Psalm 146:2 "I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."

Saturday, August 16, 2008

My Dentist Story

For about a week and a half, I had been getting some sores in my mouth that hadn't been healing properly, and would just keep getting infected no matter how I tried to clean them. So while I was at the amigos sin frontera (ASF) day clinic a week ago, I was going to try to have the president of ASF (also a dentist) Dr Antonio Moreno take a look at my mouth, but I didn't have a chance to mention it. So on Monday this week I started getting to the point that I couldn't stand the pain from the sores anymore and began to earnestlyand specifically praying that God would put me in contact with Dr. Antonio Moreno because I know that he understands things like things being sterile and sanitary, and does an excellent job because I had observed his work on the previous medical mountain trips. I knew that receiving some dental attetion was a must. I didn't have his phone number or anything.
I spent quite a bit of timeworking on a project that one of my fellow team members gave me this week of organizing books for the new workers orientation on our field, and to finish this project I needed some of those laminated sheet protectors and decided to go to the office depot that is about half an hour away on Wednesday to se if I could fine some. Afterwards I planned to walk to Jackie and Javier's house (a couple that helped me with spanish during my short term experence.) They have become friends of mine. They also had mentioned to me in a previous visit a week earlier about recently going to a dentist and I was curious who they went with. I thought maybe they would have a connection...to someone at least that was good.
While I was in office depot to my surprise Jackie's kids came up to me-they "happened" to be in the store at the same time as me. (We know it was truly God) They invited me over to their house. After we were done shopping. I casually asked Jackie where they went to the dentist and they said Dr. Antonio Moreno---my eyeballs just about popped out of my head! I told them I had been earnestly praying that God would put me into contact with Dr. Moreno!!!
So when I got to their house, Jackie's mom, Frances, told me this fascinating long story about how they got to know Dr. Antonio Moreno as their dentist becuase he attended their church. And Frances drew me a good map.The only thing that I remembered about Dr.Morenos's office is that it was a blue building-because Antonio and Sylvia (his wife) had taken me there once on their way to pick something up during my short term on the way to an amigos sin frontera meeting one time.
The next day I got to their office by bus (a different one that I hadn't taken before) without any problems, and Dr. Moreno said that it was a good thing that I had come...I definitely needed his assistamce. Hopefully I am on the mend now and if I am not better in four days, he said to come back. The amazing thing is that because I am a missionary he will give me dental care for free or almost free.
Through amigos sin frontera I have a network of doctors and dentists that are Christians who care about me. As I walked out of his office, Dr. Moreno told me (refering to the whole group of amigos sin frontera, "We all love you very much." I told Dr. Moreno the story about how I had ended up in his office-He thought it was so neat! The timing of this need was so perfect-because we had just had the amigos sin frontera day clinic last weekend.
It all reminds me of the verses in Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! I guess this whole thing was just a reminder of how much God cares for me and reminded me in a very tangible way of the depth sof the love that he has for me...that He listens and hears my every prayer....and knows my need before I ask.

3 comments:

Lana Shaw said...

Hello Sweet Crystal, thanks so much for taking time to let us know how things are going with you through this blog. I love it! Your stories are very encouraging. Thanks also for all your prayers. I am praying for you as the Lord leads. Grace to you! Lana

Melissa Bailey said...

Crystal, this story was really encouraging to read and I'm glad that God has been walking with you in Mexico. I am praying for you and hope that all is well.

take care,
Melissa Bailey

Ashley Nicole said...

What a great story! Praise the Lord for his good care of you! I'm glad you're blogging! I will be in prayer for you as I read your updates:-)