As the crowds started to form, I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive that we wouldn’t be able to see all the patients who were lining the dirt road outside the clinic. The building was perched on the side of the mountain, and from my slightly elevated position, I scanned the line. My eyes locked with a momma who had a young girl leaned against her, obviously in severe pain. The mother was trying to shield the child’s eyes from the intense sunlight. When she got up to triage, our team immediately brought her to me. She had previously had a head injury and it was obvious she needed neurological care. Because of connections made prior to the trip, we were able to quickly get this child the emergent brain surgery that she needed. Connections. I couldn’t do the surgery that she needed, but I was able to make a connection with a person who could help. 

I remember one particular patient. She waited for hours to be seen, tightly grasping her Bible that was falling apart. She was quite elderly and one of our helpers from the local church found her a seat and held her place in line. She made her way up to the optical station and asked for a pair of readers. She brought her own Bible because that was the most important thing in the world to her and she wanted to make sure she could read it. We gave her glasses. And she had the most important Connection: Jesus. The One Who will be with her long after the team returned to the U.S.