Browse Month: October 2019

A Conversation With Delfina

Delfina (right) and Andrea (left) working at the therapy program at ASELSI.

I’ve shared stories of our staff and the patients and family with whom they work before, but I wanted to do it again. Instead of sharing from my own experience and observations, I asked them to share what they wanted from their experience. My conversation with Delfina offered more than I could have imagined. I hope I’ve done it justice. If you’re interested, you can check out what I’ve shared about Delfina in the past here.

Delfina shared a few stories about how she’s seen improvement in different patients, some of which you’ve read or will read about soon. However, what caught my attention as I talked to her was her awareness of a greater work happening: God is using her and others to not only meet the needs for rehabilitation services but also to walk with others through their pain and suffering and provide hope and encouragement. 

She said, “We have to work with the patient and the family. If the mom isn’t okay, the child won’t be okay. It’s not just about providing therapy but praying for them as well and watching how God leads us to work and share with them.”

Delfina went on to share how she has seen the love of God unify their team as they open up and share with one another, and this affects how they serve others.  “We serve out of love,” she said. “And even if people don’t believe as we do, we’ve seen that prayer works and love changes the environment around us.”

She described how she felt the love of God changes and influences their work in the therapy program. “We work to build relationships with people, regardless of what they believe and treat them with love and respect. As a result, we’ve seen people open up to share the truth about their circumstances with us. We see how this positively touches everyone. People are so grateful for what we do.”

Delfina has realized that God has put her in the therapy program at this time for a purpose. She has seen how her own struggles in life and marriage have been used by God to minister to others. “Our testimonies, my own and those of my co-workers, are being used to help other mom’s in their struggles. It is important we pay attention to not only providing the therapy but also to building relationships with the mom.”

Delfina is doing just that. Over a series of weeks, she noticed a change in attendance of a mom and her son. When they did come, her son was acting more aggressively and less friendly than normal. When Delfina asked the mom about these changes, the mom openly shared about her struggles in her marriage. Delfina, not unfamiliar with marital difficulties, shared from her experiences. The mom made some changes and they’ve all seen a change in her son.

I thank God for a team so set on loving God and loving people. I know He has great things in store for each of them. Please continue to pray for the staff, patients, and the families they serve.