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AUGUST 2000
The El Salvador Report
Thousands came and lined up for many hours in the hot sun along the major road. I was privileged to be part of our screening days. These three days are advertised throughout the country via radio, television and word of mouth. We connected with the Pastors in La Union and surrounding communities to try to reach those people the church is trying to help either in their congregation or their neighborhood. During screening days we would schedule the majority of appointments for eye surgery and Optical Clinic.
My job was to act as scribe for the Ophthalmologist who would determine if each individual's eyesight could be restored or improved by the surgery we were able to provide and then escort the patients to the next step. Many hundreds were screened out before reaching us. There were eye tests first, next would be the eye pressure test which often screened out those who suffered sight loss from glaucoma, then past the optometrist to determine if we might be able to help, and finally they would reach the Ophthalmologist. Even if given the okay by the Ophthalmologist they might be turned away if there were other issues that the health history revealed. All along the route there were stories of great hope along with incidents of poignant sadness.
On the first day we saw a young couple who had brought their blind baby boy of about 1 = years old. They had been given no help nor hope elsewhere and were hoping that a ship with Western medicine could provide a new source of assistance. The mother's face instantly expressed deep pain as we told them we too could not help. Our translator poured out her heart in prayer with the couple as we all sat agreeing in prayer and sharing in tears.
The same day however, we also met Amado and his mother. Some of you have had snippets of this story already. He is 20 years old and has suffered for almost 18 months with a small piece of metal in his right eye. He was injured while working at his job as an auto mechanic. In addition to the constant pain and watering, a cataract was also formed around the metal. We were so excited when Dr. Russ offered this young man hope.
When Amado came for surgery, I was able to pray with him beforehand. The following day he returned to have his eye patch removed and have a check up on how his eye was recovering. Because there was more damage than just a cataract, his sight is not perfect but the pain is gone. Through a friend we talked about his connection to God: Did he go to Church? Did he read his Bible? Did he know Jesus? He decided that day to rededicate his life to Jesus. He prayed as we prayed with him helping him as he reconnected to his Creator. I was able to see Amado twice more when he returned for check ups and then a last time to visit before the ship left port. I continue to pray that the Lord will draw Amado closer and lead him to people and places that will encourage him and help him grow in his faith.
I n addition to these brief times out of the office, I was also part of the Crew Evangelism Worship Team. We had a puppet and drama team, a worship dance team, and a sports evangelism team as well. Each Sunday our team joined with one or two of the others to either encourage a local congregation or share the gospel in a public presentation. Continuing to work as the Assistant to the CEO, Brett Curtis, absorbed most of my time. He's traveled to Guatemala and the States to make connections with governments and Youth With A Mission Base Leaders setting up our port calls for the coming year. We have been so encouraged by the connection with the First Lady's Office in Guatemala. They have received us with open arms, signed the protocol (the document permitting us to enter and work in the country and promising to provide many necessities essential to ship operations) and earnestly begun work to attain the necessary permissions and communications with all branches of their national and local government offices.
In addition to this, Brett has proffered assistance to the country of Honduras a second time and they are asking to meet with him. We had tried to set up an outreach to Honduras but were unable to last year. Please pray that they also receive us this time with openness and willingness to make it work.
At this time we are walking through a fairly major transition on board. Brett and his family are moving off the ship to the Texas office to begin working toward the acquisition of a larger ship for serving the Americas region. I will remain on board working for our Assistant CEO, Dr. Andrew Clark. Brett will retain some of his responsibilities including setting up and preparing for where the ship will serve, but Dr. Clark will take charge of all on board operations. It will change the face of my position somewhat and it is rather unclear at this point what the final product will look like. I'm sure that it will be an interesting time of growth for the ship as well as for me personally.
T hank you all for you prayers and your support so that I can be a part of the Kingdom Work in Central America!
A Hand for Faith
- a picture from outreach
I t was our first crew evangelical presentation in La Union for this year. We set up our sound system in Central Park in the market section of town. After a brief time of worship and praise to the Lord, there were several people from the crew who presented dramas showing how the Lord can heal brokenness in individuals and families. Dr. James had come dressed as a clown to connect with the children and show them loving attention with a twist of fun.
A Pastor from Canada and his wife were with us and he delivered a message to explain how much the Lord wants to relate to us as a loving Father who provided a way to be reconciled together through Jesus Christ. As he closed in prayer he asked if anyone who wanted to pray to God to have that new relationship restoring individuals to kinship with their Creator would raise their hand.
In the crowd of some 100 people, one elderly man raised his hand. Almost instantly Dr. James was at his side and holding hands with him in the air. What a strong statement that made to me. We ought all be so ready, dressed as a clown, businessman, homemaker, doctor, painter, or anything else, to stand at someone's side who is reaching toward the Heavenly Father in faith. Sometimes I miss the small step someone is making toward the Father in faith and I need to have eyes to see what is happening around me. A little encouragement can make a big difference when someone is trying to step out of the world that encompasses them and see the truth of who they are, where they stand with God and the reality of what Jesus Christ's sacrifice can mean to them.
Outreach Statistics - These convey a little of the ministry, but mere numbers can not really tell the story. Lives and communities were changed and challenged by the message of the gospel of Christ!
Lives committed to Christ 588 Ophthalmic Patients 666 Optical Patients 3,187 Audiological Patients 584 Orthopedic Surgical Patients 184 People who heard the Gospel 16,104 Communities with new wells and/or agricultural training 9 Patients treated at our Mobile Medical Clinic 5,811