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  While
doing free medical clinics in Southern Mexico in the fall of 1999, I was
invited to a little village where people wanted to study the Bible. Donato
was a man who loved to find Bible study interests. He was not paid to do
this work but he loved to do it anyway. He had started other churches. I
asked Donato if he had dreams of reaching another group. His eyes lit up
as he said, "Oh, yes." Then he proceeded to tell of a group of
people who had been near a volcano that had erupted. Their whole village
had had an answer to prayer so they wanted to know more about God. I was
excited about meeting this group of people. I thought it would be fun to
help Donato do his mission work there for another year then return for
meetings and build a church. |
 
I asked where this village of people was. He said it was a long ways. It
could take half a day to get there or maybe more. I thought he meant by
car but he was telling me by walking. He was too poor to even catch a bus.
I gave him money and he went to the village by bus to make arrangements for a
Sunday clinic. We invited local church members to make this their
mission project for the year. They were very excited. My car was stuffed
with people. On top, we placed the medical supplies, Bible literature
(Spanish Steps to Christ and Desire of Ages), and instruments. |
 When
we arrived, we set up a little clinic in the front room of this tiny
little home. People lined up at the door for hours waited their turn to be
seen. I was amazed at the needs in that little village. Each patient received
a Desire of Ages or Steps to Christ in Spanish. My dear nurse friend Nancy
Stagl did blood pressures and temperatures and whatever was needed. My
chidren helped wash ulcers and hand me things I needed. Their smiles and attempts at Spanish delighted the waiting patients. Most of the
patients had stomach pain. Parasites are so prevalent as well as the high
use of chili that each one was given parasite medications and instructed
in healthful living. |
  There
were so many in need of a dentist. My heart ached for their suffering. One
man had a swollen and infected jaw, protruding a good 4 inches. Then came
an "emergency". A group pushing a wheelbarrow with a very sick
man in it urged their way to the front of the line. (Picture
on left is the home we had clinic in. On the right was inside. Donato
stands in the background watching for any opportunity to share his love
for Jesus. I was too busy seeing patients to even drink, eat, or take
pictures. I worked real hard to see as many of the 100 plus, as possible.
Language slowed me down, yet I had a very good translator.) |
The story was that
this man was not able to talk. His feet were swollen. He was about 23
years old. He was pulled out of mud where he had sunk during the
flood. There was so much mud on his hard feet it
was hard to see anything. Then the translator saw a hole in the foot and
said that must be it. I figured it was a good place to start treating him,
so I asked for a bucket and warm water to soak his feet. Charcoal was
placed in the warm water and a cool bucket of water was placed next to
him. During the treatment, faithful Donato read to him out of Steps To
Christ. I heard him speaking it in a different language than it was
written. I asked later and learned that Donato knew the Indian dialect of
this man. The man began to speak with Donato about his salvation in a
dialect that sounded more like clicks than a language. We had this man in
the clinic for several hours. We did many things for him. Everyone was so
grateful for what attention they were given. There were over 100 people
trying to be seen and I ran out of time. How sad the rest were not to be
seen. Donato discovered more details to the volcano story while he spoke
with the host of the home we were in. On our journey home from clinic that
day, he shared this amazing story. |
  The
man who lived in the home we had clinic in told about his experience with
a volcano. He had been living in a village up in the mountains near an
active volcano in Southern Mexico. The village had a plan what they would
do when the volcano erupted. There was a cave near by and they placed food
and water inside and planned to run there for protection. |
  Carefully
they loaded the cave with food and water when they heard and felt signs
that the volcano was about to erupt. Then when it was obvious it was time,
they all ran for the cave. There were about fifty of them. They took
stones and closed off the mouth of the cave to protect themselves. But
they did not know about the poisonous fumes that could come to them from
inside that mountain on fire. Horrid odors began to trouble them They felt
sick from the stinky sulfur smells. It was too late to choose any other
method. They could never outrun the flying burning rocks and ashes. It became very
dark outside. There was ash falling everywhere. Fear was in everyone's
hearts. They began to pray. They had learned a little about God in heaven
and they prayed and waited for days. Little children, mothers and fathers
knew that they could die from the volcano. The air in the cave was not
easy to breath. It was heavy and so stinky. |
 As
they waited for the ashes outside to settle, they wondered if they would
live through this horrible experience. When they began to see light
through the rocks and logs at the mouth of the cave, they were eager to
get out. All the strong men in the village tried to push together to
remove the rocks at the mouth of their cave but they were stuck tight.
They had no idea that lava could flow over the mouth of their cave and
make them prisoners. Frightened, they prayed and prayed and tried again.
It seemed there was help from angels for that mass of rocks and logs moved
for them. They rushed outside to get some "fresh air" and see
their homes. |
  Their
homes had been flattened. There was nothing left. They left their
footprints where their homes used to be. While they were sadly wandering
about over their ruined gardens and homes, a helicopter was flying above
looking for survivors. This whole village of people were taken to another
region and given a place for their homes. They called their new village El
Carmen at Tonapac. |
 This
is why the people flocked to the clinic to be treated and get their books
about the life of Jesus. They received the books with great joy. They
wanted to learn all they could about the powerful God who had delivered
them. They knew they had been rescued in direct answer to their prayers.
They had at first prayed to Satan but there was no help. They had heard
about God in heaven and prayed to Him. Then the rocks moved and they were
free. |
  We
planted the gospel seeds that day in El Carmen at Tonapac and greatly
upset Satan. He was on the warpath. The young man I treated was feeling
better and talking. The tribe medicine man who believed in evil
spirits became so angry. He treated the young man with his own herbs
and mixtures. The patient was told not to use the antibiotics and vitamins
and charcoal soaks I had instructed him to do. The young man died and the
white lady Dr. Rose was blamed for the death. We cancelled our follow up
visit we had promised to make in order to complete seeing the rest of the
patients. I was warned that it was very dangerous for me in that village.
The books about Jesus were making the medicine man angry. All we can do is
pray that our efforts in that village will not be in vain. Donato
has not given up. Donato told me this young man he found out had been sick
for much of his life. Perhaps he had more wrong with him than an
infection. Donato keeps hoping and praying for another chance in that
village. I have
not been able to find out from Donato how things are going. He lives very
simply without a phone and spends his days out looking for people to study
the Bible with. |
