From the Field
Updates from Luke Society Ministries
Irian Jaya, Indonesia
Suspension Bridge Project Successful
In July, 2006, the Luke Society sent out a letter to raise support for a suspension bridge in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. In the letter, Luke Society director, Dr. Julius Surjadi, wrote, “The need to have the bridge over the Mbioba River is great. Through that river at least six remote villages can connect to Bugalaga as the gate to open the isolation.” He goes on to say, “Also some people, including children, already died when they tried to cross the river. In this year four people died, swept away by the river.”
The response to the letter was wonderful, and the need was met. Funds were sent to Dr. Surjadi to build the bridge. “The building process took about 4 months since we sent the materials from Nabire by small airplane a couple times,” he wrote recently. Once the materials arrived, the actual building process went quickly. When it came time to carry the materials from Bugalaga to the river, nearly 100 people from the villages helped. Fifty packs of cement weighing 110 pounds each were quickly transported. The steel wire, which weighed nearly 220 pounds per bundle arrived at the river with little trouble. “All the workers’ equipment and food supplies were brought in one day by walking through a very narrow and steep trail,” Dr. Surjadi wrote. “And it was all free of charge!” The local villagers also provided the best trees to build the bars and boards. “It was the best quality wood in that area, and again it was free of charge,” Dr. Surjadi said.
Once the bridge was built, the people were very happy. “The tribal chief and the evangelists said thank you a couple times,” wrote Dr. Surjadi. “They said that their dream came true to have a bridge that keeps them safe and allows them to travel faster. To appreciate the new bridge, the tribal chief with his people opened a new trail from the bridge to Bugalaga. Now the trail to the bridge from Bugalaga is not narrow anymore, it is quite wide, even though it is still steep.” Dr. Surjadi is anxious to see how the bridge will open new doors to the Gospel. “This new bridge will really help the ministry a lot, because the way to the unreached people area will be much shorter and safer. It helps also for my assistant, Yulianus Agimbau, to visit and check our medical distribution centers easily.” There are currently three medical distribution centers in the jungle. Those who run the distribution centers are pastors who are well-trained to hand out medication and run the nutrition program for the villages nearby. “Yulianus can save his time about a day by walking and does not need to worry to be swept away by the flood when he has to across the river. The pastors from the remote villages also feel grateful for this new bridge because now many of them can come easily to Bugalaga.”
Thank you for your support of such a life-changing project for so many people.
Jalapa, Mexico
Ministry Celebrates Third Anniversary
Dr. Jose Luis Guerrero recently celebrated the third anniversary of partnership with the Luke Society in the needy area of El Porvenir. He began his ministry focusing on improving the lives of children by offering quality health care, by working with them on their homework and by working with their parents to improve their home lives. Above all, he always tells the children about Jesus and His love.
The clinic is widely known as a Christian clinic, and this allows Dr. Guerrero to share the Gospel. “We present the gospel in several ways, mainly talking with the patients that refer to some family or emotional trouble,” he explains. “We usually tell them that Jesus is the only one who can change their lives and their families. If the person accepts, we pray with them in the same place and then we program a visit to their home. To other patients, we give a booklet with Jesus’ story or some issue related with the Gospel. Also, during the medical attention we have playing a CD or cassette with Christian music.”
N'Dali, Benin
Dying Chief Sees Vision of Jesus
At the beginning of February, Dr. Martin Luther Osse received news that the chief of a local village had died. But before he died, he had seen visions of Jesus and had told his family about his visions. Dr. Osse was told that the village was disturbed by what had happened and was divided between those who saw this event as a confirmation of Jesus and those who listened to the final Arabic words as Muslim prayer.
Dr. Osse, his pastor, and Philippe (his right-hand man) went to the village to discuss what happened. “We listened and then told the stories of Stephen, Paul and John and how they had a vision of Jesus in the sky. We tried to persuade them that indeed it is Jesus who reigns in the skies,” said Dr. Osse. “One person asked if the chief could reach Jesus by saying the Muslim prayer. We answered by saying it is necessary to listen to Jesus by reading the Bible. We supported this by telling the story about Nicodemus, the story about Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well, and the story about the prisoner on the cross. We told them that salvation is obtained by grace and faith in Jesus.” When they had finished their explanations of the events that had occurred, the influential people of the village were obviously touched. Those who were interested in learning more about Jesus were pensive. But those who had already become Christians were obviously happy about the supporting stories they had just heart from the Bible. “We have been praying all the time for these villagers, and God is with us. Our battle now is with the Devil,” Dr. Osse says. “We have promised to show the Jesus film, and we would have already done so if access to the village was easy. Pray that we will be able to show the film at the village!”
Quininde, Ecuador
Empowering Women Through Community Banks
Dr. Yeny Agila de Penos has seen great success come from empowering women in local communities. “Our happiness is that women have not only advanced their lifestyle, but they have created a better relationship with God through workshop and Bible studies,” Dr. Agila de Penos explained.
Part of the empowerment program is to form banks within the women’s groups. The women borrow money from the community bank to buy animals or supplies for making crafts to sell. It is used to develop better lifestyles for the women and their families. “We have started seven community banks, where women’s dreams have come true, dreams of having a better lifestyle, running little businesses, buying animals for their farms, having better gardens, and other activities that fill their lives with hope,” Dr. Agila de Penos said. “Many of them are part of the groups not because they are interested in borrowing from the bank, but they want to know Jesus better. We strongly believe that this blessing comes from God’s power given by His grace and also because of your prayers. In these banks, more than 200 families benefit from many workshops in physical, social, emotional, but most importantly, spiritual areas.”
Orissa, India
Bringing the Gospel to the Unreached
In December, Dr. Pushpa and her husband, Rev. Prem, celebrated Christmas with many new believers! “This is the first time they have celebrated Christmas and experienced the joy of the birth of the Savior!” Dr. Pushpa wrote. The festivities included eight hundred people from ten villages. “For two days, Prem delivered spiritual as well as physical food to them in the mountain,” explained Dr. Pushpa. “It was very cold over there and both of us were affected! But the Almighty God healed us quickly to celebrate Christmas joyfully at our house with our children and relatives.”
It has been exciting for the Routs to start providing medical care in many new villages. These villages are situated deep in the mountains, where there are no roads because of rough terrain and no government health care. “We thank and praise the Lord that many prayer groups are raising in our project villages. These groups are praying spirit-fully and are doing many miracles!” Dr. Pushpa wrote. “With their prayers, many of the sick are being cured! It is spiritually exciting to see!”
Dr. Pushpa was surprised that many of the people would not take medicine before being prayed for. By faith, the villagers pray, and many have been healed. As word spreads about the effectiveness of prayer and the quality health care the Routs provide, many villages are requesting a visit. “Please pray for these new believers so that they should grow in faith on Lord Jesus,” Dr. Pushpa requests.