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Our Blog

SUFFERING

     Thousands of miles and a whole continent in between are two women.  They don't know each other, nor will they while on this earth.  Yvonne and I know them both.  Both of them are suffering.

     Several weeks ago Yvonne was coming home after visiting a friend when she came upon Bernadette.  Wrapped in little more than rags, Bernadette was laying outside the doors of local clothing and jewelry stores, barely conscious.

     Though we did not know her name at that time, we've seen Bernadette before along with countless other beggars that roam our neighborhood.  We had never seen her in this condition.  

     Her lips were white, her eyes yellow and her hair speckled with grit from the street.  She sat in a puddle of air conditioning condensation and her own urine.  Without help she couldn't sit up, let alone stand up.  

     Someone nearby had given her a cup of water and a morsel of food, but she was too weak to lift her hand to put them to her mouth.  Two young women had stopped to comfort her, but really did not know what to do.  Mostly, people either just walked by or stood and stared.

     With the help of our translator, Gerand, we were able to extract enough information to know that if we didn't help her she was going to die.  The three of us were eventually able to lift Bernadette into a tuc tuc and transport her to the local hospital.

     Within a day she had regained much of her strength.  Within two days she was able to walk to a bathroom (without her cane) and bathe.  A week later she was able to leave the hospital.

     The curious thing about Bernadette is that she has family not far away.  They have enough to provide their sister food and shelter, but Bernadette prefers wandering the streets and begging.  We have seen her several times in the last week, right where she has been before.

     While it is apparent that Bernadette, who is 60 years old, suffers from some form of dimensia, it is also apparent that she has enough awareness to know she has a place where she could live in a semblance of dignity.  She prefers indignity.  Her family is well aware of her condition, but is unwilling to fight through Bernadette's obstinance to help.

     Back in the states, there is another who is suffering.  She did not grow up in squalor, but in middle class America.  As a young girl she contracted polio.  Now as a 74-year-old woman she is battling cancer.

     What we know about Jeannine is that she is a fighter.  She fought through polio and raised a family without the help of an absentee husband.  She persevered through adversity and was able to provide.  The ultimate fruits of her labor are two children of immense character.  

     Her son and daughter are the picture of what any parent's heart would desire; both accomplished and both with healthy families of their own.  Most importantly, they love their mother deeply.

     When we heard of Jeannine's challenge Yvonne and I really didn't know how to respond.  You see, Jeannine is a friend of ours.  We have shared Christmas and Thanksgiving together, but we did not know how to share in her suffering.  So, we prayed.

     Just recently we exchanged e-mails, and Jeannine said this: "I believe the only way I'll succeed in winning this challenge is with God's help."

     What I see from a distance is the success of Jeannine's suffering.  She has already won.  The rewards are her children and grandchildren, who are now at her side with love and compassion.  In return, Jeannine has persevered with courage and grace.

     No matter how pragmatic or accurate a doctor's prognosis, where there is God there is always hope.  And where there is hope there is love.  The Bible says, "...God is love...Now there abides these three; faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."

     You see, the difference between Bernadette and Jeannine is love.  Bernadette's family is ambivalent when it comes to her suffering.  There is defeat and separation.  There is no desire to ensure the one who is suffering any sort of comfort and in exchange they receive no comfort.

     On the other hand, Jeannine's family is tied together in love.  They are bound by compassion and mercy.  I suspect that though they might not even recognize it, that their hearts are set on the prospects of justice prevailing - that ultimately their hearts are united in eternity.

    So, one family is divided, the other united.  One is forlorn, the other hopeful. One woman suffers in bitterness, the other in love.

    We are reminded of a Savior, who's birth we are about to celebrate.  He lived, He suffered and He died...for us.  Then He was resurrected...for us.  

     Yvonne and I pray that you would know this love this Christmas.  That it would resurrect purpose in your life.  And once you know it, share it with someone who is suffering.  It is the greatest gift we could possibly give.

Caring

Mike Broadhurst

One of Yvonne's favorite sayings is, "People don't care about how much you know until they see how much you care."

We would not have spent over nine years in the streets of Savannah, nor eight years at Ridgeland Correctional Institute and we certainly would not be on a current two-year commitment to Africa if we didn't believe in doing the work of Jesus Christ.

However, in the last few weeks here in Madagascar, it has become infinitely clear to us that all of the well-intentioned works are of no value if they are devoid of the Christian responsibility to use our mouth, too.

Dear friends and family, Jesus Christ's greatest accomplishment was not feeding 4,000, nor was it walking on water.  No, it wasn't even healing all who would come to Him.  Our Savior's single greatest accomplishment was what occurred in the three days surrounding His death, burial and resurrection.

His victory over death and promise of eternal rest to all who call upon His name is the lone reason why there is a Church at all.  It is the message of the New Testament.  If you research the antiquities, you'll find it is what made a rag-tag "world-wide" following so uniquely powerful, willing to face persecution even unto death.

For them, the gospel did not promise wealth.  They didn't think they could avoid sickness.  They were a strange group who rejoiced when persecuted, shared their meager belongings, did not fear lepers and lived lives of faith without compromise.  What drove them?

Mercy Ships is an incredible organization, served by many wonderful people, but the stark reality is there are many who come to our doors that we just can't help.  So, the logical question many of us ponder is, "Where is their hope?"

The answer seems rather apparent.  Jesus said it, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."  Matthew 28:19-20  The Apostle Paul expounds on it, "How then shall they call on him whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except that they be sent?" Romans 10:14-15

So, yes, Yvonne and I will be his feet and hands, but we must also be his mouth as well.

We leave you with the writings of the Apostle Paul,  "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." 1 Cor. 15:19

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