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Specialized Ministry — July 2006
Nursing and Missions, Part 3 By Muriel Joyce Arnold, State Women’s Ministries President, New Jersey Mark 5:2, 3: “. . . when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him. . . .” From my experience as a nurse on the mission field, I discovered that some illnesses were of the mind. It was sometimes felt that relatives or “enemies” wanted to kill them, or, to use the word, to “destroy” them. This meant getting a more powerful destroyer than that of the opponent, resulting in raised blood pressure, headaches, aches and pains, lack of appetite, ulcers, and insomnia. This is where the discerning Spirit began to minister to the nurse, anointing her for the task of setting a captive free. A young man was rushed to the clinic, yelling that he had diphtheria, and that he was told the day before that he was going to die. He stiffened himself, ground his teeth as he prepared himself for the other world. Deep inside, he was full of vengeance. He had known the Lord, but strayed from Him, hence he had no defense. His eyes were reddened, and the saliva flowed down the side of his mouth. When I examined him, I found that he had a large quinsy in his throat, hence the state in which he was. I assured him, there was no one that could destroy him, as long as he surrendered to the Lord. He repented, was treated with antibiotics and discharged a happy, happy believer. A little 5-year-old was brought by his father to the clinic. He was sneaked away from the grandmother who was determined to find a juju man to cure the child who had several convulsions accompanied by other complications. His abdomen was protruded and shiny. His neck was small and his eyes sullen and pale. His hair was reddened. I gave him worm treatment and a warm drink. He wanted to have his bowel moved. I asked the nurse to take him out in the sun. There he passed a large knot which began to move. As she pummeled it with a stick, we counted 65 worms of various sizes and colors. Thank God we found the culprits that were eating away at the child. That was one child less for the mourners. The father was shown how to nourish him, and invited to take him to Sunday school. In Luke 4:18 Jesus declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to . . . heal the broken-hearted, recover sight to the blind. . . .” Lack of proper foods and vitamins cause some to lose their clear sight, hair, teeth, and to develop skin conditions. The work of the nurse is endless and rewarding, for lives are being renewed everyday.
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To watch a mother caress her baby who had been brought back from death was a touching thing, for some went down on their knees and touched the floor with their foreheads in gratitude to God. While we were there, we did not count the hours. We worked until our patients were comfortable and resting; that gave us joy. 
Lord, it is You who called and sent us, and we are thankful that You have given us a corner of the vineyard to serve You. Please keep Your Hand upon us as we dedicate ourselves to fulfilling Your sacred will. Help us to know that without compassion we cannot successfully serve our fellow men. Give us a heart of love and a willingness to go. Lord, shine through in darkened places that those bound by superstition may know that You are the Keeper of those who trust in You, and that no weapon formed against the child of God will ever prosper. Amen.