Øystein i Afrika

Neglected by man, loved by God

10 March 2005 | Cotonou, Benin

A man lies in the dirt, his body covered in flies attracted by the faeces and urine daubed on his skin. He has no mat to sleep on, no clothes to cover his nakedness, and no name. One day, strangers brought him to the gates of Benin’s only government-run psychiatric hospital. Even though intelligence and gentleness shone through his eyes, in his paralyzed state, the strangers mistook him for a mad man. He had no money with him and staff at the hospital had no idea if he had any family for them to contact. They put him in a simple shelter where he was bathed only twice a week, even when he got sick with diarrhea.

Mindy Mull works as a hostess in the Hospitality Department onboard the Mercy Ship Anastasis. During the week a ready smile plays on her lips as she greets new crew members, makes up beds, and bakes cookies. Always ready with a hug or a word of encouragement, Mindy’s soft heart belies a time when she herself experienced great physical pain.

Three years ago, an unknown virus struck without warning and nearly claimed her life. During the course of her sickness, she endured excruciating pain throughout her body and suffered heart failure. In her darkest moment, she called out to God for His comfort. If she could just feel His hand in hers, she knew she could bear it. A nurse came into her room and spoke scriptures to her; holding her hand and remaining with her throughout a most painful procedure. God had answered her prayer and was with her through this woman.

Later, with a seriously-damaged heart, mounting debts, and no job, Mindy felt strongly drawn to the mission field in Africa. She could not imagine how it would be possible, but each question she asked, God answered with, "Mindy, just say yes." She assented and felt immediate peace and relief. The next day an echocardiogram showed a healthy, strong heart. A year later, she was onboard the Anastasis, in Africa.

When Mindy saw the man lying on the bare earth, clearly in pain, her heart melted. With tears in her eyes, she called for water and cloths to bath him, and staff to help her. He had not been bathed in days. The hospital simply didn’t have the resources or manpower to cope with their 200 patients. The only ones who received regular care and attention were those with family who could afford to pay for their keep. This man had no one.

"My heart was broken for him. As I would look into his eyes, what beauty I saw! They were so compassionate, so humble, and the pain was so intense," Mindy recalled. "He was all I could think about all week. I prayed for him without ceasing."

Though never fully diagnosed, doctors at the hospital thought the man had suffered a stroke. They had not tried to move him to another hospital. Without money, he would not be accepted into their over-crowded wards anyway.

Mindy and the team visited the following week. "As soon as I got there I went to see him, and his condition was worse. It looked like they hadn’t bathed him for a week. He tossed and turned in so much pain. I asked the workers for water and some cloth. I bathed him. He was in such terrible shape, it was very hard to do, but I just couldn’t allow him to be like that, so uncomfortable, so miserable. It took me over an hour to clean him up; I had brought a mat and a change of clothing for him."

"When I was done, I took his hand and asked if I could pray with him, he whispered ‘please’. In the middle of praying for him I was so overcome with emotion, I just broke down sobbing for him. He also started crying, and told me that it was OK; that he was going to be OK. He had a peace in his eyes. He squeezed my hand and thanked me. As I looked up at the people with me, I saw they were all overcome with emotion. One man was very moved by what he saw and later told me ‘Mindy, you are teaching me what it means to serve’."

Mindy’s own experience with pain and sickness moved her to compassion for others and she was able to give freely from what she herself had received. When she returned to the ship she sought a doctor who would visit the sick man and alleviate his suffering. Later that week she called the hospital to arrange the visit but they told her the man had died. She was shocked.

"I was expecting him to be healed like I was, or I expected to somehow get him to a hospital," she explained. She prayed about it and realized God had answered her prayer.

"God had mercy on His precious son, and brought him home. This man was suffering so much. As I looked into his eyes I knew he knew the Lord, and the Lord wanted him in His arms. He did answer my prayers and through this situation I was touched and the crew who went with me were touched. I know that when I bathed this man, he felt the love of God wash over him. When I looked into his eyes, he felt loved. I am sure of this."

Mindy continued to visit the hospital. She met many other patients on the camp-like compound. They all touched her heart but none changed her life like the unnamed man. She also had the chance to see that God’s love for each of His children is as individual as they are. The man seemed abandoned by family, neglected and unloved in the world. But God had not forgotten him and when He called his son home, He called him by name. - by Erika Davies