This is a guest post from Michael Karass, a medical student at Morehouse School of Medicine and an active member of the Coptic Medical Association of North America (CMANA).  You can learn more about CMANA at cmanamerica.org.  And if you too are interested in guest posting on my blog, please visit my Guest Post guidelines for more info.

The day was finally here – the day we’ve been preparing for and praying about for weeks! It was the day of our medical/spiritual outreach event in an impoverished Atlanta community.

The goal was to serve a shelter for abused and homeless teenage mothers and their children – both medically and spiritually.  We had volunteers ranging from elementary school kids – ready to sing their hearts out – all the way up to our competent medical team.  We prepared a program for the adults, and another one for the kids.  We planned various lectures on health nutrition and even dental hygiene.  In addition, we had a lecture on how the message of Christ was relevant to us today.

With over 60 volunteers from all ages from a variety of churches involved, we were ready for this day...

...until two unexpected events took place.

First, the son of one of the event organizers got into a car accident (he is doing much better now, thank God).

Second, the “expected” sunny weather forecast for the day turned out to be a severe rain shower instead.  Go figure!

Clearly, we weren't in control anymore.  After all the planning, we ended up having less than half of the participants that we were expecting for the day.

But (when God's in the story, there’s always a BUT), the day couldn't have gone better!  Because of the pouring rainstorm, the people who came in to the event didn't want to leave.  This gave us a chance to spend more time with them and to get to know them on a personal level. We addressed not only the physical health of each person, but we were also able to provide each participant with a meal and spend some good time discussing more significant matters.

WHAT A GIFT FROM GOD!

In looking through Scripture, we find that Christ also took the time to address people individually. He fashioned each of us in our mother’s womb and bestowed each of us with our unique intricacies.  He knows us more than we know ourselves (unless you somehow were able to figure out the number of hairs currently on your head).

He had a mission to save the world – yet somehow He found time to leave the 99 to go to find the one lost sheep.

He escaped the multitudes and even broke away from His own disciples in order to find the perfect time when He knows the Samaritan woman is looking for water to quench her thirst.  And then instead He gives her the Living Water – thereby transforming her from scared and embarrassed to bold and evangelistic in the span of one brief conversation.

He goes fishing with a weary and doubtful Simon after a long, frustrating day and returns with Peter - aka “the rock” - who preached and converted 3000 people after a sermon on the day of Pentecost.

Centuries later, He speaks to a man like St. Anthony through a sermon – convincing him to leave his rich earthly inheritance for an even richer heavenly inheritance.

God continues to speak to us today through our day to day circumstances. His voice is heard very clearly when we seek Him through our interaction with others.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40.

ABOUT CMANA:  As the student chapter of CMANA, we strive to use our knowledge and skills to improve the health of our communities on the local level, serving the under-served as well as our brethren in impoverished areas around the world, spreading the good news of Christ’s love and hope. As Christ took the time healing not only the physical but also the spiritual ailments, we hope to provide holistic care, by allowing Christ to work in the hearts of our patients. As our community grows, we hope to create a generation of health care students eager to use their profession in the service of others, being a light to others, as well as using the talents and skills of others in our local churches.

As Christ said "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." If you are a US or Canadian health care student in the graduate or undergraduate level and are interested in learning about our local events, conferences, mission trips, and projects abroad, please visit us at http://cmanamerica.org.

For discussion: What circumstances have allowed you too see God's hand in your life clearly?