The following video was first posted on the Facebook Samson Missions page on August 13:
Last night I sent this video to one of you who donated to the ministry recently. Many of you consistently and sacrificially send in support, but this particular instance was notable because this donor was not aware that just the day before, our team had been anxiously praying for God to provide a specific amount to cover a significant need for our ambulance operations. That donation was a direct and speedy answer to our prayer request. There are so many examples of God miraculously providing in this way, but every time it happens we are always blown away. Praise the Lord!
I wanted to share this video to you as a brief glimpse of what it looks like to have a spiritual conversation in the midst of serving. It happened last night. If you can’t understand the Tagalog, this is Nico in the middle of sharing Christ. To be clear, getting to this moment takes a lot of effort and the help of a team, none of which you’re seeing. Nico’s job in this particular clip of him giving spiritual encouragement, prayer, and explaining the Gospel…that’s the easy part that everyone on our team can do in our sleep or in almost any situation. The Bible studies…second nature. The challenging parts of the ministry you don’t see is the running, lifting, sweating, administering first aid, shouting at bystanders getting in the way, pleading with doctors to look at our patient, convincing groups or individuals or family members to shell out lots of money for the patient’s medical supplies, arguing with guards to let us roll our stretcher into the triage tent, pushing our way through the chaos of a 3-alarm fire at a crowded market with our backboard and heavy aid bag, protecting our faces after multiple explosions, jumping out of the way of speeding vehicles not noticing that we’re treating someone in the middle of the street, dragging a patient away from gun wielding and drunk enemies…what you don’t see is all the continuous training, the meetings with government officials or hospital and clinic administrators, the legal and financial paperwork, human resource management, the inventory footwork, the purchasing or repairing of gear, disinfecting of equipment, surviving the heat of wearing full PPE, recruitment of volunteers, the sleepless nights and pushing through the exhaustion to survive the next day, and the things we have to do as a team to cope with all the trauma we experience.
Having a large team allows us to continue our other, non-medical projects like educational classes and feeding programs. But usually we have to prevent our first responders from serving double shifts, doing both types of activities within a 24 hour period. They are excited to serve because what keeps us inspired to wake up day after day, night after night are moments where we get to hold someone in the worst moment of their life and bring comfort, peace, and love through Jesus Christ. It is truly a privilege and we know it, so we take none of what we do with Hope Rescue and the Service Corps lightly. And we know that those of you that generously give your support also sacrifice so that the ministry can thrive. You are also the inspiration that drives us. Thank you all for your partnership in the Gospel!