A quick update here...
Life is busy but rewarding. The clinic is running well and there is a huge variety of problems coming in. Everything from cancer to high blood pressure problems to guy who got their face smashed in by someone who threw a big rock in his face. We can work with mangled faces, with high blood pressure etc but cancer is something we refer them out to another Hospital. We got our official stamp now so we can write up official referrals. J Locals here love official looking stamps!
Our day starts at about 8:30. The gate opens and the people flood in and start filling up the benches. Then Ozias has a brief talk with the people. He says something like... “ Welcome to everyone to the Confidence in God Health Center. God has answered our prayers of the past and He has provided this for this area. Some of you are here for the first time and we will do what we can for you. We are starting off small but we hope to grow larger. We need many things in this area, ultrasound, x ray, etc. And we will grow into that as God opens the way. We hope to have a BIG hospital here someday. We ask you all to help us pray for this.” And then he opens with a prayer for guidance and help for the day. I cringe abit when he talks about the big hospital and the x ray machines etc, but hey.... I appreciate his faith and who knows what God can/will do yet!
We are seeing anywheres between 30-60 patients a day. We are trying to educate these people about hydration and nutrition and how that medicines are not always the answer for everything. The hi-light of the last few weeks was that two nurses from Kansas spent most of a week with us. They were Todd Schmidt and Shannon Unruh. They gave a much needed hand during a busy week. People here often think that IV injections are the ultimate and that they will surely fix all. We have a couple cots now but are still not really set up with IV poles etc for these situations. Yesterday we took a lady down the mountain who was very sick, she was elderly, has heart problems etc. I thought she would die on the way but she made it.
We are needing water, and electricity at the clinic yet, and there is a shelter still needed to be built for the patients to sit under while they wait for their visit, So if anyone wants to come work for a week or two.... give me a call and we’ll see what we can work out. Nothing goes fast here and supplies are hard to get, but we work and advance at a pace that we can handle. We and the Oriani locals thank all of you who have played a part in this so far, with work, with cash. Even just knowing that we have friends who are supporting us in thought and prayer helps more than you can imagine!
Our vehicle made it out of customs ok and we are driving it now. YAY!!! Its a 2000 model Ford but we think it will do the job for awhile.
Personally... we are doing well. Our kids have been out of school for about a month now. We are looking and asking for a teacher, and trust that something will work out soon. The boys are into horse riding now and have bought Anthonys old horses. The weather is warming up slightly and all is good. Rainy season hasn’t started yet, so we are enjoying dry days where the wash drys in a few hours. I know the locals need rain bad and our cistern is getting low... but I don’t look forward to the slime and mud! Clinton Holdemans from Iowa are coming to this town as missionarys, so that will be good. That is much needed for this area too. The new church here has alot of new believers and members, and there are another 22 ready to start Bible doctrine classes.
Keep praying for us and for the work here. Sometimes we feel emotionally and physically exhausted. But its all good! J We love it.
Keith and Candace Toews and family
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