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Orphan Grain Train Christian Medical Endeavor
Prayerletter
Volume 2 Number 2
March 2004
Jesus spoke, "Pray that you might not fall into
sin when you are tempted."
Luke 22:40b
Blessed Lenten Season, my favorite. On Ash Wednesday, I saw
the 'Passion of the Christ' and was struck, as I assume Mel Gibson
wished, by the depth of suffering my sin had caused Jesus. It
was a striking way to begin Lent. Now we pray we can act in His
will in ways He would want us so the 'all our life and doings
may be pleasing' to Him.
We have just returned from a grand experience in Mexico. I visited
the Lutheran Hour Ministries mission led by Melissa Salomón in
Tijuana and the surrounding environs. We met with six medically
oriented groups, nongovernmental agencies as well as some federally
funded workers and learned a lot about medical problems and efforts
ongoing in the region. I was pleased to see virtually no starvation
and minimal malnutrition in this area which is considered one
of the worst in Mexico. Many small colonias or villages would
pop up from immigrant coming to the area for work or to enter
the USA, with no sewer or water piped to the houses. Electricity
was available in most, but not legally run to the domiciles, but
pilfered from the mains, dangerous enough that three persons were
electrocuted in one of the colonias in which were worked just
after I left.
By meeting with the NGO's and government officials, I learned
there is an abundance of general practitioners because of the
educational method in the country but few specialists, who must
be trained abroad, normally in the US. Thus, the nationals were
not interested in short term medical missions save for specialists
such as a two-week orthopedic trip.
One other startling discovery was the federal hospitals had been
so corrupt with theft of equipment and its resale so rampant that
the government has stopped any contributions from NGO's or governments
to aid them. The quality of care has dropped but so has the abuse/loss
of supplies and equipment. In this discussion, we found that it
may be possible for Orphan Grain Train to deliver some of the
containers directly into Mexico. One of the governmentally funded
but privately run agencies, Difference in the Family or DIF [pronounced
deef] is in charge of the reception of any humanitarian supply
to other agencies such as the LHM mission.
We were able to assist one infirmary that is run by two Franciscan
nuns. They may be one of the sites to which specialist may go
to work short term. In my discussions with the federal representatives,
we found that a visiting physician need not need to delay while
being licensed if he/she is working with an accredited Mexican
doctor. Similarly, malpractice insurance, a major expense in the
US, is not needed if the sponsoring physician is covered.
Another option for workers became apparent with a hematologist
who is trying to fund a hospital specifically for the treatment
of childhood leukemia and its related complications. Though their
society is just now gathering funding, when the facility is built
it will approach the child with a team, including psychological
support for the families involved, which again would engender
visiting opportunities for medical personnel to witness and demonstrate
Christ's love.
Ms. Salomón is doing a wonderful job overseeing the several mission
churches and the goods distribution, of quilts/comforters, foodstuff,
backpacks, school supplies and medical supplies and beds/mattresses
which she currently transports across the border piecemeal to
their mission base in Tijuana. When Orphan Grain Train is able
to import directly, much more can be done. One of the missions
working was the Rotary Club who assisted with housing, built from
doublewide garage doors used to make walls in some of the colonias.
NEW WEBSITE
Dick Jostes of the Orphan Grain Train has created a website for
Christian Medical Endeavor. One can arrive at it by going thru¹
the ogt.org site and clicking on the CME button or go directly
using: ogt.org/christian_medical_links.cfm
should you wish. One of the main advantages to you is the speaking
schedule so you might know where I am and if I am in your neighborhood.
I will be traveling quite a lot, going to the Baltics and St Petersburg,
Russia at the end of the month to survey needs and opportunities.
The Handke's, Pam and Hank who relieved me while in Côte d'Ivoire
will be accompanying me and may do survey work in the future.
Reverend John Reehl has been working in these areas with several
hard pressing nationals. He has been doing some prison ministries,
guiding and leading lay leaders and assisting the church in Latvia
and has been Orphan Grain Train¹s contact within these countries.
I will meet with leaders and hospital personnel to see what needs,
material and personnel, are present and work with our various
partners to see how best we can satisfy those wants.
In May I am planning similar survey work in both Sierra Leone
and Liberia so please keep these trips in your minds and hearts.
PRAYER REMINDERS
Thank God for the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
always. See The Passion if you can.
Pray for the Lutheran Hour Ministry in Mexico and all of Latin
America as they attempt to spread the Good News to many. Thanks
be to God for Melissa Salomón and her aides, Therese and Demarese
and the wonderful exposure and possibilities in the Tijuana area.
Pray for save travel and successful visits to first explore possibilities
and later make some inroads into the ministries ongoing in the
Baltics and Russia.
Prayerfully consider how each of us can be a better witness and
support His work to further His Kingdom; then do it!
Participate in thoughtful Lenten worship,
William P Foster, MD
Christian Medical Endeavor -- 402-371-9313
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