New Frontiers

40 surgeries in two weeks

Janet Stookie who leads the Alaska Medical Missions took a team of surgeons to Tobelo in North Maluku. This team from America partnered with IFC medical staff in providing these needed surgeries. The poor in Indonesia cannot get surgeries because they must pay for the surgeries before they go into the hospital. Most of these people are destitute and cannot pay even a small amount for a surgery. We provide surgeries for those who are in critical condition. I visited a man whose leg was amputated after he had a huge growth on his foot and leg that was threatening his life. He had gained weight and strength. He greeted me with a broad smile and wanted to thank the people who came to help him. I know there were lives saved because of this team. Pray for the poor who come to our clinic for help. They usually wait for their condition to be critical before they come for an examination. I want to thank Janet and her team for the compassion they showed and the heart to help the helpless.

We are turning an important corner in the work

We began working in refugee camps and now have established a base in East Indonesia. Eventually the goal is to turn the work over to qualified Indonesian leaders. We must work toward self-support. We give free medical, dental and eye care at our clinics which we will continue to give free medical care. Murray Smith, a horticulturalist, is developing the fruit trees and vegetable gardens on our land. We have 75 acres which gives plenty of space to grow what we need to feed our staff and patients. We give free food to lepers, HIV, and T.B. infected families. Murray has 1100 fruiting trees either planted or in the nursery ready to be planted. He also will be growing large vegetable gardens that will not only feed our staff but will provide for some cash crops. The cost of food is a large expense and these gardens and trees will help us to turn a corner in supporting ourselves by growing all our food. We already have pigs, goats, chickens, ducks and cows that are used to feed the staff. Little by little we are seeing the tide turned.

An automotive repair shop is being built

Thanks to the efforts of Les Chapman and Manning Valley Church of Christ in New South Wales (Australia). Les knows that all of our vehicles are in very poor conditions. It is a miracle that they are even running. I have been in each of them when they have broken down. We have to laugh because they are unbelievable. Vehicles in Indonesia are very expensive and cost close to what we would pay here in the west. That presents us with big challenges--we want to put our funds into the care of the poor but we also need vehicles that run, are safe and start when you need them. Les understands the need for safe and reliable transportation. He and his church are building a greatly needed mechanics shop with a tire repair bay in the shop. This will also allow us to start an auto repair business. We still need better vehicles (you can only resurrect them from the dead so many times) which will get regular maintenance at the new mechanics shop.