Serve our purpose or serve our weakness

Francis Cabrini who was born the 10th of 11 children in 1850 to peasant parents in Northern Italy. She survived small pox but was permanently weakened by the disease. Because of her physical weakness she was denied acceptance to several convents. After many years of malicious treatment by superiors she was asked to form a new convent and without any resources to work with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was born. 

Her desire was to work in China but the Vatican denied her request multiple times. She relentlessly pursued her dream and finally the pope redirected her to New York to minister to Italian immigrants who were living in squalor and not accepted into the mainstream of the city or society.   

Various doctors gave her between 2 to 5 years to live. Her response was that she must then get to work because there was not much time. Sustained by Jesus she oversaw the largest charitable work in the world at that time with hospitals, orphanages and other ministries on six continents and died at 69 years of age. 

Her story is told in the movie Cabrini. She endured hardship, rejection, illness, horrible working conditions and yet she never lost sight of the passion within to serve the sick and the poor and especially children. 

Cabrini lived 2 Corinthians 12:9 

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

We do not face the same level of hardship and personal sacrifice that was required of Cabrini but we are called to a task that is too big for us. Through F4L disciple makers are being trained and dispatched in 17 countries. We do not have the resources to go to all the places we have been invited. More funding is needed to do more translations so new people groups can be discipled. Despite the challenge my heart is filled with faith for the future. Cabrini's story inspired me and I know that our God will never abandon us while we are doing what He asked us to do. Thank you for being part of this wonderful team as you pray week by week for the things we bring to your attention. 

K R Paton