“Faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Closing a cardiovascular scanning service, I was contacted by Children's Cross Connections asking if I would donate my equipment to Children’s Charity Hospital in San Salvador. I explained I couldn’t afford to donate. Two weeks later the caller asked again, and I agreed. Would I go to Sal Salvador and install the equipment if travel expenses were paid?
I was met at San Salvador airport by a representative of Children's Cross Connection. I had been told to remain at the arrival gate as the city was under martial law. I was taken to the home of the chief cardiologist where I was to stay.
Arriving at the hospital the next morning, mothers with their children were waiting to be seen. As I began installing the equipment, I quickly discovered it had been damaged in shipment. Seeing the disappointed faces of the mothers and the hospital staff, at end of day on the way back to Dr. Urrutia’s home I could not help but cry telling him how sorry I was. Very simply he said, “don’t worry Diane, God will provide all new equipment for us through you.” Knowing we were both tired and disappointed I discounted his words - but I could not discount his childlike “mustard seed” statement of faith!
A month later I was searching the Columbus, Ohio newspaper job ads, hoping to move closer as my first grandchild was soon to be born. Seeing what appeared to be a misplaced ad for the sale of cardiac equipment, I called the listed phone number and talked with a woman who was immediately angry that her ad had been misplaced. Following her husband’s death, she was liquidating equipment in his cardiac rehab facility. Emboldened I asked if she would consider donating the equipment to the Children’s hospital in Sal Salvador. “Absolutely not!” Before she could hang up, I quickly gave my phone number.
Two weeks later the reluctant donor’s financial advisor called to confirm her donation to the children’s hospital. Far superior to anything I had given, new capital cardiac equipment would be shipped to the children’s hospital. I called the manufacturer advising of the location of their equipment, asking that they send training manuals to the hospital. Within two days I received their call saying they would send a clinical specialist (at no cost) to the hospital to remain until the equipment was installed and the staff trained. The donation of new diagnostic cardiac equipment made possible the long-awaited need for medical/surgical treatment of Sal Salvador’s children.
“Diane, God will provide new equipment for us through you.”
by Diane Ward
