When the Water Stopped, God Provided

 

When the Water Stopped, God Provided

“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everwhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him”  2 Corinthians 2:14

Recently at Tenwek Hospital, every tap in the hospital compound suddenly ran dry. Heavy turbulence at the dam forced a shutdown of the water supply, and immediately the strain was felt throughout the hospital. We needed water — and we needed God to provide. In His perfect timing, the rains earlier that week had filled our storage tanks. Although the water was not safe to drink, God had already supplied what we needed before the crisis even began. As soon as word spread about the need, the missionary community quickly mobilized. We gathered Sawyer water filters and purchased buckets from local shops to create multiple filtration systems. Together we drew water from the tanks and watched clean, safe water begin to flow. Bottles were filled for the wards, cups for patients, and jugs for the kitchen — all carried up to the hospital by missionary children eager to serve. It was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ working together to care for those in need. Thankfully, the engineering team was able to restore the dam by the next day, but the experience reminded us of an important truth: so often God provides long before we even recognize the coming need.

This month we utilized our partnership with Faith Aid, an organization that provides housing and other resources for needy patients traveling to Tenwek for surgery. Their social workers help assess financial needs, and through the ENT compassion fund we are able to assist patients who otherwise could not pay their hospital bills. Over the past month, multiple families have received both financial assistance and housing support through this partnership.

This patient in particular deeply impacted us. He came to us with cancer of the voice box. After his biopsy confirmed carcinoma, we walked closely with him through his evaluation, praying with him and encouraging him along the way. During this difficult season, he expressed his need to know Christ and gave his life to the Lord. He later underwent definitive surgery and remained hospitalized for ten days. Although he carried government insurance, his remaining medical expenses were still overwhelming. With five children at home and unable to work because of his illness, his family had been struggling greatly. Without land of their own, His wife had been farming on other’s land simply to provide food for the family. After evaluating his circumstances, Faith Aid used the ENT compassion fund to cover the remainder of his hospital bill so he could finally return home to his family.

Another patient we cared for this month came with a rapidly growing tumor involving his right maxillary sinus that was threatening his eye. Because biopsy results can take several weeks to return, we watched the mass progress quickly during that waiting period making the ultimate surgical procedure more difficult. He underwent a partial maxillectomy with the ophthalmology team assisting to preserve the eye. By God’s grace, we were able to save his eye. We are now awaiting final pathology results to determine whether additional radiation therapy will be needed. Over the course of caring for him these past months, we have prayed with him often and shared the hope of Christ. He too has given his life to the Lord. Despite everything he has endured, seeing the joy on his face has been such an encouragement to us. Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we serve one day at a time in the place God has called us. Chase and Jimmy Miller