In my nine years of leading medical-evangelism teams, I’d never seen the effect of so much heinous sin, especially against children, as I did on my recent medical trip to La Montaña, an agricultural community near the NW coast of Costa Rica.

Far too many cases of sexually-abused little girls, along with adult survivors of childhood trauma, came to the attention of our triage RNs and treating physicians. The Holy Spirit created safe places for these women and children to share their pain and find healing. First their physical complaints were addressed; then they received intense prayer and counseling, which brought the initial healing touches of Jesus.
Counselor and translator Christy Scott repeatedly ministered to these little ones, as well as to depressed and suicidal adults. In six months in these five communities, there have been six suicides! Spirits of despair, fear, and hopelessness are common. One lady confided how she watches powerlessly each morning as her 7-year-old granddaughter gets on a motorcycle with her father, knowing again she’ll “be late to school.” Compounding this too common tragedy, government services, when existent, collaborate with evil by sending girls off into sex-traffic.

Oh come, Lord Jesus, come in power, love and healing so these precious children may be cared for and cherished as You originally intended!

Betsy Christiansen is a medical missionary with MTW. To learn more about how you can be a part of a medical missions trip visit www.mtw.org/medical. Both medical and non-medical participants are needed!