Luke 9:2

This morning as I was reading my scriptures, I discovered a new dimension of our responsibilities as missionaries. Luke 9:2 says, "and he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." Vs. 6 says, "they..went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where." Then vs. 11 describes what Christ did, ..."he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing."

Anziano Scherbel has often said that our little branch here in Battipaglia, is really a spiritual as well as physical hospital.  It seems like we spend most days either visiting someone or taking someone to the hospital. I truly think that our particular calling here is to help heal where we can, or rather to inspire our members and investigators to seek for The Lord to heal them.  The elders and Anziano Scherbel have given more blessings than I have witnessed in my lifetime.  When I read chapter 9 of Luke today, it rang true in my heart that we are here not only to share the gospel but to help heal.
The husband of one of our members is in the hospital and expecting to die any day.  His liver is destroyed.  Watching him get worse each day is so awful.  His wife hasn't  slept for weeks. She is trying to still go into work each day because she doesn't want to loose her job.  She needs the money so badly. Another family in our branch is out of work and have only 5 days to have to move up of their current house, with no prospect for either a job or a house.  Anziano Scherbel takes the father out to look for work everyday, but no one is hiring.  The economy of Italy looks bleaker than the USA by far.  Many are thinking its going to be bankrupt soon.
There are so many people in our branch very very worried about how they are going to provide for themselves. A couple eat at the catholic soup kitchen everyday.
I hope all of us who have so much will be more grateful for all that we have.  I hope that we can seek out someone to help today who has need.