Freely we have recieved

So I came into our little forward office at 10.30 am today, after spending the morning on the wards with the patients, and found 2 of our day volunteers standing in there, chatting away, huge smiles on their faces – just beaming.

I asked what was going on, as I could clearly tell they had some stories to tell.

They both just looked at each other, like Cheshire cats, smiling away and laughing. Fred said how it’s just been a good morning outside is all. I knew there was more going on there…so pushed him, come on, why it has been good.

He then began to explain how “it was just one of those mornings, people were really listening, fully engaged, asking questions…and yeh….it was just good.”

A little bit of context may help here. On the dock outside by the ship, we have a few large tents set up, for admissions and phsio. So a lot of patients go there first, with care givers, before they come onto the ship/wards. So we have a couple of people from our team go out, spend time with them, chat to them about the process they are going through – try to calm nerves and anxieties, and to also explain WHY we are here doing what we are doing.

This is obviously a good thing to do. I mean, wouldn’t we be suspicious if people we didn’t know, who didn’t look like us, talk like us, smell like us came into our town or city and offered something that would radically change the lives of huge numbers of people in our community – and on top of that, offered it freely! I mean….to much of a good thing…there must be a catch, what do you want from me??

Well, this is a common question, and one that Fred got this morning. So while we were in our office, he told me what he said.

“We are here to heal you, physically. We are here to help you in your ailment. We are here because the love of Jesus provokes us to want to help you, to serve you. We don’t want gifts, we don’t want money, we don’t want you to do this or that, we just want you to receive it, and know that you are loved – by us, by Jesus – and know that we are here, doing what we are doing, so that YOU can see that love. That is all.”

Can I add anything to that? I don’t think so. Why are we here? Why are there over 400 people here, from over 35 nations, living in close proximity, away from family and friends, and paying each month for the privilege of being here…because the love of Jesus drives us, pushes us, provokes us to go beyond our comfort zones, in order to share love, to bring hope, to offer healing and the chance for new life.

Jesus said, “Go…heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin disease, drive out demons. Freely you have received, now freely give.”