Marie Elisa trod the same path she’d taken for years, to her village church in Berangotra, Madagascar. This daily ritual gave her strength before she worked in her fields, tending vegetables and potatoes to support her family. But when she turned 40, her daily routine was rocked. A simple toothache became an unrelenting pain that led her to the local pharmacy. The medicine she received only offered temporary relief. And as the ache dulled, her face began to swell.
SCRIPT:
Maria Elisa
In my prayers I pleaded to God like this:
“God, I beg you, help me. Give me strength to be healthy. That I may find someone to heal this.”
My name is Maria Elisa. I’m 45 years old. I’ve had this tumor for five years.
I had a small swelling at first. It got bigger and bigger
Claude – Maria Elisa’s Husband
It broke my heart to see her struggling every day because the tumour was painful and kept growing.
Maria Elisa
I couldn’t do anything because it was painful. It hurts every day
Claude
She and I prayed and we relied on God. He knew what we needed
Maria Elisa
One day I was standing by the road and Mercy Ships was driving to the South.
They took my pictures while they were driving.
Maddy Hartung – Preoperative Clinical Supervisor
We were driving back from Ihosy and we saw Maria Elisa standing, walking in through the markets and three of us in the bus screamed: ‘Stop the bus.’ Sinadou our logistics coordinator got out and delicately explained to the community that had gathered around what Mercy Ships was.
Sinadou – Logistics Coordinator
That was not easy to convince them because people in their country told them that when you go to Mercy Ships you will not come back. But what we did was we brought the photos of the former patients.
Maddy
I think she was quite reserved and honestly a little scared that a whole bunch of people came off a bus just to see if we could help her. But I think as she started chatting with us and learned about what we do she came a bit more open was really excited at the opportunity to join us on the ship.
Maria Elisa has a mandibular tumour. It can be life threatening as it grows. So it was a benign tumour but the size of it can cause an immense amount of issues
Maria Elisa
I thank God and the people who took care of me here. Because I’m healed now and going home
Claude
Yes when she returned. I was happy because my wife was finally healed. I was so happy.
Sinadou
The story of Maria Elisa. It reminds me of the story of Bartimaeus in the Bible. Bartimaeus was blind. He was sitting by the roadside as well like Maria Elisa did.
Maddy
It’s just an incredible experience to witness even that small miracle happen. Like you are meant to be here. She was meant to be on that side of the road.
Maria Elisa
Yes, I really believe God answered my prayers
I would pray to Him: “God, I thank you that I got healing. You gave me more time to live
As I am healthy now, I thank thee Lord.”
Story Provided By:
Mercy Ships
Recording Location
Madagascar
Organization featured in this Story
Mercy Ships – www.mercyships.org
People Interviewed and their Titles
Maria Elisa
Claude – Maria Elisa’s Husband
Maddy Hartung – Preoperative Clinical Supervisor
Sinadou – Logistics Coordinator
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