SHOWING GRACE IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Operation Yellow Ribbon[edit]

Main article: Operation Yellow Ribbon

On September 11, 2001, with United States airspace closed because of the terrorist attacks, Gander International played host to 38 airliners, totaling 6,122 passengers and 473 crew, as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon. Gander International received more flights than any other Canadian airport involved in the operation apart from Halifax.

It was a part of Operation Yellow Ribbon where nearly 200 jets were landed in 17 Canadian airports.

The then Mayor of Gander Claude Elliott was faced with the mammoth task of feeding and housing 6,500 guests many of whom didn’t speak English.

Claude, who has since retired from his post, said: “What we consider the most simple thing in life is to help people.”

And they certainly did that.

Nicotine gum was brought for smokers stuck on the planes, when locals were asked to donate toilet rolls a year’s supply was delivered in a day and a massive birthday party was organised for 350 Make-A-Wish Foundation children who had been due to celebrate their own special day in Disneyland.

For security reasons the passengers were not allowed to take their bags from the hold, so locals donated blankets, clothes, sanitary towels, nappies and tooth brushes.

In order to keep the food supplies cool the local hockey rink was transformed into a massive refrigerator and BBQs were loaned for grill night.

No matter how many times, the guests offered to pay for food or drink they were always refused.

So after leaving  the passengers decided  to make a donation of £45,000 to the town.

The 6,595 passengers and crew accounted for the third highest total of passengers that landed at a Canadian airport involved in the operation, behind Vancouver and Halifax.

The people of Newfoundland knew how to show hospitality to stranded travelers.

Acts 28:1–10 NASB95

1 When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10 They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

GOD CALLS US TO PRACTICE SERVICE.

PAUL PICKED UP STICKS.

THE PEOPLE PROVIDED FOR THEIR GUESTS NEEDS.

PAUL SHOOK OFF THE DIFFICULTIES HE FACED.

HE WON THEM DESPITE THEIR SKEPTICISM.

Justice is actually a reference to the Greek goddess of justice, Dikee. The natives, knowing Paul was a prisoner, assumed he committed a great crime, and the goddess of justice would not permit Paul to escape unpunished.

HE PROVED THEIR SUPERSTITION WRONG.

HE DIDN’T PLAY WITH THE SNAKE.

PAUL TOOK GOD’S PAST FAITHFULNESS AS A PROMISE OF FUTURE BLESSING AND PROTECTION.

LUKE AND HE PROVIDED HEALING.

Some think this was a malady known as Malta fever, which comes from a microorganism found in the milk of Maltese goats. Its symptoms usually last about four months.

God healed this man; yet it happened through the willingness and activity of Paul. God did the work, but Paul made himself ready and available for the work.

Soon, the work Paul did went to many others. This word for healed is not the customary word for a miraculous healing. The word more literally means, “to receive medical attention.” Luke (who was a physician according to Colossians 4:14) served the people of Malta as well.

THEY LEFT A POSITIVE WITNESS OF THE POWER OF CHRIST.

How do you tell a family who has paddled for 8 hours by dugout canoe who are all fighting the weight of malaria, that “We’re done with our clinic for today.” In this recent real-life situation, there was fortunately just enough sunlight, energy, and medicine left. What do you tell an old blind man who hiked for three hours led by his son over a mountain, and through the jungle, barefooted, in hopes of receiving sight? Our assessment was his eyes were infected beyond our repair, no eyeglasses or surgery would help. Somehow in that moment, the one hundred pairs of eyeglasses already given that morning and smiles of renewed sight of others fade away, replaced by a face of disappointment staring at blackness in front of you. In this real-life situation, I was drawn to step outside the clinic hut to pray for the man. When finished, the man and his son smiled big and shook my hand, expressing the most gratitude I had seen, and the son and the blind man departed on their long journey home.

Those are just two stories out of hundreds of consultations our group has seen in just the past two weeks in remote areas of Papua New Guinea. It’s messy, it’s beautiful, it’s worth it.

Messy; sweat, mud, seasickness, bush toilets, waste-high swamp water, bugs and crocodiles.

Beauty; crystal clear coral-filled bays, rolling lush green hills, mountain ranges that disappear into the sky, fresh huge fruits and vegetables, long family lines, honouring and caring people, songs and dance, intricately fashioned jewelry made of shells and wood, incredible traditional tapas and tattoos, simple living, fresh air, listening ears and countless stories to share.

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A healthy reality check, count the cost and enjoy the gift. Be real. Be love. I am extremely grateful, God has opened doors and led me down this path. I’m writing this from the YWAM ship somewhere in the Solomon Sea. Finding my sea-legs, while seeing the amazing sunrises, sunsets, and miracles daily. The inevitable transformation of my own character along with experiencing God, this is the reality of remote medical missions. Messy, beautiful, worth it.

Are you ready to experience the mess and beauty of medical missions? Sign up for our Medical Missions Gap Year. 

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Christina Gray

Christina is 32 years old from Connecticut and is currently on staff with YWAM Honolulu. Christina has been on staff for 6 years already and is a medical assistant. She has loved being able to witness people receiving eyesight in the remote villages of Papua New Guinea, as she has been leading our Optometry Clinic on board the MV YWAM PNG. She enjoys riding motorcycles and leading worship.

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Do you demonstrate a servant’s heart like Paul?

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