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!

A wealthy woman who had heard of our plan kindly offered to transport everyone in her latest model wagon, something I suspect she regretted later on. The roads in to the squatter settlement where I lived and worked were a bit rough but that particular day, floods from driving rain were prevalent. Perhaps she was fearful of entering a neighbourhood known for its violence. Whatever the reason, it somehow didn’t justify leaving more than twenty patients abandoned on the beach that late afternoon, having to find their way back to the hospital.

Amazingly, permission was granted each time we asked and a number of outings were made since that first time. As carers for these outings, we have all felt God’s tangible love for these friends and there is no doubt they have a special place in His heart. This small activity is one of the few things the patients have to look forward to in life. Somehow it gives them hope and that is something we all need; for this life and the next.

By the way, we haven’t seen nor heard from the driver since! -- Angela Crichton

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”

-- Matthew 25:40.

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