Pain - Healing - Growth

 

Bienvenidos from Guatemala! LIFTers are dispersed over various ministry sites led by Students International staff. I’ve been able to work with site leader Gaby of the Physical Therapy Site in Magdalena.

Together with other LIFTers, Phia and Carlie, we start each day with devotionals before opening the door to a line of patients waiting for relief. The tools Gaby uses to provide relief range from STEM therapy, massage, physical exercises, stimulation exercises, music therapy, Zumba, and even equestrian therapy! The four of us help each patient identify their area of physical pain and address it. Carlie has previous education in physical therapy practice. Additionally, Phia has spent years in physical therapy since she experienced an accident as a little girl. I have no previous education in administering physical therapy other than undergoing the physical therapy as a patient. However, even without previous experience, I have learned I can serve on the team. With minimal understanding of Spanish I am able to get to know each patient in the waiting room. Over time, these conversations provide more information as to why the patient is in physical pain. Often their physical pain is linked to emotional or spiritual burdens. As a result, new patients are often taken aback by the emotional relief that accompanies their physical relief when ending their appointment at the site. We pray with each patient, usually in English. Sometimes we sing worship songs to the patients. Those who need physical therapy often have at least a slight degree of handicap. Therefore, we spend some of our time traveling to a nearby clinic to administer care. Additionally, we do house visits for extreme cases such as paralytics or the elderly.

Certain experiences at the site have stood out more than others. Recently, the community of Magdalena experienced a shock. Their mayor passed away suddenly due to natural causes. His daughter was expecting to dance with him at her upcoming Quincenera, a coming of age birthday party for 15 year old girls. In light of his death prior to her party, Maria experienced severe emotional shock. This emotional shock created inflammation in her body and she came to our office in serious physical pain. Gaby and Carlie administered therapy to relax her nervous system and help her body relax. Later on members of the Sports Site team helped carry her into a larger room of chairs and a guitar. We asked her if we could sing for her. She agreed and began to smile as we played “What a Beautiful Name It Is.” We were able to pray over her, her future, and her knowledge of the saving love of Jesus.

Similarly, we have been able to meet many other people like Maria who have physical pain from emotional causes. At the Physical Therapy site under Gaby’s leadership we are learning how to share the Gospel as well as help people experience physical relief. Gaby says, “Most physical pain originates from heart pain.” As Gaby retains patients who come back for treatments weekly, she continually disciples these patients as they progressively heal physically and grow spiritually. It has been an immense privilege for the three of us LIFTers to experience long-term vocational ministry in the way that Gaby has modelled for us. Our experience has inspired each of us to seek out vocations in which we can minister to those we work with.

Caris Ciccarello