The joys of being in the center of God's plans...

 

All in a day's work....

The daily joys and blessings were countless

Medicines administered with smiles

Efrim and Danice

Grace under pressure

Sit still and wait...

The FBA Ethiopia Medical team (Efrim Moore, Danice Mariney, Diana Evans, Kayenda Johnson, Dottie Eleazer, Dawn-Marie Headley and Ingrid Forbes) returned to Atlanta on July 1 exhausted and elated (Chika Oraka, Rahel and Hasim returned seperately on different dates) - God was glorified and proved Himself faithful beyond anything that they could ahve anticipated.  As is to be expected on the mission field, things do not always go as planned.  This trip certainly proved that the ability to be flexible is faith walked out as stated in Hebrews 11:1 "Assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things not seen!"  The team HAD no choice but to trust God for each and every step each day...

Each day presented its own special challenges and the team spent evenings after dinner on their knees before God praising Him for providing and asking for moment-by-moment guidance for the next day.  By the end of the second day the team saw and treated close to 600 patients...this was equivalent to the total number of patients seen in December 2008 in four and a half days. By the end of the third day, Thursday, June 25, the team was completely out of prescription medications except for over the counter products like Tylenol, Motrin, and allergy medicines.

On the Tuesday, the first day at the Dukem Health Clinic when the team arrived there were approximately 200 patients waiting to be seen.  By mid-morning on Wednesday the crowd was approximated at 700 and missionary Haile Teferra had to employ a local police officer to assist with crown control.  So without suffcient prescription medications to treat more than 300 patients after Thursday the team prayerfully decided to end the week.  They were faced with five days remaining in country and no ministry to work in...BUT, since their commitment from the beginning of the project was to seek God for His plan and wait for His direction, the team settled in prayer on Thursday night and by Friday evening God orchestrated through Ethiopian gospel singer, Sammy, a ministry opportunity with Freedom House in Addis Ababa!

But a few very comforting events took place on the way to Freedom House...on Sunday, the team worshiped in an English service at Beza International Church.  When introduced there was a small pocket of VERY enthusiastic cheerleaders somewhere in the congregation - a pleasant mystery?!  After the service the team was passionaltely greeted and embraced by a mission team from Andy Stanley's North Point Community Church!  What a great joy and delight it was for these two teams to meet so far away from "home."  A few of the North Point team members had been sick and had little or no medicines, so the FBA team humbly did the best they could to assemble "care packages" of comfort snacks and over the counter meds for them.  It certainly was not the FBA team's plan to provded medical care for a few of  "our own"  but the joy of being of service to whomever God sent took on new meaning and purose for the FBA team.  God pointedly reminded this medical team that HE would select the patients as HE saw fit and whenever and wherever HE chose.  As a team, the FBA members collectively said, "Here we are LORD send US!" and to their great astonishment, God took them at their word and pledge...LITERALLY!

Coming July 5 - more details and pictures from the amazing missionary journey the Ethiopia June 2009 team took with their Father in heaven!

An Update From The Mission Field

As of Tuesday, June 23, 2009...

The team saw over 200 patients today and gave away about 20 pairs of glasses. It was a great day!

The team was amazing. Diana, Kayenda and Dottie were pharmacists. Efrim injected anybody he could. Danice worked hard to talk a lady out of having an abortion. Dawn-Marie and Chika each saw 40 plus patients. Rahel was like four people in one and Hashim was awesome at filling in and doing whatever was needed.

We are dodging fiery darts big time. Please Pray.

*Pray request as of 6-23-09

-Our scope used for ears and nose has suddenly stopped working. It worked last week. Sammy and Hasim are out trying to fix it. (Ethiopia is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time).

-Kayend has an upset stomach.

Thank you for your prayers.

Meet the Ethiopia 2009 Medical Team

Sarnaa Archie, member of the 2008 team and former Student Discipleship Pastor at First Baptist Altanta that stayed in Ethiopia, is in the process of being approved as a missionary with Source of Light Ministries Intl. You can find out more at his website at http://www.pleaseread.org/

Dottie Eleazer and Dawn-Marie Headley

Danice Mariney

Diana Evans (left) designed the birth certificate that the team will use from now on for all babies born at the Source of Light Clinic. Diana will be working in the pharmacy and with evangelism.

Ethiopian gospel singer Sammy extended his stay in Ethiopia to be able to work at the Dukem clinic with evangelism and translation for the FBA team

Efrim enjoyed packing and sorting the medicines. We did not expect to have an entire room filled with medicines and supplies.

Hashim Ayele (left), Rahel Demssie (center) and Dr. Efrim Moore (right)

Hashim (left) is a Civil Engineer and was planning on being very supportive of his wife

(Rahel) when she decided to join the team. God made it possible for both Hashim and Rahel to be a part of the team. Hashim will be Dr. Efrim Moore's interpreter.

Rahel, a nurse, will work with Nurse Practioner Chika Oraka (below center) to treat patients and also be the interpreter.

Nurse Practioner Chika Oraka (center)

It is impossible for Chika to thank God enough for allowing her to return to the Dukem Clinic. A native of Nigeria, Chika was significantly moved to see the level of poverty and need in Dukem. The team relied heavily on the experiences that Chika, Dottie and Dawn-Marie related as plans were made for the provision of health care for the people of Dukem.

Kayenda, a technology engineer, will develop an electronic system to keep record patient data such as biographical information, disease/illness, and medication prescribed and taken by each patient. Since many of the patients are unsure of their exact birthday, photographs of each patient will be an essential.

Kayenda and Dottie share creative ideas about getting as much as possible into one suitcase. Dottie was responsible for obtaining the supplies for the clinic in Dukem and the Source of Light Clinic. She ahs become the expert in this area and has developed an incredible relationship with all the vendors.

Kayenda and Dottie processing supplies

For the June 2009 team Dottie took on the responsibility of securing supplies from MedShare and a few other local vendors. Since visiting the Dukem Health Clinis in December 2008
Dottie knew exactly what was needed, including quantities and also sorted the supplies for packing.

The Second Medical Mission Team Heads to Addis Ababa June 20

On Saturday, June 20 ten members from First Baptist Atlanta will leave for Addis Ababa. This will be the second team that will serve God in Dukem, Ethiopia at the Dukem Health Clinic.

Of the ten members of the Ethiopia 2009 team, Dawn-Marie Headley, Dottie Eleazer, Chika Oraka and Ingrid Forbes were members of the team that made the inaugural journey in December 2008. Danice Mariney, Kayenda Johnson, Diana Evans, and Efrim Moore are among the team members participating on their first missionary journey. Ethiopians Rahel and Hashim are also making their first missionary journey and are excited to finally have their prayers to serve Christ by serving their country.

The medical clinic being built by Source of Light Ministries International is not yet completed so the team will not be able to work in the new building. However, God has miraculously supplied a great deal more medicines including a few specific medicines for eye diseases/infections. The team will return to the Dukem Health Clinic to a staff and patients who have been waiting patiently for their return.