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! 

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.

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

After talking with Analyn this morning we decided that it would be best to take her out to the hospital and have a checkup.  Christina having been home for just 2 days was happy to accompany Analyn to town.

It is possible to get to town by land.  But it is a 2 hr hike, if you walk yourself.  She would have needed to been taken out by stretcher.  Then it is a 1 hr bumpy ride to the nearest town.  The hospitals there are not good.  It would then be another 1 hr drive to a town with a good hospital.

It was obvious that it was best to fly Analyn by our NTM helicopter to that town with a good hospital.  That is what we have the helicopter for. 

The saddest thing for us is that we had to think about whether or not we can afford to pay for this flight. We do not have extra support to cover these medical flights.  It cost us $180 US for the flight alone.  Then there will be the hospital and doctors fees on top of that.

We decided to trust the Lord to provide for this expense.  We know He is faithful to take care of all our needs and the needs of the people we are ministering among.

If you would like to help us with this medical expense or any other medical expenses for the Ga’dang people, please let us know.  We can direct you the information you need.  Or go to www.ntm.org/canada/give  Make sure to include a note for Ga’dang Medical Fund.

Please be praying for Analyn and her baby.  We will keep you updated as we learn more.

This is the team as they met for a weekend orientation. (2 people are missing)

What will they be doing?

We are bringing fresh water from a spring into the village so the people can have clean drinking water.  This will also help them in the times of dry season when there is little water in the village wells. 

There will be lots of digging, laying pipe, mixing cement, burying pipe and so on.  There will be so much for them to do.

Ga’dang people will be helping too.

Last week Chuck met with the men in the village so we could get them started on the prep work involved.  The hope is that we can get the pipe in the ground from the spring to the village before the team arrives in the second week of July.  Everyone was very excited and looking to help however they can.

Will you pray for us as we plan and work on this project? 

There is still lots of planning to be done.  The people in the village are getting their rice fields ready for planting in July, so helping dig trenches will take away from that work. 

Pray for the Summit team as they plan to come.  Pray they will all get along and learn more about missions while here.

Pray for the finances for this project.  We need about $3500 to pay for all the materials.  For more information, send us an email.  Or go to NTM’s Website to find out more.

Pray for us as we balance language study and working on the project in the weeks ahead.

It didn’t take long into the pushing stage, that we realized that we were going to be needed to lend a hand.  We had already known that her first 2 children were very hard deliveries.  It was very scary to watch and even help as she pushed for about 3 hrs before the baby was born.  I spent so much time praying for her and that little baby.  We learned so much by watching and helping, in how they do things.  This was the first baby that we have ever seen born.  We are so thankful that mother and baby were ok after all that hard work.

I do my best to visit almost every day.  I don’t want him to be scared of the white lady!!!  His most favourite thing to do just as soon as I get him in my arms…is to pee on me!  It is the running joke now.  Yesterday as him mom passed him to me, she said he didn’t have even a cloth diaper on, just little shorts.  Of course I took him and of course within minutes I was wet!

Here he is not long after he was born.

Now here he is at 5 weeks old.  I think he was trying to smile at me!!!

What a privilege it is to be a part of this family’s lives.