A Real Medical Missionary | Maranatha Medical Ministries

“He was a real medical missionary!” were the words that Rene uttered between sobs as he sat next to me on the floor after Joe’s funeral. “He really cared about people and showed us how to love and serve others, and with God’s help, we must keep that legacy of service going.“

“True sympathy between man and his fellow men is to be the sign distinguishing those who love and fear God from those who are unmindful of His law. How great the sympathy that Christ expressed in coming to this world to give His life a sacrifice for a dying world! His religion led to the doing of genuine medical missionary work. He was a healing power… God wants His medical missionaries to act with the tenderness and compassion that Christ would show were He in our world.”

Medical Ministry p. 251

God had given Joe the gift of compassion and true care for the people. I personally remember an occasion when a little boy came with severe asthma. Joe was taking care of him when all of a sudden, the little boy vomited. I quickly stepped back, but not Joe. Instead, he quickly stepped forward to minister and comfort the little boy. I thought about it and realized that he did exactly what Jesus would have done.

“Medical missionary work is the gospel practiced, the compassion of Christ revealed.”

One of Joe’s dearest patients was Ligia. Joe was always concerned about her needs, and often tears would well in his eyes when he thought about her condition. We knew that it was only God that kept her all these years. Ligia always had a ready smile, and Joe’s humor always cheered her up.

Friends, God truly doeth ALL things well. God allowed Joe to see Ligia one more time before his death. Shortly after we came back from the United States, we had the opportunity to pay a visit to Ligia. Joe remembered her and was concerned because he could see that she had not received the treatment or therapy that he always did for her. He would always tell and show one of the sisters to just take a few minutes several times a day to do a little physical therapy with her arms and legs. He explained that she could not move and needed someone to do it for her. Joe cared about Ligia!