Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Meeting THEIR physical needs

We arrived home, in the village, 5 weeks ago.  It is always nice to be home and sleeping in our own beds but being home has added stresses too.

Since June I have had to take on the medical issues that come up in the village.  In the beginning it was just minor things, colds, rashes and fevers.  This I can handle, even if I don’t know the causes of the rashes, I can help by giving some direction to the cause, and some medicine to help the itch go away for a time.

Just 2 days after our return in August, we had our first major medical event.  We were able to call in the helicopter and get Analyn to town.  For the full story READ here.  At the same time another young lady in the village became jaundice.  We recommended she go to town to see what was wrong but she returned with no real diagnosis, just some medicine for her liver. 

Just 10 days later, on a rainy Friday night, we were told that one of the oldest ladies in the village became ill with diahrea.  She is not well anyway and this just made her condition worse.  With the help of our American friend doctor in Manila, Skype and the Lord directing us, we were able to help her.  She is now able to get up and about.  Praise the Lord! 

Gibanay Balicnog, Paquito's mother

Right after that my language helper became ill.  She was having trouble with keeping anything down.  After sending her to town to get an IV and some texts, it was found out that she is pregnant!  This trip involved our buyer and Christina driving 2 hrs to pick her up and then another 2 hrs to get her to a good hospital.  Another young man was shot with an airgun in the hip area.  He had to be taken to town.  Thankfully we were able to arrange a ride for him from the end of the trail to town.  (Our pilot was in Manila, so we couldn’t fly him out.)

There have been fevers, sore ears, headaches, toothaches and runny noses going around.  And a flood of people thinking they have UTI’s.

100_2245

I am not a nurse or a doctor.  I am just a mom, with many medical books and friends to ask questions to.  But most of all, I have the Lord to ask for strength and wisdom as I talk to each person that comes my way.

Meeting the physical needs of the people here is just one way we can build relationships with the Ga’dang people.  Lord willing this will help to build relationships with them so we can someday share the Gospel with them.

Please pray for me, Shannon, as I look for answers to the questions the people ask me about their illnesses.

We are looking to start a fund that would help to cover the costs of medical flights for the people plus help with some of their medical costs if they need tests, procedures or have to stay in the hospitals.  If you are interested in contributing to this fund, please contact NTMC at www.ntm.org/canada  Please specify that it’s for the Medical Fund for the Ga’dang people in the Philippines.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5,6