ThatTheyMayKnow - Healthcare Needs

Emergency & Urgency

Rachel Schellenberger & John Allen — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:26:55 UT

The following story is a chronological account co-written by Rachel Schellenberger and John Allen. The TTMK team on the ground in Kotidanga that day saw the reality of “Emergency and Urgency.” Life is fragile and short; how often it takes an emergency to reveal the urgency to share the Gospel. Some of what follows are communiqués sent as the events transpired. This is how Rachel and John saw it.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 started out just like any other day. Then came the news that one of our airstrip workers, a well-known man in our area, had collapsed during morning devotions at the airstrip.

John:

Men carrying Waitave on a stretcher to the clinic

Andrew Schellenberger and I headed up the mountain with a stretcher, unsure of how serious it was. When we arrived, we found Waitave in severe distress, complaining of chest pain. He could not sit up, so we put him on the stretcher and the airstrip workers carried him down the mountain to the clinic. I ran ahead and informed Lena and Rachel that he was coming, with apparent signs of a heart attack. In four years of her clinic ministry in PNG, Lena has never had a heart attack patient.

Rachel:

I was headed out to clinic when I was informed that two patients were on their way. The first was a worker from the airstrip. I was told only that he had passed out. The other patient was a lady who delivered a baby and retained the afterbirth. This was going to be an interesting day: I opened the clinic and started praying. I was getting items out that we might need for the lady, thinking she would be the more serious. After a few minutes I saw the airstrip workers bringing the man down on a stretcher…it was Waitave! From the way they were walking, I knew it was very serious. Waitave could only moan that his chest hurt. His blood pressure was way down and his heart rate was up; but I barely found a pulse in his hands and legs. We put an IV in him, started pushing fluids, and gave him pain medicine and meds to open his blood vessels. He started shaking and vomiting. I wanted to wretch and cry. I choked tears away and told myself it wasn’t the right time.

John:

Following are the updates as I sent them to our home church and team leadership.

1 PM Wednesday, PNG Time

Thank you, everyone.

Waitave is resting at 1 PM PNG time (I think 11PM Tuesday your time). Vitals have improved but he is still critical. There is nothing more that can be done. I wish everyone in the States could have seen the team working together. Lena and Rachel calmly (but tearfully) working quickly; Sarah Glover administering breathing treatments to make it easier for him to breathe (no oxygen out here); Jason Ottosen came to ask what he could do, and soon he was pushing the IV fluids; Andrew was taking care of the crowd outside and sending reports to Matt; Ricky Beyaba, the airstrip boss, was praying with the whole clinic porch and our Bible school students; and Ben and Nathaniel, two of our students, were at Waitave’s side trying to get through to him about his soul.

I finally left Waitave sleeping on the clinic floor, still in the stretcher in which we brought him. It is so different than the Western world, but so much more real. Mud tracked into the clinic by the airstrip men who hurriedly carried him down. Mud splashed up to the knees of the men surrounding him, including his male family members. Me sitting cross-legged in my muddy Keen sandals. A hospital absorbent pad, plastic side up, covering where Waitave vomited on the floor, and we didn’t have time to clean it up. The believers praying, eyeing each other, knowing how critical this is on different levels: the life of a man, the destiny of a soul, the spiritual response of a large group of men, and the complete dependence we believers are putting in God to work this out and to guide us in our response.

I think my adrenaline has run out. My tears have not, and may they never. Matt and I have communicated this week about the urgency of the task. It is much more real today.

Pray for Lena and Rachel as they also had a mother who arrived by stretcher a few minutes after Waitave. She had delivered a 3 1/2 pound baby overnight but the after-birth was still inside. God blessed and after a lot of difficulty, the placenta was removed. I think Rachel and Lena are going to have a good cry after this day; part in relief, part in glory to God, and part in thanks for what did not happen.

Rachel:

Emergency during an emergency

About 15 minutes after Waitave came, the lady came—also on a stretcher. We got her on a table in another room and told her to wait. Selina and I went back and forth between the rooms. Sometimes we were with separate patients and sometimes together. I kept praying, “God, will You fight for us today!”. The spiritual and physical conflicts were great…two lost people who could die. Then, Waitave started to improve, his blood pressure came up and his heart rate become normal! Soon we also removed the afterbirth from the lady and were able to stop the bleeding. Everything began to slow down. Waitave was improving and resting, and the lady was walking home with a baby in her hands. It was then that I had a chance to reflect and look around. So many were involved in helping; and yet everyone, saved and unsaved, knew that it was only the work of God that saved these two lives.

Rachel:

4 PM Wednesday, PNG Time

We were headed out to church, and Waitave was trying to get up so he could go outside and lay in the sun. Such an improvement, it was amazing! Andrew and I stayed with him during the church service because he was having issues about walking…we told him his heart wasn’t ready, but he wanted to go. He tried walking and started vomiting, and then the chest pain started to come back. We gave him some pain medicine, and after church got him into a house close by for the night. Time for a good cry and a little sleep. I’ll be seeing Waitave at 5 a.m.

John:

7 PM Wednesday, PNG Time

Waitave recovered from the painkiller this afternoon. He got up (against orders) and walked off the clinic porch, barfing as he went. Rachel and Andrew intervened. They stayed back from church this afternoon to watch him with his son, Matthew.

Waitave is now sleeping in Pastor James’ old cookhouse with Matthew for the night. All thought it better to have him near a fire tonight to stay warm. Lena has given him more meds to make him sleep and not get up. She’ll be going every three hours to knock him out again.

Two men from our church, Gideon and Augustine, were in the cookhouse when I left. May the Lord give them liberty to witness to Matthew and to Waitave, should he be coherent enough to listen.

Side note: At the end of the service tonight we had a third emergency patient arrive. She had hiked all the way from Wake (wah-kay) village, a hard eight hours’ hike to our west. Her pig had bitten her and took a chunk out of the inside of her forearm near the elbow. Too large a chunk was missing to sew it, so Rachel cleaned it really well, packed it, and covered it. The lady will stay nearby with friends for a few days, coming for daily dressing changes.

There are five hours left in this day. No telling what else will happen.

Keep praying for Waitave and the airstrip guys. The Lord dealt with my heart yesterday, before all this happened, that I should go and preach to the airstrip work crew on Friday morning during devotions, and to press on them the claims of Christ. Pray for me that God will work in their hearts. The word is sown daily by Brother Ricky as he leads in devotions, and the events of today should have them thinking of eternity and of the power of God.

2 AM Thursday, PNG Time

Tonight, I witnessed something Matt and I had discussed just this week: A willingness to sacrifice for the cause of Christ and His kingdom. It is 2:15 AM. Lena is out in the pouring rain, taking shots and medicine to Waitave who is staying next door.

Lena’s cerebral malaria is not finished yet. Her temp was 101 just before she went out, and she has labored under a pounding headache all through the events of this day and tonight. She has been sick with malaria since last Sunday. But she wouldn’t have it any other way; she counts it her privilege to serve.

Rachel has the “morning shift”, going at 5 AM and 8 AM. Lena had 10 PM and 2 AM.

These two nurses are doing this out of compassion for people, with a burden to help them live long enough that they can have another chance to respond to the Gospel. They certainly demonstrate “a willingness to sacrifice for the cause of Christ and His kingdom.”

Rachel:

8 AM Thursday, PNG Time

Waitave resting in the sun

Waitave is doing much better. Pain is less in his chest and his fever has gone down. He is talking well and says he wants to sit out in the sun a little later. Andrew told him he could go out as long as he asked for help.

John:

6 PM Friday, PNG Time

We just got back from visiting Waitave at the cookhouse. If you didn’t know what happened Wednesday, you’d never guess. He’s awake, alert, and sitting up. Still has chest pain when he stands up. He’s no longer taking shots as he can swallow the medicine. Several people have witnessed him to since Wednesday.

Monday the Lord dealt with my heart about speaking to the airstrip workers. Wednesday He confirmed it with the Waitave incident. This morning Ricky let me have the devotional time to preach the Gospel. I took the Serpent in the Wilderness as my text, and used A Beka flash cards to illustrate. When I took them to the Cross and Jesus taking our place, some began wiping their eyes. All eyes were on the story and their hearts were contemplating. I gave an invitation; the air was thick with expectation. I even told them that if one would respond, others were waiting for someone else to go first. They saw how close death came on Wednesday; I urged them to not delay.

No one responded outwardly, but we left the door open. Pray for these guys—I only know some of their names: Jesse, Kipu, Andrew, Rimas, Pakeni, Ham, Waita, Matyu. There are fourteen total, fifteen when we include Waitave. None has made any move before to respond to the Gospel that I know of, but they hear God’s word daily through Ricky’s devotions each morning.

I believe there will be lasting fruit from this week. I have a confidence from the Lord that we have done what we should, and we shall continue to press forward with the Gospel. These men saw God defeat the forces of darkness on the airstrip mountain; may God gain more ground in their hearts, and may they come to see Jesus for Who He is…the lover of their souls.

9 AM Saturday, PNG Time

I have no idea how many people have witnessed to these two men in the last three days, but there have been many. When Lena decided to let him go home this morning, I went over and dealt with just the two of them (thankfully the usual crowd was gone—a gift from the Lord). Waitave listened intently, indicating that he understood what I was saying (and his son Matthew was translating into Kamea what he didn’t get). Outwardly, he was acknowledging, but not committing.

Lena, John, Waitave & Matyu, Waitave’s son

Matthew is another story. He has been witnessed to many, many times over the years, by Matt, Pastor James, me, and other believers. He says that he has trusted Christ, but that he has strayed from God’s path. I showed him from Hebrews 12 that God always deals with his children. We kept bringing every question back to the Cross. He did not make a decision for Christ today, but he is thinking. Many here, like in America, are bound with culture and religion. They are afraid of their religious leaders, and not afraid of God.

Pray for Matthew, Waitave, and those who have been impacted by the events of this week. God is working!

Rachel:

Monday, April 8 PNG Time

Andrew & Waitave…with Waitave’s gift of bananas for Andrew & Rachel

The rest of the story….

A week later Waitave decided to go to a village that is an 8-hour hike away. It was too much for him and he had a second heart attack. He passed out while he was preparing a fire in his house. He awoke because he felt the heat of the flames on his face, barely escaping as his house went up in flames. A few days later some people found him and brought him down on a stretcher. I checked him over in the clinic. He could sit up and talk a little. The worst of it was over, but he was really sick. He had a high fever and stomach pains, as well as the chest pain. We sent him to his brother’s house nearby; and daily Andrew, Sarah and I walked down to check on him. By Friday, Waitave was doing much better. Andrew was able to witness to him again. He told Waitave that God protected him twice now from dying and that God has a purpose for him. Andrew asked him if he was prepared to see God and if God would let him into Heaven. Waitave said he didn’t know. Waitave didn’t make any decision, but he said he would think about what we said. Continue to pray for him and his salvation. Pastor James will be going by to see him soon.

Summary:

Pastor James did go witness to him, as many of us did. He will admit his need for Christ but has not yet trusted Christ. His reason? He remains confused by a local belief that if he trusts Christ, God will give him a second cross to carry to heaven. (This belief system says that when you join a denomination, you get your first cross to carry to heaven.) Then, when he dies, God will send him to hell because he has two crosses. He first wants to talk to the leader of the church he used to attend before he does anything. Blinded to the free gift of God by a syncretized religious belief, our friend Waitave fails to see the urgency of his situation. Will you join us in prayer for his salvation? Will you pray with us that the word of the Lord may have free course, and that it will break the strongholds of Satan among our dear Kamea people?

Tags: emergency, gospel, healthcare, medical, preaching

A New Hope in Christ

Lena Allen — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:27:46 UT

It often happens that a family member will come to our clinic and ask for pain medicine for someone else, and our policy is to review each request case by case. But with Benjamin I always sent a package of Advil with his brother, child or mother. You see, Benjamin is paralyzed and lives downriver two hour’s hike from here in a bush hut across the river at the top of a hill. He had TB of the spine as a young father of three, and it left him with no use of his legs, making it impossible for him to come to clinic.

Benjamin & his mother with visitors from PCC

A couple of years ago a message came from the family that Benjamin was having more problems and needed transport to the Catholic hospital in Kanabea. His brother carried him on his back down the hill, across the river and placed him in the back of the mission’s Kawasaki Mule. This was the first time we met Benjamin in person, finding he had been to school and spoke some English. He and his mother, who accompanied him, were very polite and appreciative.

He stayed at Kanabea’s hospital for months and then was flown down to Kerema General Hospital for further treatment. Months later he returned to Kanabea and stayed at the hospital while receiving further TB medicines. It was during these times that we became friends. When bringing other patients over the mountain to Kanabea, we would check up on him, sometimes even bringing small things like a package of biscuits. He always was eager to chat with us, and his soul was always on our minds (he later told us that our visits were the only ones he received, and that his mother would weep each time after we left, rejoicing that someone cared for Benjamin).

One day he asked for Pastor James to come pray with him. When Pastor James returned from his visit, he told us about our new brother in Christ, Benjamin Luke!

When the day came for us to move him back to his bush hut, John loaded him back into the Kawasaki Mule again. This time they stopped at our home and we gave him a Tok Pisin Bible because he could read. Between the Mule and his brother, he safely arrived back at his bush hut with a new life and a new Bible.

Soon after this, the family started requesting “band-aides” and medicine for sores. Upon inquiring, I learned Benjamin had some sores that started under the skin and had broken open. So, I sent the bandages and more Advil.

About the same time, we began a new church in Aminawa, the next village past Benjamin’s place. Each Sunday we would pass near Benjamin’s hut, so we began stopping by on our three-hour trip home after services. That gave us the opportunity to help him grow by re-preaching the messages from the services at Aminawa.

It was also at this time that Andrew Schellenberger and Rachel Muldoon started their one-year internship (which has turned into full-time missionary work for both of them, as well as a new life as a married couple). Andrew and my husband John worked together at the new church at Aminawa, and so Andrew too became a close friend of Benjamin. Nurse Rachel worked in the clinic, and both she and our other coworker Sarah Glover would make “hut calls” to check on him. Any visitors who came with us to Aminawa also got the benefit of visiting Benjamin. When John and I went on furlough for most of 2011, Andrew and Rachel continued visiting and caring for Benjamin (as well as the many other roles they covered for us).

The very first visit we made to Benjamin in the fall of 2010, however, was terrible. He was clearly had sepsis, with fever and infection throughout all his body. Along with the terrible smell, we saw his wounds; he had huge bed sores from laying on his hips and back. They were the largest and by far the worst I have ever seen. I asked the family to come to the clinic the next day, as I needed to consult US doctors by email as well as my textbooks on the correct treatment. I wept, as I was sure he was dying. Short of a miracle, I could see nothing that could really help.

As the weeks went by, Benjamin began to improve! Thanks to the instructions of US doctors and a wound care nurse, we taught his family how to do special daily dressing changes. We gave him medicines, and we even helped him by bringing high protein food to add to his diet. There was a lot of work involved, but God had something special planned for Benjamin.

Benjamin & his family with his “talking Bible”

As he recovered, his desire for the Word grew. He eagerly awaited the preaching, singing and prayer on Sundays. Realizing he always had people with him in his hut, we gave him a solar-powered audio device (a Proclaimer) that plays the Tok Pisin New Testament. Giving him the spoken Word was just what he and his family needed. Daily they would gather and listen. On one Sunday afternoon, right after arriving, his father met us at the hut. Benjamin’s father told us they had just listened to the Bible and proceeded to give us an outline of the book of First Corinthians. Truly, faith comes by hearing! They love to tell stories, and this audio device was doing just that. Pray that Benjamin’s mother and father will come to know the Savior soon.

When Andrew came to the US to get married to Rachel in October 2011, he brought two videos he made with Benjamin. The first video was Benjamin giving a testimony telling of how he came to know Christ, and how that he is almost well now (Rachel told us his wounds are almost totally healed) from the care given to him. He is thanking us, thanking and praising the Lord, smiling and rejoicing over what God has done for him. The second video was of him playing the guitar and singing songs of praise. And I did not even know he played guitar!

Recently I was looking at some pictures a visitor posted on Facebook of his visit to Papua New Guinea this past summer. One of them was of Benjamin, sitting upright and smiling. American visitors surrounded him, and his mom was sitting right beside him. He had gained weight, and pain looks to be something of the past…physical pain and spiritual pain. He looks to have gained weight spiritually too.

Thanks for praying for us and for the medical ministry. It does open door for the Gospel as this letter shows. What a joy to be a part of a new hope in Christ!

Tags: Bible recordings, medical, TB, Tok Pisin

Whose Child Is This?

Lena Allen — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:23:55 UT

Culture and customs vary among the different peoples of the world. As Americans, we fall in love and marry. We have children and hope to live happily ever after. But among the Kamea in Papua New Guinea, even the very definition of “family” can be different.

Adorned with a flower petal, one of our beautiful Kamea children!

In my regular rounds of going to market and attending to people’s health needs, I have become close to several ladies and their children. Luci and her youngest children, Atama and Pepita, are good examples. Atama is about 7 years old, outgoing, always ready to shake my hand. But Pepita, who is maybe 5 years old, is shy, wanting to be picked up and hugged while hiding her face in my shoulder. She will smile from a distance and walk quietly over to me, climb into my lap and cuddle against me. In my mind I can see them grown and married, caring for their own children.

While on furlough I heard the sad news that their father, Sovi, had been killed. He had been beaten and they buried him very quickly due his body’s condition. I could only imagine what would happen to his family now. Here among the Kamea and in much of Papua New Guinea, the children belong to their father. When the father dies, the children remain with the father’s family. This can become even more complicated if the father had not paid the “bride price” for the children’s mother. But for Atama and Pepita, they not only lost their father, but this month they lost their mother too. They were taken from their mother and now live with their father’s family. It was something that Luci was expecting, as this is their custom.

Their new family is in the next village, and I can see the girls often. Their father’s sister now cares for them. Sarah (Sovi’s sister) had two boys with her husband. But when he decided to move to town to find work, Sarah had an inappropriate relationship with her husband’s brother and word got back to her husband. He came and took the children to town with him. So her own two children don’t live with her, and the two that she has are not her own.

A broken arm healed well!

At Baptist Bible Translator’s Institute in Texas we were taught to consider the relationships and terms given to each member of the family. With our Kamea children, all of the mother’s sisters are called ‘mother.” All of the father’s brothers are called “fathers.” Conversely, mother’s brothers are “uncle” and father’s sisters are “auntie.” This should give a clue to the fact that if something happens to the child’s “real” father, he usually has another one that he calls “father” that will care for him.

How sorry I used to feel here for children or teens that told me they were “orphans”. Often visitors from America would ask about opening an orphanage. Over time, I learned that an orphan here is one whose father has died, like Atama and Pepita. However, in truth there are no real orphans here; there are usually family members who will take in a child. While considering this subject, it occurred to me that I know of few families nearby that have just the father, mother, and natural born children ONLY. Every family seems to be a “blended family,” taking care of extended family members along with their own children.

Happy face!

Consider the family of our national pastor, James Naudi. He has a son from his first wife (who died a few months after their son was born). He remarried, but they have had no children of their own; last year they adopted a baby girl. They just wanted a baby and a family gave them one. They also have his wife Kelisa’s young brother living with them as well as James’ brother’s daughter. Thus, they comprise a family of six.

I thought about the family of Margaret, our clinic worker. Her husband lives in town after taking another wife. Margaret has three boys plus another adopted boy. This boy’s parents both are alive, but they just gave him to Elijah and Margaret. Now Margaret looks after all four boys without her husband. Last year she decided it would be nice to have a little girl to train to help in the house, so she adopted one. Both of this little girl’s parents are still living, too.

Sometimes a mother dies in childbearing. Breaking with the old custom of deserting that child to die, now those babies have hope; our baby formula program has changed the outlook of the people. The infant can now be given to the grandmother or a sister of the husband. This new “mother” can come and get formula for the baby. This program has saved the lives of many babies.

Though we might find the Kamea different than Americans in their definition of family, we must continually return our thinking to what the Biblical standard says. What does the Bible say is right? Is the American way right, or the Kamea way? There are some absolutes such as one husband and one wife, but what about who raises those children? As Bible-believing Christians, we take our responsibility seriously and believe that each child is a gift from God. But what if you had 10 children already and could not raise enough food in your garden to feed them all? What if five of your children had already died? For me, I am finding it is enough to say that we are different.

Pray for us that we will have wisdom as we work to teach Biblical truths about the family while discerning what is simply different but not wrong. The most important thing for any of our Kamea children is that they come to know Christ at a young age. Pray that we can keep this most important task high in our priorities and prayer life.

Tags: Children, death, family, father, medical, mother

Don't Forget My People"

John Allen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:57:30 UT

On the west side of our Kamea people lives another people known as the Tewata or Tainae. Their numbers are much smaller than the Kamea, perhaps numbering only around 1,000. They live in a few villages in a very isolated area, without an airstrip, an aid post, or any development. We know them because they hike a full hard day to come to us for health care.

My wife has ministered to many Tewata peoples’ health needs. Most that we meet come from a village called Pangoni (Pan-go-nee).

Andrew is their spokesman and representative. He speaks some English and can write in Pidgin. Somewhere along the way he heard the Gospel and trusted Christ as his Savior, and has a good testimony of it. He never asks for anything; well, nothing, except for a missionary. He knew a missionary would bring some medical help to his people; but more than that, he wanted us to plant a church there so that the Gospel could be preached to his people and they could learn for themselves what God said in His Word. Andrew was responsible for some of his own people coming to Christ, but he wanted help.

On every visit to us, Andrew always had a warm handshake and time for a story. I enjoyed seeing him come. And our parting always ended like the same. “Brother John,” Andrew would say, holding my hand and looking into my eyes, “Don’t forget my people.”

“Don’t Forget My People”

It was the same when I last saw him before I came home on furlough. “Don’t forget my people. Tell your people in America that we need a missionary to come live with us, to learn our language and tell us about Jesus. Don’t forget my people.”

Yesterday I met with two new PNG missionaries, and we did talk of Andrew’s people. I also shared it with their pastor.

Two hours later I got word from my son Matt: Andrew was dead.

Andrew suffered with chronic breathing problems, as many of our people do. He had just received medicine a day before, and seemed to be all right. But in the night, he had a breathing attack. His last words to those with him were, “Take me, Jesus.”

John & Andrew from Pangoni

I write you this story to fulfill my promise to my friend Andrew. I won’t forget his people. Friends, they need a missionary among the isolated Tewata/Tainae people. They have no spokesman now. Open the attached picture of me and my friend Andrew. And then, will you pray “the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest” among the Tewata/Tainae people?

Will you consider going yourself?

Look at Andrew in the picture, and hear him say, “Don’t forget my people.”

Tags: Andrew, church planting, healthcare, need for missionaries

Construction of the Kunai Health Centre

Lena Allen — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:55:42 UT

From August through November 2010, we were involved in building a permanent structure for the Kunai Health Centre. Since mid-2008 Lena had been using a small hut made from bush materials. It had a dirt floor, a bamboo-leaf roof, and open sides. Patients sat on two benches on either side of the clinic, sliding down as their turns came to be seen.

Dedication day of the new clinic

Another difficulty with the old bush clinic was it had no place to store the supplies. Daily the clinic staff (Lena, Rachel, and Margaret) had to carry everything out to the hut and back. Since there wasn’t much place for stock, during the day they made multiple trips back and forth to our house (the storage area) to resupply. It made for a long day and there was always someone sitting on our veranda…because they would follow Lena to the house, and decide they’d rather sit on the veranda than go back to the clinic.

Calm before the storm…the new clinic opens in 2 hours

With the new clinic completed, we now have a large area for seeing patients outside (almost 14 feet by 38 feet) on the clinic veranda. There are nice benches to sit on, and plenty of room to work with whatever situation arises. Inside, the clinic has three rooms: a secure pharmacy and stock room, an exam/teaching room with privacy for our prenatal clinic, and the office area which also houses our small solar-powered lab.

The building is built up on posts (as much for leveling it as to get it off the ground). We used sawmill-cut lumber and natural timbers for the framework, with a metal roof and siding for durability and ease of maintenance. Our home church, Landmark Independent Baptist in Louisville, KY, sent a team to finish it out with shelving for the pharmacy, benches for the patient area, cement pads for the steps, and plumbing from our rain tank to the sink inside and the flush commode outside.

A finishing touch on the wall, visible on the veranda, is a painting of “The Two Ways.” It is a representation, complete with Bible verses in Pidgin English, of the “narrow way and the broad way.” Literally thousands of people have come and looked at it, and we are able to use it as a witnessing tool. Pidgin literate people, lost or saved, will come and read it aloud, often translating it into Kamea for those who can only look at the picture. It is just another tool to share the Gospel with our beloved Kamea people!

We are grateful to the Lord for His provision of this special building to serve Him better in our medical outreach ministry.

Tags: aid post, building, clinic, construction, health, medicine, nurse

Clinic Ministry Photos from 2010

John Allen — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:06:06 UT

2010 was a big year for the Medical Outreach Ministry of Kunai Health Centre. We were blessed to have Rachel Muldoon, a registered nurse from Wyoming, join us full-time in the clinic starting in May. Margaret Manateo, our dear Kamea sister who has been training to serve in the medical ministry, graduated from her training in November. Our new clinic building was also completed in November, enabling the ministry to expand even more.

Kunai Health Centre became a TB treatment center. With our new building, we are able to set up a lab to aid in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

We had a medical team visit in January from Temple Baptist in Herndon, VA; we also had nurses and nursing students from Pensacola Christian College visit in May and June; and then we were blessed later in the year with Daniela Stemer, a nurse from Austria.

2010 was a banner year for our Medical Outreach Ministry!

There were babies delivered, medicines administered, emergencies treated, patients transported and also some medevaced via the mission plane that Matt flies. We saw over 9,300 patients during the year!

Each of these these combined to make it a great year for the Kunai Health Centre. Yet the greatest part of all is that the hearts of Kamea people were opened to understand something of the love of God. Through this ministry, people have come from all over the region, and though they all received treatment for their physical needs, many also received help with their spiritual needs.

In November 2010, a Kamea man named Elijah testified to a group gathered for a drama: “I was short-winded for three years, as if hung by a rope. The missionaries helped me with medicine, and now I am all right. They also preached the Word to me, and now my hope is in Jesus.” And he sang in his own words, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

That’s what our medical ministry is about: Helping people physically so that they can receive help spiritually!

Tags: aid post, clinic, emergency, Kunai Health Centre, medevac, medical, medicine, ministry, nurse, TB

Landing Feet First

Lena Allen — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:00:04 UT

Little did I realize that my first baby delivery would be in the rain!

How we thank the Lord for sending rain! It had been weeks and weeks of little or no rain, sometimes washing in the waterfall and re-using laundry water. Little did I realize that my first baby delivery would be in the rain!

Often we get requests for transport to the “hospital” over the mountain from us because no one wants to hike two more hours when they are sick. Simon came on Friday afternoon asking for transport because his wife was having a “stomach ache.” I was so thankful that Margaret and Bonita were still here and able to translate for us. Pregnancy and all that is related to it are taboo for discussion openly. Margaret asked the sensitive questions because she knew Simon’s wife Nelisa was pregnant. Oh yes, he said, she is having the same pain as when she delivered her other two children.

Nelisa and baby are doing well!

Because Simon had been in the market a couple hours ago, and did not seem to be in a hurry now, Rachel and I chose to go slowly. Okay, really, it was me that decided to go slowly. Often by the time I get there, the babies are already born and I was hoping this would be the case. However, the Lord had something else totally unexpected waiting for us!

The “puppy truck” (our tiny Daihatsu ambulance/pickup) had a tire going flat, so we decided to walk; after all, ladies here have babies all the time. The Kawasaki Mule was over the mountain at the airstrip already waiting on Matt to return on an incoming flight. When Rachel and I arrived at Simon’s hut, Nelisa was on her hands and knees outside in extreme pain. Simon was by her side, as was her mother, both looking to us expectantly. After three contractions only 20 seconds apart, I told Rachel that something is very wrong. I asked her to go back and have John bring the truck anyway. I was sending desperate prayers up to the Lord already.

Rachel and John came despite the fact the tire could deflate at any moment. But first… they had to rebuild a bridge! Yes, some of the boards had broken off and needed to be replaced before they could drive over it. Later, we all laughed about the “ambulance” coming—but only after the “crew” rebuilt the bridge.

While Rachel was gone, I decided I really needed to do an exam. I asked to move Nelisa into the bush hut, since she was outside in the grass and it was raining lightly. They agreed, but we could not move her. The contractions were too intense and too close together. So I checked right there in her yard, in the mud, and in the drizzling rain. Sure enough, two little feet were making an entrance! More desperate prayers! That was when Simon, the father, decided to tell me that both of Nelisa’s previous babies had died, one before birth and one during birth. Even more desperate prayers!

Finally the umbilicus was visible; then I noticed the cord wrapped around the arm, over the shoulder and around the neck. I tried to unwrap it all, knowing precious time was ticking away, and while holding his hips I turned him like the books say to do. It was so tricky since everything was upside down. Mom was on her hands and knees with her belly facing downward; the baby was feet first and his face was downward too. For the medical people, that is a footling breech, sunny-side up… man, what a mess. I even had to do a finger sweep to get one arm down too. More desperate prayers… and he was born! He was born in the mud, rain and in the yard! Unfortunately, he was not breathing!

I grabbed the suction and worked it and worked it. I turned his wet and muddy little body over with his head down and rubbed his back and then his chest, roughing him up and still desperately praying. Oh—a little peep!!!! That was the happiest moment! He was alive! After more work, he finally cried and I passed him off to the grandmother. Now, it was Nelisa’s turn for treatment.

She was doing well, considering what she had just been through. I imagine she was just so thankful to have this ordeal close to done with, and had a son to boot! I heard the Kawasaki Mule coming down the mountain, so I went up the hill from her house to flag down Andrew, our missionary intern from GoForth Baptist Missions. At the same time, the truck arrived from the opposite direction. Help had finally arrived, and plenty of it. We carried Nelisa up the hill on a plastic tarp, and grandma carried the baby. Rachel and I finished the afternoon by taking her to the hospital for a few nights so they could observe mother and baby.

Much, much praise to the Father of Life, Who showed Himself mighty today! Not only did He orchestrate this first delivery of mine, but spared two lives. Praise to Him, He gets all the glory!

Now, please pray for Simon, Nelisa, the baby boy, and the grandma, Kasiapia. Pray that the Lord will orchestrate their spiritual births. Pray that this little man will grown up in a Christian home with parents that love the Lord, knowing how He spared their son, but not His own. May God call this little man (who was born feet-first) to preach, that he could be proof for the verse, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel.”

Tags: baby, healthcare, life-saving, maternity, medical, midwife, transport

A Fateful Friday

Rachel Muldoon — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 08:58:50 UT

It was 3 o’clock Saturday morning and I was praying, “Please help me fall asleep”. Friday’s events hung over me like a dark cloud. I couldn’t get the images or smells out of my mind. Fear, adrenaline, and bewilderment had been stirred up in my heart and were now keeping my eyelids and soul from resting. The scene played before me once again. I was sitting down to breakfast Friday morning thinking about the Religious Instruction lesson I was to give at the school in 45 minutes. I heard the Kawasaki Mule start and saw it drive by with two passengers. The guys did plan to leave that morning to do a survey of a village for a church plant, but it was earlier than the original time planned for. “Maybe they decided to leave early”, Sarah said. I accepted that explanation, not even giving another thought that something could be terribly wrong. 7:40-time to leave for RI. Got my bag of goodies, locked the house, and started down the walkway with Sarah. At that moment a man ran up yelling, “I’m looking for Rachel!”

“I’m Rachel. Are you sick? What do you need?”

“I need a hand glove!” came his anxious reply.

I was confused. ”Is someone hurt or bleeding?”

“Yes, someone has a cut and I need a hand glove”. By his motions I got the impression that someone cut their leg and needed some gauze and medical gloves. They are particular about blood.

“Ok, I’ll grab some band-aids and gloves” I walked back inside, grabbed a pair of medical gloves, gauze, and band-aids and handed them to the man.

“Do you have more gloves?”

“Why? Who needs them? Can they come here to the house so I can look at them?”

“Matt sent me!” completely flustered he shouted. “The lady…. her arm is cut off……Matt is bringing her here!”

Forget the band-aids!! I ran inside and grabbed several more pairs of gloves. What else do I need? No time…. the Mule had pulled up into the yard and I ran out to assess the patient. Benita, one of our clinic workers, was in the back holding an older lady, Maria. Benita was holding a blanket over her body. Matt’s calm yet urgent voice broke through the shock, “Rachel, can you triage her? I need to make a phone call to get her a flight out of the bush.” I snapped into gear again and pulled the blanket back to get a look. The arm was cut off just below the elbow. Her clothes were blood-soaked and she had a tourniquet around the arm. Sarah and I ran inside again and grabbed some supplies. I made sure the tourniquet was tight and wrapped a towel around the stump. The bleeding had slowed. I reminded Benita over and over again, “You need to hold the arm tight to stop the bleeding. I know it’s going to hurt but it will save her life!” The Mule pulled away leaving a hushed crowd to solemn prayers.

The cruel effects of a culture preoccupied with their traditional beliefs of evil spirits and no Biblical background

Maria got a flight out and she is still alive, making a slow but steady recovery. Her son, Peter, believed that his mother had done witchcraft on his child making the child very ill. That Friday morning the child had died and Peter took revenge. The cruel effects of a culture preoccupied with their traditional beliefs of evil spirits and no Biblical background.

Saturday morning I fell asleep to this thought, “I am suffering with these people”. Those involved with the event were people I knew, treated, and prayed for. I am beginning to understand their need… a need only Christ can fill.

Tags: flight evacuations, healthcare, life-saving, medical, medical emergency, transport

How Can A Man Be Born When He Is Old?

John Allen — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:55:10 UT

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? (John 3:4)

Manus Hapuyo

It was a busy morning. Two construction projects were starting at the same time, side by side. These sort of things always draw a crowd to watch, and today was no exception.

Manus Hapuyo, one of our landowners, had decided today that he was going to sit in the bush hut clinic, and regardless of the mission rules, he was going to chew betelnut and smoke his home-rolled cigarette while he watched the construction. So he sat on the bench in the clinic, took his cigarette from behind his ear and put it on the bench. Suddenly, his vision went black, and he fell to the ground!

I need to get right with God NOW!

One of our men, Gideon, was nearby, and he rushed to get some water for Manus to drink. When he returned, Manus said, “I’m fine now. God must have done that to get my attention. I need to get right with God NOW!”

First, he headed home quickly to get rid of his betelnut and his smokes. He told his son, Konos, what had happened.

Konos had witnessed to his father many times, and many of those times Manus refused to listen. “You’re just a child (Konos is 20). I watched you be born and grow up. Don’t tell me about such things. I don’t want to hear it.”

This time was different. As Manus told of being blinded, Konos told his father about the Apostle Paul. Paul had been blinded on the road to Damascus; before that, Paul had refused to hear God’s Word. Manus immediately made the connection. “I believe God did that to me to get my attention. Many times you have tried to tell me the “good news,” but I have not listened. Many of your church people and the missionaries have told me about Jesus Christ, but I wouldn’t hear it. Many, many times, you all have invited me to visit your church services, but I refused to go. I ran away to my jungle garden instead. But in my heart, I have been convicted that what you say is true. God’s Word has shot my liver [a local expression for deep conviction of sin].”

Konos took his father to see Pastor James Naudi, who had already been told of what had happened to Manus. After showing him how he could know the free pardon from sin through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, Manus Hapuyo, the oldest of our landowners at Kunai, became a new babe in Christ!

Are you weary in praying for the conversion of a loved one? Manus has been at the top of the prayer lists of most of our people for several years. We see him daily, love him, and witness to him as the door is open. Behind the scenes, God has been working in his heart…and today, August 30, 2010, we heard with our own ears of the work God has been doing to bring Manus to himself. Friend, “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”! (Galatians 6:9)

What is That in Thine Hand?

John Allen — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:45:16 UT

If only we would allow God to touch what we have at hand and direct us as how to use it!

“…if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 4:11)

WHAT IS THAT IN THINE HAND?

David had a sling; Moses had a rod; Shamgar had an ox goad; and Elisha had Elijah’s cloak. Each had something naturally, but they allowed God to use it in a supernatural way. Whatever our talents or gifts, naturally speaking, if only we would allow God to touch them and direct us as how to use them!

A full clinic listens to Bible story recordings as Ashlee Otto holds the pictures for them to view.

CAN YOU PLAY A TAPE?

Lena has been using recordings of Scripture and Bible stories while she is working in the clinic, and the people listen intently. At present we use Pidgin, but most of the time there is someone who will translate for those who do not understand. As recording devices are a novelty here, I think some listen out of curiosity to begin with; then the message of God’s eternal Word grips their souls! If we have visitors from the States or believers present, Lena is able to give them picture books to use to illustrate the stories…an even bigger draw!

CAN YOU DRAW A PICTURE?

Since the end of 2009, Lena has used pictures that she has drawn in a story-telling time for children twice a week in our village market . It has helped improve her Pidgin language speaking, and just recently she did her first story in the Kamea language! Her helper, Margaret, helped her to translate the story. She rehearsed it again and again before sharing it with the children (and the adults who always drop in to listen).

Praise the Lord for these opportunities to serve Him by sowing the Word into the hearts of our Kamea people. Would you pray with us that this door of opportunity would stay open, and that Lena’s language ability would continue to improve?

CAN YOU HIKE?

In July and August 2010 our national men have made two more mission outreaches to distant areas. One of these was to Weiyu, and the other was to Weaqaqa—which was the first outreach by our people to another language group (the Menya people)! They have now gone to a foreign language group!

CAN YOU ENCOURAGE?

We’ve had visitors this year from Temple Baptist in Herndon, VA (Washington, DC area)…from Pensacola Christian College…and from Texas, Florida, Michigan, and Indiana. We’ve had help with construction, medical ministry, outreach, and new contacts. Recently we were surprised by a visit from our youngest son, Nate, and his wife, Amber. Each visitor has been a blessing; what we hope is that we have been a blessing to them. Our desire as a team is that our visitors see missions as the heartbeat of God. May we all, at home or abroad, encourage one another to strive together for the furtherance of the Gospel!

Tags: Bible stories, clinic, Kamea, medical, Menya, outreach, Pidgin, recordings