By teaching young people a few natural remedies, they are empowered and ready to labor for souls using the methods they have learned. Photo credit: Courtesy Cedar Lake Elementary School
This idea took root four years ago, when Wolf attended the Living Springs Retreat and trained with Barbara O’Neill. Wolf commented that prior to his attending the retreat, he felt sick and very weak. He had difficulty lifting his arms above his head and climbing stairs. Ten days later, after the Living Springs Retreat, he said he felt “twenty years younger.”
Knowing firsthand the effectiveness of our health message, especially pertaining to natural remedies, Wolf went to the Cedar Lake school board and asked that training on natural remedies be part of the science curriculum. The plan was voted in but, unfortunately, because of COVID-19, he was unable to carry out his original plan.
COVID-19 didn’t stop Wolf, however. He went to a specific teacher and asked if he could teach her class. The teacher allowed Wolf to try for two weeks.
The students love it. They are receiving hands-on experience and learning beneficial information they can use for the rest of their lives. They enjoyed the experience so much that Wolf was asked to continue on, even after the two weeks were finished.
While the children are enjoying the experience, they also are taking it very seriously. Wolf gave them worksheets with the science behind the remedies, so that when they share with others, they have confidence in why the remedies work.
Many of the natural remedies Wolf learned at Living Springs use common things found in the kitchen. The class did one week of poultices, such as poultices using potato, charcoal and onion. After that, Wolf followed with a week of how to use herbs to treat the body. In addition, they trained on hydrotherapy, both hot and cold, and charcoal and turmeric masks.
They have learned safety measures and how to build up the immune system. Myles Fleetwood, an eighth-grader, said, “I want to help other people know how to boost their immune system by teaching them the benefits of super foods.”
Sierra Gardener, also in eighth grade, commented, “Medical missionary work is important because you can help people get better and bring them to God… I will use this knowledge to help others later on in life… I can share God through medical work.”
Wolf has been challenging his classroom to not keep this knowledge to themselves, encouraging them to be courageous. He spoke of Daniel, who is a perfect representative. It took courage to stand up and refuse to eat the king’s food. “We want to train our kids to make a difference in our community,” he says, “and we want to use the methods Jesus used.”
Medical missionary work is how Jesus reached the majority of people. In most cases, before He spoke, He healed, and entire towns were left where there was not one sick person. As unusual as it seems, teaching others simple, natural remedies can lead them to Christ.
Wolf instilled this in his students. Seventh-grader Anna Wolf commented, “Medical missionary training has helped me to know how to help others when they are sick and share my love for Jesus at the same time.”
Wolf and the class released a public YouTube video sharing what they learned. Each child had a role in the video, where they explained how to use natural remedies to treat the body.
“We talk a lot about the health message as the right arm of the gospel,” Wolf explained, “but we don’t do enough.” Wolf hopes that other churches will begin training their members, and young people, too, on how to use natural remedies to treat the body, using Christ’s method to save souls.
Judy Klein, Michigan Conference Communication intern
