Rafiki Missions Opportunity

The Rafiki Foundation is looking for help with their ministry to needy children in Africa and is seeking Christian physicians to serve short term during one of their quarterly Community Medical Clinics.

Rafiki, a Swahili word for friend, is a Christian missions organization with Villages in 10 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Their Villages are located in Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and Ethiopia.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the AIDS pandemic has deprived many children of their fathers and mothers. Even with one surviving parent, the needs of a child cannot be met in most of these countries. School enrollment and literacy rates in Africa are among the lowest in the world. An estimated 42 million children in sub-Saharan Africa alone are not enrolled in school. Many cannot afford to go or stay in primary school and in some countries, 70% of the girls do not continue to secondary school. In response to this need, Rafiki Villages are designed to care for children from infancy to age eighteen.

The goal of Rafiki is to nurture orphaned African children into godly contributors in their countries. They do not place their children for adoption. If you would like further information, please click here to read the letter we received, here to visit the Rafiki Foundation's website, or contact Joe Baucom, Rafiki Area Representative, at 574-370-2699.

Prayer for Bongolo Hospital

From Deb Walker, head of Pediatrics

PLEASE PRAY FOR BONGOLO HOSPITAL

We are getting hit very hard because of the government hospital worker's strike that is already a month old (since Jan.12). It is just now getting to the unbearable stage at our hospital. Maternity is up 2.5 times the normal volume and outpatients have doubled. Almost all hospital beds are full. If this rate continues very long, we will run out of certain medications and tests like HIV tests before our next order can arrive. People are getting angry at having to wait because of consultation and lab overload or when we don't have enough tests and supplies to meet the demand. This is especially critical in the area of HIV tests to test the pregnant women and the antiretroviral (ARV) medication to prevent the transmission of the virus to the baby. Women who were planning on doing their prenatals in other cities, including Libreville, are flocking to our hospital. The government HIV program was not able to grant us any HIV tests or ARV medication for pregnant women and their babies at our last request so we are running out. In addition, our X-ray machine is broken and our lab chemistry machines were all fried in a storm last week. Half our missionary medical staff is away on trips. We are doing the best we can but we can 't keep this rate up for very long.

Several of our members have served at Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, and Dr. Keir Thelander is there as a full-time missionary with his wife and family now. Thanks for praying.

Laugh, love, lift

I would be true, for there are those who trust me.
I would be pure, for there are those who care.
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer.
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless.
I would be giving and forget the gift.
I would be humble, for I know my weakness.
I would look up and laugh, and love and lift.

I would be prayerful through each busy moment.
I would be constantly in touch with God.
I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper.
I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

A hymn, written by missionary Howard Walter