Brothers of Mine
The majority of patients at the local hospital wing for the mentally ill were abandoned by their families when they were young. Often they were simply left on the doorstep. Some are now in their sixties and the only life they have known is behind walls with bars on windows and doors. During my missionary experiences in Colombia, it was a huge privilege to be involved in visiting these dear people over a ten year period and from them I have learned many lessons. Among themselves as patients they were quick to show compassion and were sensitive to each others’ needs. I recall on different occasions when I may have been feeling a bit down, yet not saying anything, one of them would come and say an encouraging word or something I needed to hear. Maria was one such person who was abandoned by her family as a child. She took it upon herself to “adopt” me as her daughter because we both have blue eyes! Listening to their stories of life on the streets, drugs, rape, incest, abuse and rejection from family and society, helped put my comparably tiny problems into perspective (1 Corinthians 1:26). Again I am reminded of Mother Theresa’s words, “It isn’t the great things we do in life, rather the small things with great love” We were going to the beach! “But they have never left these walls!” came the protestation from medical staff. After much planning, prayer and persuasion we made it to the beach with all the patients, but not without its challenges!
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