Saturday, September 24, 2011

Making the most of each opportunity

Matthew is one of our Community Based Health Care nurses who has become a patient.  About 6 wks ago, Matthew was driving his PMV when he got into a car accident and almost died.  Thankfully, he was pulled from the car and despite significant chest trauma and multiple fractures he is still with us.  He was touch and go for the first week or so, but now is hanging out on our surgical ward waiting for his femur fracture to heal.  He has a long road ahead of him, but it isn't dampening Matthew's spirits.

Matthew is making the most of his time in the hospital by ministering to others.  Lots of nurses, hospital workers, friends and family come to visit him and he uses that time to share about God's work in His life and to encourage them in their lives.  He even encourages and challenges the nurses taking care of him to continue to remember why they are working at our hospital and what God has called them to.  When not talking to visitors, he enjoys having his family visit (here he is with one of his daughters), reads lots of books and watches movies on his computer.

Matthew's heart is out in the communities where he trains villages in basic health care, but also shares about Jesus's love.  He is looking forward to the opportunity to get out there again, but he has at least a month if not longer to be in the hospital.  His femur was broken into multiple pieces and is going to need more time to heal.  Pray that God would mend his bone and strengthen it.  Pray that this minister of the gospel would get the opportunity to go out among the villages again and share the gifts God has given him.

Eph 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. . ."