Burundi 2007 Field Reports

Team Name Team Members: Medical Buja Avril A. Avrille G. Carleigh G. Carmen C. Chloe W. Christine D. David G. Denise C. Diana C. Doris A. Elisa B. Elizabeth S. Eloise M. Esperanza G. Esther M. Eunmi H. Flor E. Frances K. Gertrudes K. Gloria P. Iluonose A. Ira S. Joseph D. Joseph P. Joyce P. Juby J. Junie P. Kewala B. Leonila M. Lisa M. Louise D. Louise W. Lovejoy A. Juanita H. Maria G. Martha C. Mary Joy A. Mary M.Mirza M. Olayinka B. Onelia H. Patricia J. Pui-ching M. Rochelle Y. Ruth H. Sandy H. Shirley R. Steve T. Suet Sing C. Theresa S. Wendy J. Yolanda B. What Can We Do? 10-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja An eighteen year old boy with a growth on the side of his face the size of a grapefruit came to be seen by the doctors in the medical clinic yesterday. He was examined by the doctors and was told that the growth would have to be removed because eventually as it grew bigger it would close his wind pipe and he could suffocate. The procedure, however, could not be performed at the clinic and he would have to be taken to a hospital. At first the boy had been taken to one of the dentists because they thought it was an abscess, but it was not. The dentist noticed that he had a blank look in his eyes and never smiled. She was moved with compassion for the boy as she imagined how hard it must be for him. She did not know how she could help him so she called over the leader of the outreach teams exclaiming, “What can we do?” They prayed with the boy and the outreach teams leader led him to the Lord. The dentist remembered the parable of the persistent widow and continued to intercede for the boy who was taken to the hospital to be treated. For the first time the dentist heard the boy laughing! Praise God! New Life 10-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja A young woman came to the medical clinic today to see an obstetrician. She was pregnant. When they examined her they saw that she had ruptured the membrane and soon after the baby was crowning. A medical team nurse practitioner came in and delivered a healthy baby. One of the pediatricians in the medical team, who happened to be in the adult compound on an errand, came by to examine the baby and found no health issues. The mother was so thankful and the medical team was incredibly blessed. God is bringing forth new life! HIV Cases 10-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja As part of the intake processing for the clinic, the medical team has been conducting malaria and HIV tests. Thankfully there have not been many cases with HIV but the Lord has provided a government nurse who is helping with coordinating follow-up treatment for the patients diagnosed with HIV. The God of the Mundane 10-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja One of the pediatricians in the medical team was reluctant to share because she had always believed that a testimony was when you prayed and the blind would see, or when you preached and hundreds got saved. But since she has arrived in Burundi and worked at the medical clinics, God has been showing her that He is not only the God of the miraculous, he is also the God of the mundane. He can touch people in everyday life. So rather than focus on trying to see as many patients per day as she could, she realized she needed to have God’s heart for the people to see them not just as patients in need but as His children that He loves. A mother with twins and a third child was brought in to be seen by her. She noticed immediately that they were far dirtier than anyone she had seen before. When she thought this she was instantly convicted and prayed: “Father, I am so sorry! These are people whom you love.” One of the children had something wrong with an arm that she could not do anything about so she told the mother that she would pray and believe God for healing. The mother turned to her and said, “Pray for me also! I want to be saved!” The pediatrician was taken aback. This was the last thing she expected the mother to say. She prayed with her and led her in the sinner’s prayer. As she hugged the woman rejoicing with her, she remembered her earlier assessment and praised God for His faithfulness! The next day a severely malnourished child was brought in to see her. The child was very, very sick so she told the mother that the baby would have to be taken to a hospital immediately. The mother, who had walked in with an angry countenance, said no. The pediatrician explained that we would provide a vehicle and a person to take her and the child to the hospital but the mother kept saying no. Finally, frustrated with the mother, she told her: “If anything happens to this child, it will be on you.” As soon as she said it, she was convicted by the Holy Spirit because she did not say it in love. She asked the mother what was really wrong. The mother explained that she was 17 and had lost both her parents and now had to take care of her child and siblings and other extended family and if she went to the hospital they would have no one to care for them. The pediatrician was blessed once again by the faithfulness of God in showing her His heart for this woman. The pediatrician prayed with the woman and her friend and they both accepted the Lord. I Now Know What Christ Meant 08-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja One of the members of the Nigerian medical team that is working with us in the medical clinic shared a very personal testimony today. The doctor is one of the surgeons carrying out the VVF (Vaginal Vascular Fistula) surgeries. He remarked that these surgeries are difficult for many reasons. Many doctors do not want to perform them because generally the women are very poor and cannot pay, and they have a marginal success rate. But his testimony was about what the Lord was showing him about his heart. As he has witnessed the interaction among the Times Square Church team members, who represent multiple races and cultures, and how they love one another, he realized that he has never known that type of love. That he has never truly understood the love of God the way he has seen it in action among the team members. He now knows what Christ meant when he said to love your neighbor as He has loved us. Lord Please Help Me 06-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja One of the dentists in the medical team was treating a pastor when suddenly he developed a case of lockjaw. The dentist, knowing how serious this was, cried to her assistant to get one of the other doctors who would be stronger than her to attempt to correct his jaw. If not, the patient would have to be rushed to the emergency room and might even need surgery to restore the jaw to its proper position. As she is thinking of the various ways she could fix it, she suddenly realized, “why am I relying on my medical skills? I am going to pray!” She said a quick and simple prayer: “Lord, please help me!” and “click” immediately the jaw fell into place without much effort at all! VVF Surgeries Get Underway 06-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja The first of what is hoped to be dozens of VVF surgeries got underway today. A team went to the hospital to minister to the women who will undergo the procedure. They prayed for the first patient right before the operation. The team then spent time with other women who were waiting. It was a wonderful time of ministry as they sang and prayed together. What was most moving was the prayers of the women suffering, they truly stormed the gates of heaven. The Eyes are the Windows of the Soul 06-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja A medical team member ministered to a man who at first appeared to be sick but when she looked into his eyes, she discerned that the man was probably demon possessed. She prayed and began to speak with authority a Word of knowledge that the Holy Spirit gave her. An interpreter who was with her and is a pastor’s son joined her praying in Kirundi. They believe that the demon was cast out of the man. This Baby is Fine 05-Jul-2007 Team: Medical - Buja At the medical outreach in Bujumbura, a mother brought in her three-week old baby to be seen by the doctors. The baby was diagnosed with an abscess and was breathing with so much difficulty that the doctors recommended that he be rushed to the hospital at once. An IV was placed on him and some team members stopped to pray before the baby and the mother were ushered into a waiting vehicle and they prayed as they drove him to the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital the baby was examined by doctors who declared “This baby is fine. He is breathing well, eating and crying at the top of his lungs without trouble. There is nothing wrong with this baby.” The joy experienced by the team members at the medical outreach led one of them to exclaim at dinner, “If we’re here for just that one baby, it would be worth it!”

.............................................................................................................................