The strangest turn of events took place that led me to apply for a medical position in Iraq. About two and a half years ago, a friend of mine who is a pastor, was going to Iraq with the Voice of the Martyrs. I thought that it was so awesome that he was doing that, and I would love to have the courage to go to Iraq. I have such a heart for missions and for persecuted Christians. I have been on mission trips to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uganda, but the Middle East; well…that is a scary place. I prayed and said to the Lord, “If you want me to go to Iraq, open the door.
Years went by and nothing happened, so I felt that God shut the door on Iraq. However, a friend called me a couple of months ago, and said she got something in the mail that said Iraq is in desperate need of medical personnel and she immediately thought of me. I told her that I would pray on it and the very next day, I received a newsletter that stated the same thing. Even though I really did not have the desire to go to Iraq, I began to seek the Lord and pray for His guidance, I also ask Him to align my desires with His.
I decided that I would throw out a fleece, so that I would know his will; it worked for Gideon. I said to the Lord. “If this is of You God please give me scripture about Nineveh. Seeing that Nineveh is modern day Iraq, I thought it was appropriate. God has confirmed this unwanted desire so many times these past few weeks and it has been awesome to see Him work in my life! During my quiet time, the Lord has led me to devotions and through the Bible from Jonah to Judges, to Gideon and back to Jonah…. Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh, and neither did I. I had things in common with everyone he led me to read about.
I not only share the same name as the judge Deborah in the Bible, but I have learned to trust God like she did. Being led to Judges reminded me of that. However, I was still saying to God, “How can I go to Iraq and work in the OR? It has been 7 years since I worked as a Surgical Technologist.” That’s when he led me to Gideon and reminded me of what Gideon said, “ But Lord…how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family…the Lord answered, I will be with you.”
I had to laugh when God gave me my final confirmation. He broke the CD player in my car that week, so that I could hear a pastor on the radio preach about Jonah going to Neveah! The next time I got in my car, my CD player was fine!
God has not left me unprepared to go on such an outrageous assignment. Previous mission trips have taught me that I can TRUST HIM with my life.
Deb – Abington MA – March 2017
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
