A nurse shares physical and spiritual lessons

By Bonita Kron*

INDIA ­— Through healthcare teaching in North India, God has given me unique opportunities to share Him. My family works mainly with low caste Hindu people. Although we do occasionally do medical or dental clinics in villages, we often use basic health training to reach out to the people around us.

After the Lord opens up a new area to us, and at least a hand full of people have accepted Jesus, I begin visiting them and teach community transformation lessons. Since villagers are more likely to accept new concepts from fellow villagers, I train believers to carry the lessons to the others in the community. In this way, the believers are being a “light” in their community. They are encouraging better health and wellness in their community, which brings goodwill to the believers, instead of persecution.

These villages are places where children are dying everyday from preventable diseases like diarrhea. We teach lessons on basic germ control (like how to wash your hands effectively), the importance of clean water and nutrition (do not drink the water the buffalo is in) as well as how to prevent and treat common diseases such as Malaria and TB.

We act out skits related to the lesson. Many children come with their mothers, but people of all ages enjoy them. A favorite for all kids is when one person is chosen to be the mosquito that carries Malaria and that person buzzes around the room “biting” (or tagging) random people. This illustrates how the mosquito carries the deadly disease from one sick person to healthy people, transmitting the illness.

Another favorite of children, and parents, is the lesson on how to make an oral rehydration solution (ORS). In the meeting, we demonstrate the preparation and each person practices making this important treatment for dehydration — which can be deadly — by mixing water salt and sugar in the correct amounts.

With each health lesson, we also teach a Bible story. We often act out the Bible stories like we did the Malaria skit. Most Indian people are oral learners, so they love to hear and tell stories.

We train the people who come to the meetings that, like telling about Jesus, the healthcare lessons are not just for them to hear and keep for themselves. All of it should be shared with others. We want them to practice the discipline of telling others with the gospel and with the health lessons. Every time we meet we begin by asking, “How many people did you tell (about Jesus and/or about the health lesson)?” It is amazing and encouraging that every time so many are faithful to this and have shared many times since we last met.

Pray that God would send a master trainer, someone who can carry the teachings on without me and who would ensure follow up in the villages.

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*Name changed.

Bonita Kron is a registered nurse who lives in South Asia with her husband and three kids.