Benin Short-Term Missions Trip June 2019

  Benin Newsletter June 2019 by Stephanie Williams on Scribd

Benin Update

  Benin Newsletter 8-25-18 by Stephanie Williams on Scribd

Missions Trip to Benin -- Aug 2018

 

  Benin Newsletter 8-3-18 by Stephanie Williams on Scribd

Short-Term Missions 2016

Amy Brewer from Texas

This year God has blessed us with some amazing short-term visitors. As I look back, I see such extraordinary people that God called to work alongside us.

In February, a loving nurse named Amy joined us. She is American and came for three months. She served faithfully in the clinic, helping with the day to day running of the clinic. Her help and impact on the patients cannot be understated. She was a blessing and I’m thankful she was able to come.

Gerrit and Herma from the Netherlands

In April, a couple named Gerrit and Herma came out do a vision tour of the work at the clinic and at Maforga as a whole. They run a wonderful ministry called Follow Ministries which serves to equip and encourage medical charity ministries such as ours. We had an amazing time getting to know each other and planned how and when they would return with a larger missions team later in the year.

Marilize Jordaan from S. Africa

In July, a sweet friend named Marilize joined us for several weeks. She was hoping to help with the clinic but by that time we had already temporarily closed. So instead we spent our time preparing the clinic for re-opening, chasing down paperwork, cleaning, organizing, and learning the guitar. She was a joy to have and came at such an important time for us, encouraging us in the work. I cannot wait to have her back!

In August, my nephew from the States came for several weeks. His name is Luis and is studying to be a physical therapist. Originally he hoped to help out with the clinic but again things were stalled in the re-opening of the clinic. So instead he became my personal assistant making even the smallest of tasks easier. I loved having him here and hope he can return.

Luis Hafen-Lopez from Texas

In September, a construction crew of two joined us for several weeks. Rudy and Dave are from Calvary Chapel Johannesburg. They brought us so many blessings, but the biggest blessings were the repairs they did on the clinic. They helped solve our leaky roof issues and exercised the electrical demons in the clinic. The most amazing of course what the fact they were able to give us running water at the clinic for the first time in a year and a half. What a blessing they were!

Dave and Rudy from South Africa

In October, a Dutch construction team came through and did a whirlwind of building and fixing, teaching and loving! These eleven men and women had such a beautiful impact on us. It was so hard putting them back on the plane. I seriously wanted them all to stay. I look forward to when they can return!

Look for a blog post about them in the near future.

Update: Eye, Preterm

Preterm: 
So Amour came in yesterday with her preterm baby boy for a check-up. Both seemed well at first but then I realized she was showing signs of malaria; it may have caused her preterm labor.

But he was doing well and had actually gained a tiny bit of weight.

The best part was her milk was very well established, and she was no longer complaining "I have no milk."

I was so sick of hearing her say it after the birth that I warned her sternly that if I heard it again I'd charge her 5 pounds each time. She laughed but never said it again.

And during the check-up she told me that she believed me now; she has lots of milk. And she was right it was leaking profusely from her breasts! 

Thank you so much for praying for them. She promises to come back for visits; and I promise to let you know how things go with them.

Eye Team:
The eye surgery team was able to complete 172 cataract surgeries in the 5 days they were here. Some patients even got both eyes done.

On the last day a 31-year-old woman got both eyes corrected. She had not been able to see for several years, meaning she had never seen her youngest child!

Thank you so much for praying for this team. It was a great success, and many heard the gospel; many prayed and sang to God in worship. It was a wonderful time to see this community served and loved in Jesus' name.

Singing and Dancing!

 

The eye team kept telling me how excited the patients get when their bandages are removed; “Often they jump for joy and cry out in delight,” one team member said.

This I had to see.

So when I noticed we were uncommonly slow at the clinic today (due to the rain!), I took this opportunity to join in with the fun. 

When I got there, the patients were all lined up on a bench; half had already had their dressings removed, and the air was charged with joy and disbelief.

Clapping in surprise and elation, unstable hands shot in the air in praise!



Then the songs came...
One patient after another --the excitement too great to suppress anymore-- stood to sing a song of thanksgiving and joy!

They sang of God’s goodness and blessed those that came to help. They raised their hands in worship... for they could see! They could see!

Every outburst of song made us smile and laugh with them. The jubilation was contagious.

Oh, to be in the dark for so long.... Oh, to be blind and now to see!

One man was so happy he started dancing; and in true Dinka fashion ran back and forth before his friends while they clapped and sang!

It was a celebration! A celebration of sight!

Try as I might, I couldn’t contain my tears. They flowed so easily that I was briefly grateful for the rain.

I wish I could describe their faces as they looked around for the first time. I wish you could see the rapturous surprise as their world took on form!

It was moving. Very moving.

Snapping off pictures left and right, I tried to capture these moments for all to see. But I failed.

These photos only show the faces; they don’t let you hear their songs --songs that warbled with aged voices and wrinkled lips.

These happy songs still echo in my ears, bringing an instant smile to my face. And when I think of the man in white who danced for all to see, I can’t help but laugh softly to myself.

Thank You Jesus for You promised: “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46

May their sight be spiritual as much and physical!

Funny Cultural Side note:

The Spitter

One man was so grateful for his sight he spit on me!

Yes. He spit on me in joy!

As a thin mist of spittle spread across my face I was momentarily shocked in disgust. Then I remembered; here you spit on things and people as a blessing. Here spitting in someone’s face is actually good!

Those around me laughed when they saw me so defiled (achem.... I mean ‘blessed’), and I joined in.

Surprisingly I wasn’t horrified as I would have expected (as this was the first time someone has spit in my face). Rather I was honored.

Does that sound silly? It feels silly to write it down. But I was in fact blessed when he did it. When the crowd watching our interaction (all of them Dinka) saw my spit bath, their laughter brought one of the pastors. He asked me what happened.

-- “That man just spit on my face,” I said with a smile, unsure if I needed to wipe it off or not.
-- “Oh,” He laughed, “He bless you!”
-- “I know... I know...” I said deciding it was best to wipe it off discretely, “But in my culture we do not spit like this.” Then I laughed again shaking my head in disbelief.
-- He saw my confusion and explained, “Here. Spit is blessing. Here. Spit is happy.”
-- “Yes. He is very happy. Isn’t he?” I asked and then turned back to my blesser with an easy handshake not waiting for a response.

They all were very happy. So was I.

I still am.

Cataracts ~

Patients waiting to have surgery.

Did you know that when a cataract is removed it is about the size of a flattened pea and is often milky-white or yellowish in color?

Were you aware that only the most mature cataracts become liquified upon removal?

Can you believe it only takes about 15 minutes to do a cataract surgery --even in such remote areas as Sudan?

I didn’t. I didn’t know any of this.

In fact, before this week I had a hard time figuring out the difference between the retina and lens. Oh wait... are the the same thing?

Okay. So I’m no eye specialist. Let’s just make that clear right off! However, I’ve met two very talented doctors and a fabulous team of scrub nurses and highly trained technicians from Kenya this week, and I’m impressed.

They have already performed 75 or so surgeries in the last few days; and I’m told they are prepared to complete 150 in total. Or at least, that is how many lenses they have brought with them.

When it was announced that surgeries were being offered this week, people came from far and wide.

The first official day was Saturday. The eye team flew in from Nairobi and immediately got to work. After setting up and coordinating staff, they were still able to complete a dozen or so surgeries.    
              --Remarkable.

But by Monday morning the word was out. Would-be patients were starting to line up at 2 in the morning. They sent 50 people away that first day and at least 100 more this morning.

Every day it seems more and more hopefuls are coming to see if they might be considered.

They queue up, wooden canes in hand and wait. And as a new patient is ushered in to be anesthetized and preped the queue happily slides forward.

Hopeful. Eager. Scared. Excited.

One woman came in shaking --her hands trembled as much as her voice. I couldn’t tell if she was nervous or had a bit of Parkinsons. Once on the table though it became clear. She was frightened.

It took two staff to hold her in place and constant reassurances for her to endure the 15 minutes to sight. I wasn’t sure she’d make it, but she did.

And this morning when her bandage was removed, I imagined she shook again --but this time for joy!        

I wish I could have seen it.

Those who were there tell me it was a celebration --a celebration of new sight!

Please continue to pray for us this week. These are long days with unique tasks but we are excited for it all the same. Pray that everyone that comes would hear the gospel with joy and be saved.

Thank you for praying...  and thank you Tenwick Eye Team for coming!

The Eye Team

For months we have been preparing for a group of eye specialists from Kenya to come do cataract surgeries for this community.

We've registered patients for certain days trying to explain to them the importance of coming on the right time and.... the right day!

The response has been positive. Over a hundred and fifty have signed up for a chance to see again.

Please pray for us during this final week. Pray that we are able to coordinate well during this final stretch -- as the team arrives in a week!

Also pray for Emme a Ugandan pastor who has come to head up the evangelist outreach and re-train the Sudanese pastors in how to teach oral Bible techniques with Simply the Story.

It's going to be a very busy few weeks but prayerfully it will be a time where eyes are opened to the gospel like never before! And the blind will once again dance for joy as the light of His glory shines upon them!

Shift Change.

Tonight is the last night of some of our short term volunteers. Jessica and Daniel (who’ve been here two months) are heading home. The have blessed us so much with their faithful service. I’ll miss them.

Jessica’s a nurse and has taught me a lot at the clinic. What’s more is she has shown me an example of joyful service that I’ll not soon forget. I keep praying and asking her to come back. Everyone has. Plus I’m pretty sure at least 4 men here would marry her on the spot. I can’t blame them. She’s a keeper. That’s what makes saying goodbye so hard.

Daniel (my adoptive younger bro) fits into that same category for me. He has encouraged me so consistently and powerfully over these last two months, I’m not sure I’m ABLE to let him go. I see so many gifts in him... so many amazing gifts... that my heart is to keep him here. To let him go means to lose a powerful prayer warrior and talented teacher. I know God has other plans for him... but it’s hard not being selfish.

A couple from California, Paul and Elaine, also will be leaving. They are so fun at dinner time and they live to tell people about Jesus. I love that. They were a joy to have these last few weeks. Elaine helped from teaching the kids to counting meds in the pharmacy and Paul taught the pastors along with Sabet and Daniel.

With them go a few others on staff... but only for a month’s respite. Suzy and the kids, Caleb and Jane (who’s going for 6 months). They will all be missed.

As they leave, two guys from CA have come to dig a bore hole -- Chris and Eric. Soon, we’ll have a water hole in Malone. What a blessing! Also, our lab technician arrived. His name is George and he’s Kenyan. I can’t wait to be able to run tests. Yeah!

Welcome all! Goodbye dear friends.