October 14, 2021
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER
Michelle Snyder
Volunteer, Illinois
"If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it." 1 Corinthians 12:26
2017 was my first time in Malawi with Marion Medical Mission. What a journey! I was partnered with two veteran volunteers who had been on this trip many times. For them, it was like riding a bike! My first well dedication was awkward, In fact, several after that were just as awkward! These two volunteers reminded me that we are in this journey together!
That three weeks of well installations changed who I am as a wife, a mother and a child of God. I shed more tears, felt more joy and celebrated more love than I have ever before. The villages were different but the stories were the same: an infant dies, a child is harmed during water collection, a mother’s worries never end, a daughter misses an opportunity to attend school, a mother cries unable to change the circumstances. All due to a lack of clean water!
In 1 Corinthians 12:26, Paul penned a verse that encompassed everything I felt: “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” I suffered the loss of an infant, a child harmed, a missed opportunity, the cries that bring mamas to their knees, wailed in mourning at the many losses each village faced. I suffered with the villagers as one body in Christ.
I also celebrated with them! Dancing and singing with whole villages. Hearing the joyous voices from far off welcoming our arrival as a chance for new life. Shaking hand after hand repeating the same greeting words but knowing those words were spoken in love each time. And the hugs..oh the hugs from kids! When we joined the village Headman for a prayer of thanks to God for providing, I remembered we are all in this together! Although we are different, we all serve the one true God!
Application Question: How do you suffer with your neighbor? How do you rejoice with your neighbor?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to share each other’s pain and joy. Help us to see how we truly are together.
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