His goodness just keeps on coming!

Buna Ziwa!

The final days of medical clinics were soon upon us and Monday was a slow start. We arrived at the building to discover carnage from a recent wedding! There was stuff everywhere so we were told to return in an hour and the building would be fit for use. True to their word we found it clean and ready for action one hour later.

I was on photographs for the day. It was a quieter clinic but it was heartwarming to see people's response to receiving their photo. We take a picture when they come in and then print it during their time waiting for the doctor. We write Isus Te Iubeste on the back which means Jesus loves you. Then we place it in a plastic slip to protect it. This is the only picture that many of them will ever have.

On Tuesday we were back to a busy clinic with lots of activity. It was the final medical clinic and it was based in a kindergarden. There were lots of children around which is bittersweet as they are fun to spend time with but many of them are unwell. One family in particular came in with 5 children all malnourished with stunted growth. It was heartbreaking to realise that one meal a day may have prevented their suffering.

Prescribing medication while Emily examines

Natalie scribing

And then the medical clinics were finished. They went by so quickly. In total we treated 1276 patients from newborns to those in their eighties. Many of them have never heard the Gospel and it was so encouraging to her that lives were committed to Christ over the course of the ten days. The long term workers will connect with these individuals and introduce them to members of local churches. Although it was treating physical health that brought these people to see us many of them had the opportunity to consider their spiritual standing before a holy God. To see and to understand that their spiritual well being far outweighs the importance any condition or disease. It was a privilege to be a part of the team.

Full team photo

On Tuesday evening we had team debriefing. The fact that over twenty Americans were there it involved a lot of discussing our feelings and how we felt or coped with particular situations. We laughed and cried together as we re-lived many of the memories. We praised God for the blessings and we challenged ourselves with what we would take away. We prayed and shared communion together. It really was a special time to focus on our purpose for being there, to glorify God and spread His Gospel.