However, to my surprise, this past Thursday, a friend asked me if I wanted to help volunteer at a hospital translating for some doctors from Canada. I had nothing better to do, so I showed up at 9 at the clinic and wondered around for about 20 minutes before I found the doctors. But as soon as I found them, they put me to work. At first, I got to help a physical therapist who was working with a sweet lady named Katie. Katie had just had a hip replacement surgery on her right hip the day before, but she somehow managed to wear a big smile from ear to ear. I helped by translating the exercises she had to do, and she did them all without complaining. Then it was time for the fun part. It was time to get walking. When I told Katie that it was time to walk, her face lit up. We got her out of bed, and she started walking at first with the walker, then after about 4 meters, she began to walk with crutches. She walked about 15 meters and then she went up a flight of steps and came back down. When she had just finished coming down from the steps, we asked if she wanted to go back to her bed and rest. Her response was quick and immediate. "No!" she exclaimed, "One more time around." So we walked another 15 meters and got her back to bed. When she was sitting in bed, we reviewed the exercises one more time, and just as we were about to leave, Katie stopped us. "Come here for just one moment," she insisted. Her sister explained to us what a blessing this surgery was to Katie and her family, and she repeatedly said that we were angels sent from God. That was when Katie reached into her purse and pulled out two small glass boxes. She gave one to me and one to the therapist. I opened it to find a beautiful bracelet. Katie said, "This is my gift to you, this and my prayers. May God pay you back for all you have done." Tears rushing to my eyes, I thanked her profoundly and did my best to keep my emotions under control. However, once I left the room, my self control broke, and the tears came out like waterfalls.
Once I was back in control of my feelings, I went around translating for the nurses and making sure that all the patients were not in need of anything. And pretty soon, I was sent downstairs to help in the pre-operation waiting room. The nurses were relieved when I got there. The poor patient was so nervous, and the nurses didn't speak enough Spanish to calm her down. When the patient saw me, a smile spread across her face and across mine. Her name was Diana, and she was one of the patients that I kept an eye on from upstairs. We sat and talked for about 20 minutes, and she told me all about her family. She told me about her two beautiful kids, and how she wanted to be healthy for them. Soon the surgeon came to talk to us, and he explained the surgery and told her it was her turn. And to my great surprise, he asked that I go into the operating room with them to help keep Diana calm and to explain what they were doing. So I went into the operating room, and did as he asked. I explained everything that was going on to her, and she was unusually quiet. Right before she fell asleep, she started crying and told me how scared she was. I did my best to be strong for her and reminded her about her children and how she would be dancing with er daughter in no more than a year. This brought a smile to her face, and she closed her eyes and fell asleep for the surgery.
I could not imagine the courage she must have had. I always feel as if doctors speak a different language, and it scares me to go to hospitals. But for her, the doctors did speak a different language, and she trusted them enough to let them operate on her. Watching her sit there as the doctors prepared for the surgery was a difficult moment for me. I can't imagine what it must have been like for her.
I went home that night humbled at the gratitude that I was shown. The patients were so grateful and so brave. In reality, I recognise that I didn't do very much. I just showed up and spoke both languages. It was the nurses and doctors that did the real work.
Despite the fact that I am just a high school student, Thursday was one of the best days of my exchange. Helping people with the language I have struggled to learn reminded me why I'm here. I'm here to learn, to grow, and to expand the kingdom of God. Thursday reminded me how many more opportunities I have to do just hat now that i speak two languages. And so I hope and pray that God will continue to use me as He did Thursday. One of the most emotional and impacting days of my exchange turned out to be one of the best experiences in my life.