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Orphan Grain Train Christian Medical Endeavor
Prayerletter
Volume 2 Number 3
April 2004
Blessings and peace in His grace. Christ is risen, Alleluia!!!
Colossians 1:5:
Your faith and love are based on the hope you have. What you hope
for is stored up for you in heaven. You have already heard about
it. You were told about it when the message of truth was given
to you. I am talking about he Good News. I do celebrate that we
have the Gospel. The Word which teaches us of our salvation.
May we rejoice and grow in the knowledge of our Savior's gift.
As Paul said, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, when we pray for you." And I do thank God for
your prayers and care.
We are celebrating a wonderful excursion into the Baltic countries,
Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. They total about the size of North
Dakota or Missouri and have a population of around 6 million souls.
Orphan Grain Train, LCMS World Relief, and Lutheran Hour Ministries
all work in the area. We expected to see much worse conditions
than were met. Since the early 1990's when communism there failed
and was left, the people have recovered well.
Pam and Dr. Hank Handke were with our group, led by Reverend John
and June Reehl. The two of them had been to the area in 1992 so
were able to contrast it well for me.
The Deaconesses' Hospital in Tallinn, Estonia, is one place Orphan
Grain Train has done and continues to work. It gives terminal
care to cancer victims and houses a significant number of elderly.
Often, two incomes are necessary to function so children do not
care for their parents, much like in the US.
Quilts and clothing, including a "Nucor Steel" (a Norfolk,
Neb. company), walker and wheelchairs received from here were
noted there. After discussion with the church Bishop, future shipments
may again be delivered, once a new head of the program is installed.
Latvia was interesting as well. We visited in a cold period, went
to service in the city of Césus, celebrating the Lord's Supper
with their congregation as the LCMS is in fellowship with the
Lutheran Church of Latvia. This edifice was a huge, gothic structure,
800+ years old. It was very chilly, we wore coats in service and
saw our breath while we sang and prayed, a first for me. The worship
was wonderful and we were warmly received. This congregation and
another in Valmiera, Latvia, have been recipients of containers
of assistance from Orphan Grain Train. The material had been distributed
into 25 different congregations and communities so the benefits
were far reaching and accompanied by the Word, the best benefit
of all.
In Lithuania, the furthest south of the Baltic countries, we were
introduced to the Hill of the Crosses. This country is basically
Catholic as contrasted to the other two, which are primarily Lutheran.
The three Baltic countries dislike Russians immensely, their previous
controllers. However, Russian was their common link. Now, as they
stop speaking and learning Russian, the three are separating more.
The communists had bulldozed this Hill twice but the crosses would
return, starting the next morning. There must be millions, literally,
placed in commemoration of persons or events, including a simple
and beautiful cross remembering September 11 and a statue of Christ
Jesus recalling the Pope's visit in 1998. This was a most moving
sight and recalled for me the reason for our work, Christ sacrifice
on the cross for my sins. What a gift! What a sight.
The Reehls and their grandson, James, at the Hill.
Estonia had some of the most interesting topography, much of which
has been reclaimed from the Baltic Sea. The people have rebounded
well from Communism and renovated a great deal of the old construction
plus added much new. The church is growing slowly, but the key
here is growth. Keep the Baltics in your prayers, please.
While traveling by rail to St. Petersburg, we shared some fellowship
and sleep as the trip was an overnight affair. The border crossing
was uneventful, thanks be to God. We were immediately struck by
the difference in cleanliness...Russia was much dustier and dingier
than the others.
The city of St. Petersburg is large, 4.5 million. It is metropolitan
and modern, though somewhat behind the states, certainly. The
people are not as up beat or happy but are pleasant generally.
We saw some significant need for assistance and supplies, but
again were basically pleased with our findings.
Orphan Grain Train has a place in this part of the world still,
but will be thinking of phasing out its support as time progresses.
This missiology will exist for all locales into which Christian
Medical Endeavor reaches. I was personally disappointed but pleasantly
so. There were plenty of physicians and supplies available in
the Baltic countries, more need for supplies in Russia but again
large numbers of doctors, many of whom (90%) are women. The physicians
are not considered elite in their society, so like in Mexico,
I did not find need for short or long-term medical missionary
presence. Orphan Grain Train is needed by trainers or helpers
less so.
However, I anticipate things will be different this week. Hank
Handke and I are leaving for three weeks in West Africa on April
28. We will concentrate on Sierra Leone and Liberia. Because the
latter is still having some ongoing rebel fighting, we will remain
within the city limits of Monrovia, the capitol, except to transport
from and to the airport. Sierra Leone is peaceful and expectant.
I have visited and taught there before and expect to find need
for a village health worker program much like what we did in Côte
d'Ivoire. We will be in and out of email contact so please feel
free to write but understand we may not reply rapidly.
Prayer Requests:
- Thanksgiving to God for
a successful, although cold, trip into Europe.
- Pray for the Lutheran
Churches in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia that the Holy
Spirit will continue to lead more to grace, through Christ Jesus.
- Pray that CME and OGT
will be able to work within these countries to further the Kingdom
of the Lord.
- Ask God to guide and protect
us as we travel and visit the countries of Sierra Leone and
Liberia, give us productive time and experience there.
- Pray for those who will
no doubt worry about us whilst we are gone: Mrs. Pam Handke,
Sandee Pelster, and all our kin old and young. Ask the Holy
Ghost to give them comfort knowing we are in His care. Please
visit these pages whenever you want to know more of what I am
doing or where I will be speaking.
In His service,
Doc Foster
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