touched by the South West Portland Compassion Clinic and It was incredible to be involved with a few of these experiences orchestrated by God through his love grace and power.
Philemon 1:6-7
“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.”
Hope and fear
It was an emotional experience to sit with one woman, feeling hope, expectation and a bit of fear of the unknown, wondering if the dental staff would see her. As she waited for hours, with the memories of waiting at a previous clinic and not getting the opportunity to be seen, played again and again in her mind and memory her anxiety. Her emotions hit a peak when the Compassion dental staff regretfully placed her on the alternate list.
Once again she was on the edge, not knowing if she could get her needs met or if she would have to wait and try again the next opportunity she could get. She is a middle-aged woman who is on a government insurance program but it doesn’t cover her dental procedures, or at least not the procedures she needs to receive in order to stop the pain she feels and treats daily. So sitting with her and her mother, laughing, telling jokes, and sharing wisdom and stories we waited for the word. Would she be seen? Or would I have to hug her and say goodbye, trying to muster any words of hope I could think of, knowing that my words would be insufficient to meet the need she had.
Psalm 143:8
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you
All in the same boat
It is hard to express with words but my experience at the South West Portland Compassion Clinic was nothing short of breathtaking. I saw huge lines of people with hopeful but weary faces, who were greeted with some of the most genuine smiles I have ever seen. I became overwhelmed as I saw the number of services offered. There was a gym full of dental professionals; there was foot care, massage therapists, chiropractors, eye doctors, medical lab tests, and medical doctors. Some patients were able to have the majority of their healthcare needs met, getting an eye exam and then receiving free glasses after receiving teeth cleaning and perhaps getting teeth extracted. And all of this was offered upstairs, downstairs in the school there was more.
Downstairs people were making smoothies, drinking coffee, getting hair cuts and talking with professionals who had set up booths. There was a delicious lunch donated by the Olive Garden, served by a handful of smiling volunteers. Guests were able to talk with people from social services and other ministries to find further help to improve their lives and circumstances.
There was a table set up for kids crafts that my attention was drawn to because I heard a small girl laughing. They were doing crafts and a young man was entertaining them and making them laugh, holding a bag out and throwing an invisible ball into it. Every time the “ball” went into the bag he made the bag make a noise, it seemed that there really was an invisible ball even to me and he had the kids interacting with him and laughing while their parents stood behind them smiling. To hear laughter, to see smiles and to remember the joy and hope that God provided for volunteers and guests alike was an amazing sight to see.
New friends
After exploring the opportunities offered by individuals desiring to love their neighbors I returned to sit with my new friends. We were quite literally sitting on the edge of our seat, in the bleachers of the school gym directly in front of the volunteers that would be calling numbers of the next patient they would see. All of us had our ears ready and waiting to hear her number called.
“We were quite literally sitting on the edge of our seat”
Eventually to our great delight and relief, her number was called and all Glory to God she was able to see dental professionals. By this time the pain medication that she had forgotten at home had worn off and she discovered that there were two areas of pain in her mouth, not one as she had previously thought. I’m so thankful she forgot her medication at home because she was able to tell the dentist all of the pain she felt and he was able to address it!
Seeing her smiling face walk over to us after her dental appointment was something I will never forget. I remember giving her a huge hug and praising God for taking care of her, my hours of waiting with her, learning about her and finding great joy as we discovered all the things we had in common was rewarding and comforting. I also learned that she is my neighbor, living about a two-minute walk from me! Our paths had likely crossed a few times before but we hadn’t known, and God brought us together at the clinic to sit, wait on Gods perfect timing and make true connections with each other.
Psalm 136:23
He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever
My takeaway
Susan Reverby a scholar in healthcare who wrote the book Examining Tuskegee said in a documentary, “We live in a culture that wants people to care, but doesn’t value caring.” This is where I believe the power of the Church comes in, where the chasm can be seen between having real needs with expectations that someone will help, abruptly encounters the harsh reality felt when no help can be found.
To show people that Gods love is not influenced by culture nor is it ever lacking or changing is what occurs at Compassion Connect clinics. The word of God does not say what culture says, Jesus values caring, He values love and this is whom we live our lives for and measure our lives against. The Word says that with the power and Spirit of the living God residing in us we should put others needs before our own, to see the needs and to meet them. Bringing glory to God and healing the broken-hearted.
-Ashley Byers
Here another intern and volunteer story!
