The Doctor's Mission by Debbie Kaufman

Author:Debbie Kaufman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

The clinic bed took on prison status the third day William was conscious. His own body held the key to the cell and refused to turn the lock. His legs wobbled when he was assisted to the outhouse by Hannabo or even sitting in the chair beside the bed. Mary just smiled every time he asked when he might be well enough to go back to work. Her answer always—as soon as your body tells me you’re ready. Despite the frustrating end to each of her visits, he listened for the sound of her footsteps approaching with longing. Illness was making him soft.

Even using the time for prayer or study failed to occupy his mind completely. By the time he obtained parole, he’d have enough sermons to fill a theological library. Or he’d go crazy listening to the work outside and not being able to supervise.

Today, he’d try for a little variety and resume Hannabo’s reading lessons. Maybe his mind would stay sufficiently distracted to pass the time. Perhaps afterward he’d convince Hannabo to help him walk outside and allow him to check the progress. If his doctor allowed.

Footsteps too heavy to be the petite physician sounded on the front porch. Even with his return to the village, Hannabo kept his new boots on constantly, a status among his unshod tribe. Hannabo’s friendly face peered through the doorway. When he saw William awake, he smiled broadly.

William motioned him into the room. Hannabo carried his own Bible, a gift from Karl Jansen after his conversion. Hannabo’s determination to learn the Word shone through his every action.

He pulled up a chair to the bedside. “Nana Pastor is well today?”

“I’m feeling much better. Now if only my strength would return.”

“Strength will come back to you. God has been good to give you continued life. He will also give you strength.”

God was also good to give him gentle reminders and encouragement through this convert who barely knew His Word yet. What did it say about his own faith that he needed the words of a newly converted bushman to give him a godly perspective? “That he will, Hannabo. Now, shall we start back in Romans eight? I believe that’s where we left off.”

As instructed, Hannabo read aloud, halting frequently with the unfamiliar words and concepts. The distinction between the tribal concepts of ghosts and spirits and the Holy Spirit evoked a long discussion. In the end Hannabo grasped the difference. In the end, explaining spirits proved less challenging than dealing with Romans 8:28.

Hannabo read the passage aloud. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

“How can this be, Nana Pastor?” Hannabo looked at him quizzically. “There is much evil in the world. How can God use all things, even evil things, and make them good?”

“Sometimes it’s the effect of what happens and how we grow to trust Him, or how change comes about causing other choices we may not have made in our lives.

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