From Doctor's Appointment to Divine Appointment

As a missionary serving in rural Honduras, my life is filled with opportunities to share God's truth and love with the young people in our village. But recently, I was reminded that missionary work happens no matter where we are in the world, even in the most unexpected places.

Every year, we take a short break from our work to visit the U.S. for a few weeks and share what God is doing in Honduras. During this time, we schedule all our necessary check-ups and appointments, as it's more challenging to access medical care in the rural areas where we serve. It was during one of these routine doctor's appointments that God orchestrated a divine appointment.

At the check-in desk, I explained to the receptionist how living in Honduras can make follow-up appointments challenging. Another receptionist overheard our conversation and expressed genuine interest in visiting Honduras someday. Naturally, I mentioned that we host short-term mission teams.

To my surprise, she quickly responded, "Oh, I couldn't do that mission stuff." When I asked why, she admitted, "I believe in God and stuff, but I'm not perfect enough to be a Christian. I would let a curse word slip or want some alcohol."

My heart ached for this woman, who had been deceived into believing that she needed to be perfect to follow Christ. I gently told her, "No one is perfect, and that's the point. We can't be. That's why we need Jesus." I went on to explain that her excuse was a lie straight from Satan himself, designed to keep her from experiencing the freedom and joy found in a relationship with Christ. She looked at me, surprised and open to hearing more. I could see the hunger in her eyes, a longing for something more.

Later, when I returned to drop off my card in case she wanted to talk more, she was at lunch. The other receptionist, a sister in Christ, mentioned that she often tells her co-worker that she doesn't have to be perfect to believe in Christ. I left my card and encouraged her to be bold in her witness, reminding her that her co-worker was hungry for the truth and love found only in Jesus.

This experience reminded me that missionary work isn't limited to the mission field. It happens in our everyday lives, in doctor's offices and grocery stores, in our neighborhoods and workplaces. As followers of Christ, we are called to be ready to share the hope we have in Him, no matter where we are.

The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow." We may not always see the immediate results of our witness, but we can trust that God is at work, using our words and actions to draw people to Himself.

My prayer is that my first instinct will always be to talk about the hope of Jesus with everyone I meet, whether I'm in the village school, a far-flung airport or my family doctor's office. Let me boldly proclaim the truth that no one is perfect, but through faith in Christ, we can be forgiven, transformed, and used by God to reach others with His love. And let me always be open and ready for God's divine appointments.