WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR WORK MATTERS
It is the striving for self-fulfillment which guides our lives.
I want to share a story with you that really makes the job that we do so important. For me if a job isn’t self-fulfilling then I am not serving my purpose. We have to ask ourselves this question, “Am I serving a purpose?”
While doing Outreach at a library, I was walking around talking to people. I came upon a lady who was wheelchair bound, introduced myself and told her what I was doing. She stated you must be sent by God and she started to tear up. (Sometimes with this position you have to be a counselor, a prayer warrior and a hundred other things.) I brought her into the private conference room that I reserved and she began to tell me her story. She stated she had just been diagnosed with brain cancer in the emergency room, they gave her no resources and she had no idea what to do. (She was actually in the library looking for information.) I began asking questions about if she had Medicaid, if she had a PCP, or an Oncologist. Her answers were no.
I first checked to make sure all of her information was updated for Medicaid, and her address was incorrect. I quickly submitted that information for her. I then reached out to several contacts and scheduled her an appointment with a PCP. I told them she would also need to see an oncologist immediately. I knew this would take several weeks so I reached out to my friend who is an Oncologist. He stated have her come in the next day. She began crying again and thanked me for all I did, and said she had no way to get to her appointments. I advised her not to worry because she had Medicaid transportation that would pick her up and bring her home. I contacted Medicaid transportation and arranged for them to pick her up for all of her appointments. The Oncologist appointment was the next day and they were giving me issues, because 48 hours’ notice is required. However, when I finished explaining to her the seriousness of the matter and asked her if she would put her mother on the back burner dying of brain cancer would you not get her to this appointment? Needless to say the transportation was arranged.
My client was so happy and was filled with tears that someone actually took the time to do this for her. I spent over an hour and a half with her, but it was time well spent. God places you in the right time and in the right place.
I know I didn’t have to do this and it is not in our scope of work, however, for me it was a matter of the heart and doing what I have been taught all my life. “Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.”-Galatians 6:2.
LED BY THE SPIRIT
On Friday, October 13th, I was doing Medicaid Outreach in a below poverty level area. A community member walked in and was coming to cash her check. I introduced myself, talked to her about Medicaid, and she said, “I never come to this place, I always go to the bank. I live in Eunice, and was on my way home, and the Holy Spirit told me to stop by here.” She said you must have been sent here by an angel. 😊
As we talked she said she had never had Medicaid before, I took her application, she began telling me how she was only receiving about $700/month and was barely getting by. She said it was hard trying to figure out if she should eat or pay bills. I told her about the Second Harvest food pantries, gave her some resources to help with her bills, and submitted her application.
She was very tearful almost the entire time she sat with me, but she said I comforted her and gave her hope just by telling her about Medicaid and helping her fill out the application. Once we were complete, she gave me a big hug and said if she is approved, it would be a huge burden off her shoulders as she has several medical bills she has to pay. She then asked me if I would reach out to her church, Golden Light Baptist Church, in Basile LA, as there are several members who need Medicaid. I told her I would be honored to offer my services.