May 28, 2008
"The books that should be written..”
DFL and World Challenge’s Medical Outreach in South Africa: Septemeber 2007
Patients waiting to be seen
During September and October of 2007, Doctors For Life’s (DFL) ‘Aid to Africa’ division hosted a team from World Challenge Medical Missions. Together with Dr Eugene Smith (a specialist physician) and his wife and right hand Arlene, DFL held medical clinics in four of South Africa’s provinces at 7 different locations. More than a thousand patients received medical care while approximately 15,000 medicines were prescribed. But these clinics aren’t just about people's physical needs…
Many medical problems are deeply rooted in other social and psychological problems. An emotionally drained and stressed person is much more prone to headaches and ulcers than one who isn’t. AIDS also has a tremendous impact on our people; spiritually, mentally and physically. There are usually a series of wrong decisions that precipitate contracting HIV and developing AIDS. This isn’t a philosophical discussion. It’s a fact. Living immorally has an effect on individuals and communities at large. Broken relationships, heartache, hatred, anger, guilt, pride and self pity, to mention just a few. The list is endless.
Clinic in the Western Cape
During these outreaches we managed to make about 10 house visits with DFL’s Home Based Care project, where mostly HIV/AIDS cases were examined. In addition, hundreds of AIDS patients were diagnosed and treated during the many clinics held. Some of the patients cried during the examination and admitted their hopelessness. It’s a terrifying thought to know that your end is near and you don’t know what will happen to you after you die.
Photos taken during house visits in the rural areas
But what greater satisfaction can a health worker have than seeing eternal fruit from their work. As someone once wrote; “Only one life to live, it will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Approximately 350 people received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during these medical outreaches. We are thankful for every opportunity we had to share Gods message of hope and to be able to have encouraged and prayed with so many people. Finding peace with God is not a small thing. Not all people find it before they depart this life.
A busy pharmacy lead by Arlene Smith
The clinics were well timed. In one very rural area Dr Gene diagnosed an elderly man with severe heart failure. I rushed him to the nearest hospital (about 40 miles away) and was told that he could have died on the way. We had no idea that our visit to the Esifuleni area would be so critical when we arranged the dates weeks before the time. The man made a commitment to trust God and give his life over to Him, that day at the hospital. As a result he removed some witchcraft fetishes that had been around his waist for about the past 30 years. After spending 3 weeks in hospital, he passed away peacefully.
Dr Eugene examines the Baba Majola, who had severe heart failure: He past away about 3 weeks after this picture was taken
Dr Eugene preaching near Harding, KZN
At another clinic, a small girl cried and begged the team for help. She had been orphaned and felt deserted. We encourage her, prayed together and linked her up with a nearby mission station. DFL takes care of about 200 of the estimated 400,000 orphaned children in South Africa. We have 27 different centers and foster homes. The need is overwhelming. We are thankful that we were also able to examine DFL’s orphans at 4 of our day care centers.
Above: An AIDS patient visited during house visits near Harding, KZN
Dr Eugene Smith the orphans at one of DFL’s centres Orphan girl examined by Dr Eugene Smith
It wasn’t only during clinical work that we saw God at work. One evening, on the way to Cape Town to hold a clinic in a rural area, we met a young woman working in a shop at a filling station. As the team was about to leave, one of the members felt the urge to return to the shop and speak to her. It turned out that she had major problems. A few weeks later she phoned asking for advice as she had tried to commit suicide. We again had the opportunity of linking somebody up to a nearby mission station that could help her. The opportunity to share Gods word happened numerous times as we traveled.
The roads were sometimes very bad winding though rocky hills and small rivers
We also received some feedback from one of the areas in the Western Cape where, according to the community, we had held a very successful clinic. This specific community had tremendous needs. Apparently they had been served by medical students in the past but they said that they had preferred our clinic. They ascribed our 'success' to the fact that the DFL team members were more mature, but more importantly, that we took time to pray with the patients. This particular outreach was accompanied by a comprehensive team consisting of a local mission station's volunteer staff, a trained nurse, Dr Albu van Eeden (CEO of DFL), his wife Karen and ministers and translators. While we were in the area we met a pastor who uses his qualification as a paramedic to further the Gospel. He joined us at short notice and we had a wonderful time.
Top left: Patients lift up their hands in response to Dr Eugene Smiths call to repentance
In retrospect, we thank God for all of the opportunities we had to share the precious gospel that has touched our own hearts. It was a privilege and a wondrous thing to see God at work. We also thank God for Dr Gene Smith, his wife Arlene, World Challenge, and those that commissioned them to come to South Africa to help us. We can truly say that it was a Godsend.
We are aware that a lot of resources, finances and prayer supported this outreach. We don’t take this for granted and would like to express our appreciation to all those who contributed toward the outreach and in some way cast their bread upon the waters. May God richly bless you.
Top left: Lady collecting water in a rural area in KwaZulu Natal during the outreach
If the Lord is willing, the World Challenge medical team will return to the poor and needy communities of South Africa in September of 2008, for another medical outreach. We would appreciate your prayer support while the planning is being done. Please pray, especially that we will reach those who God intends us to reach.
By Johan Claassen