Practical Skills

We had the opportunity to learn some “practical skills” recently in our training. Now when we say practical… the practical part is relevant to the field where we are heading. Most developing countries suffer greatly in the area of health and well-being, many of their illnesses can be cured easily with simple antibiotics, clean water, and basic hygiene. We take many things for granted here in the U.S., we go into our house and look in our cupboards and refrigerators and say “we have nothing to drink”… except for an endless supply of purified water. This is one of the modern conveniences that we have that aid in our well-being. We had the opportunity to learn about purifying water, how to administer shots, how to use a stethoscope, how to check ears for infections and other practical skills.

We are learning these skills, as well as adding many other tools to our belt before we go overseas and work in an adverse tribal setting. We will need as many tools as we can acquire before we go overseas in order to be as effective as possible so that ultimately we can to minister to the people God is leading us to live amongst. People “do not care what you know, till they know that you care”. We must show people the love of Christ and watching them die from things we can cure quite easily is a contradictory message. When we think about this topic we are reminded of the passage in James chapter 2, “15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” We are always reminded that we are not taking the written Word of God to an unreached people group, but we are taking the LIVING Word of God.

Practical Skills for Field Health
It is for this reason (bringing the living Word of God to people who do not have it written in their own language) why we are learning what we are learning. Another obvious reason is because we know that these people are dying and going into a Christ-less eternity. We desire to preserve their bodies for as long as possible so that they can have an opportunity to hear the Creator’s message. It will take a long time once we get into a tribal village before we can share the Creator’s message; we will have to move in, build a house, learn their language, and their culture. Once all of that is accomplished, then we will be able to share the Creator’s message with them, so that they can hear and understand God’s message in their heart language.