We regret to inform you … Five words no one wants to read, because whatever follows is sure to be unwanted news. A wave of shock pulsed through my body when I was notified that my grant request had been denied. My plans for spring sabbatical projects and medical missions in Kenya, Africa were in place – airline tickets had already been purchased. It was too late to apply for other funding. How was I going to pay for it!?
That put me in a position of humility (and embarrassment) trusting the Lord to provide for my needs. I decided to raise support for the portion of my time in Kenya when I would be leading medical mission teams for Open Arms International. The last time I raised support for a mission trip was in 1986.
To make matters worse, the world had just entered the recent economic crisis! It seemed to be a really bad time to ask others to help me financially. However, I was reminded that I was on God’s economy NOT the world’s.
While all this was happening, the Lord instructed me to make a large donation to a Christian charity. WHAT!? I have to raise thousands of dollars and You want me to give away hundreds?
My African mission journey began in the spring of 2005 when the Lord commanded me to go to Africa as a medical missionary. I was absolutely blindsided by that “God encounter” at an evening church service. I already had a full summer planned. A mission trip to Africa was NOT on the list. Regardless, I went on my first medical mission trip with Open Arms in July of 2005.
Obedience is rarely convenient.
I put the charitable donation in the mail slot along with a bundle of letters asking friends to help me with the expenses of the Kenya mission trips in 2009. Lord, you know my need. Please return this donation one hundred fold. I trust You.
If you have experienced God’s economy, you know that He provides lavishly. The Lord returned more than I asked!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Prov 3:5)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Emergency Transport
We usually have several emergency situations when Open Arms (OA) conducts medical clinics in developing countries. Patients will wait for our free clinics instead of going to the doctor/hospital, because they are so poor. That can result in a life-threatening condition by the time we see them in our medical tent.
We have transported patients to the hospital several times a day at previous medical clinics. Thankfully, the only emergency we had this time was on our last day at Kambi Teso.
The doctors had finished seeing patients and the last prescriptions were being filled in the pharmacy when I overheard Rachel say a woman needed to go to the hospital. The doctor thought something had ruptured in her abdomen, infection had set in, and she needed emergency surgery.
Did anyone pray with her? The critically ill woman was sitting in a chair while the medical tent was being dismantled around her. Ethan and I were about to pray for her when we were told that she had been waiting a long time and needed to be taken immediately. No problem. We assisted her to the transport vehicle, praying as we went. She was sweating and shaking from intense pain, barely able to walk, and crying quietly.
When we got her to the transport van, it had a flat tire. That discovery resulted in a lot of shouting in Kiswahili and English. Chaos ensued. We saw two other vehicles nearby and approached them to see if they could help us get the woman to the hospital. The people in the first car told us they were full and drove away. We pleaded with the people in the second vehicle to help us. They were from AMPATH and had joined us that day to test people for HIV/AIDS. Their truck was also full of people and equipment.
More confusion surrounded us as we continued to pray for the woman. Then our prayer changed. Lord, this is a really frustrating situation, but if the reason for this delay is so we can have more time to pray with this woman, may it be to Your glory.
We had found her a chair, but realized she was getting too warm sitting in the sun. We moved her to a shady spot several yards away and kept praying. Then I asked Ethan, “Did you notice that she walked stronger when we moved her?” He agreed. That encouraged us to pray with confidence that the Lord was healing the woman.
Finally, Michael from AMPATH came over and told us he and another man would give up their seats in their truck so the sick woman and doctor could be taken to the hospital. We thanked them profusely and agreed to give them a ride in exchange. Before moving the woman again, we asked Michael to interpret for us. We believed she was being healed. He was able to confirm that her pain was nearly gone and she was improving. Alleluia! She rose from the chair on her own and needed little assistance to the AMPATH truck.
That night, the doctor reported that she was not rushed to surgery as anticipated, because she was doing so much better. They were going to observe her overnight and make a decision the following day. To God be the GLORY!
We have transported patients to the hospital several times a day at previous medical clinics. Thankfully, the only emergency we had this time was on our last day at Kambi Teso.
The doctors had finished seeing patients and the last prescriptions were being filled in the pharmacy when I overheard Rachel say a woman needed to go to the hospital. The doctor thought something had ruptured in her abdomen, infection had set in, and she needed emergency surgery.
Did anyone pray with her? The critically ill woman was sitting in a chair while the medical tent was being dismantled around her. Ethan and I were about to pray for her when we were told that she had been waiting a long time and needed to be taken immediately. No problem. We assisted her to the transport vehicle, praying as we went. She was sweating and shaking from intense pain, barely able to walk, and crying quietly.
When we got her to the transport van, it had a flat tire. That discovery resulted in a lot of shouting in Kiswahili and English. Chaos ensued. We saw two other vehicles nearby and approached them to see if they could help us get the woman to the hospital. The people in the first car told us they were full and drove away. We pleaded with the people in the second vehicle to help us. They were from AMPATH and had joined us that day to test people for HIV/AIDS. Their truck was also full of people and equipment.
More confusion surrounded us as we continued to pray for the woman. Then our prayer changed. Lord, this is a really frustrating situation, but if the reason for this delay is so we can have more time to pray with this woman, may it be to Your glory.
We had found her a chair, but realized she was getting too warm sitting in the sun. We moved her to a shady spot several yards away and kept praying. Then I asked Ethan, “Did you notice that she walked stronger when we moved her?” He agreed. That encouraged us to pray with confidence that the Lord was healing the woman.
Finally, Michael from AMPATH came over and told us he and another man would give up their seats in their truck so the sick woman and doctor could be taken to the hospital. We thanked them profusely and agreed to give them a ride in exchange. Before moving the woman again, we asked Michael to interpret for us. We believed she was being healed. He was able to confirm that her pain was nearly gone and she was improving. Alleluia! She rose from the chair on her own and needed little assistance to the AMPATH truck.
That night, the doctor reported that she was not rushed to surgery as anticipated, because she was doing so much better. They were going to observe her overnight and make a decision the following day. To God be the GLORY!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Prayer Tent
Open Arms International (OAI) emphasizes the importance of spiritual AND physical healing at their medical clinics. Each day begins with worship and a message from scripture. An invitation is given for those in attendance to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. All who pray for salvation are ushered into the prayer tent where a local pastor explains the need for discipleship. Before they leave the tent, each person receives individual prayer. Often times, the Lord heals their physical ailments and they no longer need to see the doctor! Local pastors and OAI team members are available throughout the day to pray with people.
Anton entered the prayer tent our first day at Kambi Teso. He was sent to us by the ophthalmologist. The man had glaucoma, which had rendered him nearly blind. We didn’t have the medicine that he needed, but we had prayer! Anton told us that he also had back and chest pain when he bent forward. His back and chest pain were healed immediately when we prayed for him. PTL! His eyes continued to bulge from the pressure building inside. We asked him to come back another day so we could continue to pray for his eyes.
Anton returned two days later, but he did not come alone. He brought his wife and cousin. They had walked a great distance. Long lines had formed by those awaiting medical care, but these three came ONLY for prayer. Anton knew that Jesus had completely healed his back and chest two days prior. He anticipated another encounter with the Almighty and wanted to share that with his loved ones.
Several Kenyan pastors and OAI team members joined together in prayer for Anton. The anointing power of God was very strong as we prayed. It was evident that Anton was a mighty man of God and the Lord was preparing him to do His work. We also prayed for his wife and cousin. They asked for spiritual strength.
Ethan noted that Anton looked different when he left us. That was a common occurrence at the prayer tent. Many came to Jesus with specific requests, which often times were granted. Several received physical healing. Others were strengthened spiritually. Some left in faith, believing that the Lord had begun to heal their infirmities. Nearly everyone appeared different when they left the prayer tent, usually praising God.
It was obvious that Anton was changed by the Lord that day. Perhaps his eyes were healed as he walked home thanking and praising God. Or, like Paul, he may have learned that God's grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness. (II Cor 12:9) The Lord knows :)
Anton entered the prayer tent our first day at Kambi Teso. He was sent to us by the ophthalmologist. The man had glaucoma, which had rendered him nearly blind. We didn’t have the medicine that he needed, but we had prayer! Anton told us that he also had back and chest pain when he bent forward. His back and chest pain were healed immediately when we prayed for him. PTL! His eyes continued to bulge from the pressure building inside. We asked him to come back another day so we could continue to pray for his eyes.
Anton returned two days later, but he did not come alone. He brought his wife and cousin. They had walked a great distance. Long lines had formed by those awaiting medical care, but these three came ONLY for prayer. Anton knew that Jesus had completely healed his back and chest two days prior. He anticipated another encounter with the Almighty and wanted to share that with his loved ones.
Several Kenyan pastors and OAI team members joined together in prayer for Anton. The anointing power of God was very strong as we prayed. It was evident that Anton was a mighty man of God and the Lord was preparing him to do His work. We also prayed for his wife and cousin. They asked for spiritual strength.
Ethan noted that Anton looked different when he left us. That was a common occurrence at the prayer tent. Many came to Jesus with specific requests, which often times were granted. Several received physical healing. Others were strengthened spiritually. Some left in faith, believing that the Lord had begun to heal their infirmities. Nearly everyone appeared different when they left the prayer tent, usually praising God.
It was obvious that Anton was changed by the Lord that day. Perhaps his eyes were healed as he walked home thanking and praising God. Or, like Paul, he may have learned that God's grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness. (II Cor 12:9) The Lord knows :)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Dental Clinic
Thanks to three dentists from Uganda, we were able to provide dental care for 174 patients during our four days at Kambi Teso. Apollo, Damari, and Doreen have become wonderful Open Arms friends. They traveled by bus all night to join us in Eldoret, Kenya.I broadened my scope of practice this summer. Whenever a dental assistant needed a break, I donned the protective gear and became a “human head-rest” for patients who bravely had their teeth extracted. It put me in the perfect position to comfort the patients and pray for them (and their dentists) during the procedures.
There was a bit more excitement in the dental tent this year…
Sean is a pre-med student at Arizona University. When Phil found out that Doreen had a private dental practice in Uganda and aspires to become an oral surgeon, he decided that Sean and Doreen should get married. The two played along with the gag. Sean tied a string around Doreen’s finger and Phil even brought one of the local pastors into the dental tent to perform a faux wedding. The “newly weds” probably thought that was the end of it, but there were too many pranksters on our team for that to happen ;)
A wedding cake appeared at our final banquet the next night. Everyone who had helped at the medical clinics attended the banquet. Few of them were aware of the joke, so a lot of jaws were dropping when Sean and Doreen cut the cake (and fed it to each other). A trio sang a lovely song for the couple while they had their “first dance.”
If you have seen the movie or TV series MASH, you understand the necessity for such comedic relief. Our medical clinics are a lot like a MASH unit. The three dentists pulled hundreds of teeth; the medical and lay personnel treated 1700+ patients. Everyone was exhausted from four consecutive days of providing medical care for the poorest of the poor. The faux wedding provided the best medicine – LAUGHTER!!!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Kambi Teso
Our four days (M-Th) in the Kambi Teso slum of Eldoret, Kenya consisted of medical clinics, children’s ministry, and the feeding program. This is the largest medical clinic Open Arms (OA) does each year. Three dentists, an opthamologist, and a doctor came from Uganda to assist us. They are long-time friends of OA. Students from the Moi University Medical School also helped along with nurses and a pharmacist from the West. Of course, there was plenty of non-medical personnel on hand to help in a variety of areas as well. Together, we were able to provide general medical, dental, and eye clinics for a total of 1776 patients who would have never received health care otherwise. It was satisfying, exhausting, hard work J
We also prayed for more than 100 people for a variety of requests. Approximately 45 of them had miraculous healings occur in their physical bodies. We witnessed many cataract covered eyes become clear; pain immediately removed; the weak became strong; some who limped into the camp walked away normally; and a bent-over, elderly woman was six inches taller when she left! (I’ll share more healing stories in future posts)
We were grateful to have eight people from Forgotten Children International (FCI) join us for the last three days at Kambi Teso. Many of the OA team members were battling physical ailments when they arrived. They were a great group from Indiana that assimilated quickly with our team.
May God be praised for what He accomplished during our time in Kenya, Africa!!!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Medical Clinic Prep
Hard labor deserves a reward. Thus, the team was treated to a day of shopping and leisure on Friday. We gave the local economy a boost, especially Joe. The hardiest of souls took a swim in the pool at the Naiberi River Resort where we spent a few afternoon hours enjoying good food, fellowship, God's beautiful creation, and a brief rest. The Kenyans must have thought those who got in the water (all females) were crazy to go swimming in the winter. The Brits said it was like summer for them.
Yesterday (Sat) was our day of preparation for the medical clinics at Kambi Teso, which will take place Mon - Thurs. It required many hands and strong backs to erect the tents that will be used for the general medical, dental, and eye clinics. The tents are quite tall, which created a challenge. How does one secure posts at the top of a 12 foot tent without a ladder? The solution - stack tables, benches, and the tallest person (Nick) & build human pyramids. It was an amazing feat of balance that would rival any circus act;)
There were also opportunities to play with the children in the Kambi Teso slum area. They live in the poorest region of Eldoret. Over 130 of the children are enrolled in the Open Arms feeding program, which provides them a hearty meal four days a week. For some, it is the only meal they get.
Today is our day of worship at the Open Arms Village. The Sunday service will be followed by a traditional goat roast lunch and time to play with the 27 children who live at our village. The children love to receive visitors and we love being with them.
Abarikiwe! (Be Blessed!)
Yesterday (Sat) was our day of preparation for the medical clinics at Kambi Teso, which will take place Mon - Thurs. It required many hands and strong backs to erect the tents that will be used for the general medical, dental, and eye clinics. The tents are quite tall, which created a challenge. How does one secure posts at the top of a 12 foot tent without a ladder? The solution - stack tables, benches, and the tallest person (Nick) & build human pyramids. It was an amazing feat of balance that would rival any circus act;)
There were also opportunities to play with the children in the Kambi Teso slum area. They live in the poorest region of Eldoret. Over 130 of the children are enrolled in the Open Arms feeding program, which provides them a hearty meal four days a week. For some, it is the only meal they get.
Today is our day of worship at the Open Arms Village. The Sunday service will be followed by a traditional goat roast lunch and time to play with the 27 children who live at our village. The children love to receive visitors and we love being with them.
Abarikiwe! (Be Blessed!)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Moving the earth
How many wheelbarrow loads of dirt can be moved in two days? We didn't keep count, so there isn't an exact number to answer that question. Let's just say that we are sufficiently sore :)
Everyone has been working hard to create a beautiful front yard for the second childrens' home at the Open Arms (OA) Village. The mission team that preceeded us was able to complete the yard area for the first house.
It was VERY exciting to see five houses under construction at our Open Arms property in Eldoret, Kenya. The craftmanship is the best I have seen in Kenya. We were especially impressed by the stone masons who hand chisel 50 large bricks a day for the exterior walls and the plaster work on the interior walls. They will be wonderful homes for the HIV/AIDS orphans to live in with our houseparents.
We split into two groups yesterday - one to move dirt at the OA Village & one to pack medical supplies for our clinics next week. We all enjoyed dinner together afterward praising the Lord for all He allowed us to accomplish in two days.
Asante sana! (Thank you very much!)
Everyone has been working hard to create a beautiful front yard for the second childrens' home at the Open Arms (OA) Village. The mission team that preceeded us was able to complete the yard area for the first house.
It was VERY exciting to see five houses under construction at our Open Arms property in Eldoret, Kenya. The craftmanship is the best I have seen in Kenya. We were especially impressed by the stone masons who hand chisel 50 large bricks a day for the exterior walls and the plaster work on the interior walls. They will be wonderful homes for the HIV/AIDS orphans to live in with our houseparents.
We split into two groups yesterday - one to move dirt at the OA Village & one to pack medical supplies for our clinics next week. We all enjoyed dinner together afterward praising the Lord for all He allowed us to accomplish in two days.
Asante sana! (Thank you very much!)
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