Gifts

BY MARK

Last month we were privileged to host a surgical team from a partner organization: Community Health Initiative (CHI).  Their annual trek to our facility allows their skilled medical professionals to perform multiple surgeries and procedures.  

In the recent past, one of this year’s visiting surgeons and his wife, a physician's assistant, had hosted a Haitian girl in his home since her necessary surgery was unable to be accomplished in Haiti.  What a blessing he and his family had been to the girl and her family!  As part of the CHI trip this year, the surgeon and his wife wanted to follow up and reconnect with the  young patient they had hosted.  

The day arrived for the patient to greet the surgeon and his wife, but the hours passed and she did not appear.  Time marched on until late in the afternoon, when I was asked to summon the surgeon and his wife as his “star” patient had arrived.  When I accompanied them to translate during the time of reacquaintance, the patient’s mom presented our surgeon friend with a “thank you” present for all of his kindness.  As the gift trotted over toward the doctor and his wife, they were humbled and puzzled simultaneously, as they were unsure what would be the best thing to do with their newly gifted billy goat. What a huge present and a wonderful gesture!!  The hugs were exchanged, the stories were recapped, the follow-up exam was completed and the patient and her mom returned to their home.  

The goat remained.  This marvelous gift was graciously received but left under a tree outside of our clinic until the surgeon finished his day of surgery.  At the end of the day, a suggestion was made to find a family in the area of the hospital who could especially benefit from the gift of a goat.  A local pastor agreed to ask a needy family in the area and the goat was led off to “spend the night” with one of our hospital employees.  

The next day, the goat returned to his place under the tree near the hospital and soon, a lady from the community, who was invited by our pastor friend, came to receive an incredible gift to her family:  a goat.  This lady had birthed 12 children, but only 2 remained alive and lived with her, along with many grandchildren.  This gift could be the start of something big. 

Some other friends were staying nearby, and upon hearing our account of the goat story, felt moved to continue to help this family.  A donation was made in the name of a recently deceased family member of one of the team so that the family in need could not only have a male goat but this donation would allow them to purchase a female goat.  This combination can support the family for years to come!

It is truly amazing to us how God can take a single gift and multiply it so many ways.  Think about it:  the surgeon came to offer his gift of service to the patient, which expanded to a gift of hospitality and service in his home in the US.  Out of gratitude, a gift of a goat was given to his family, which was the gifted to another family.  This sparked an additional gift, which again will be multiplied to be a gift to many over an extended period of time. 

One act of kindness, continued to grow and multiply to encourage and help so many people.  One person willing to give selflessly to help another affected the lives of so many.  One God who gave His son, continues to give hope, for generations. 

May we all be moved to give ourselves away so that someone else may know that there is hope!