From the Field
Updates from Luke Society Ministries
Quininde, Ecuador
Classes Promote Unity
Dr. Yeny Agila has noticed the low self-esteem of the women in the rural villages. “For women in the rural villages, there seldom exists a conception of self-worth as women themselves, but only in the relationship to their role of mothers and wives. They believe this to the extent that their own care and health is very much neglected,” says Dr. Agila. The Luke Society staff has been holding classes for the rural women, teaching them that they are valuable in their families and as children of God. “It has been very encouraging to see the disposition of them to share their personal concerns and their openness to listen to what the Lord wants from them,” says Dr. Agila.
Dr. Yeny also teaches a marriage counseling class, which is progressing well, despite skepticism of improvement in the couples. Every Thursday, couples get together for Bible study. “We have felt the power of God working amidst us through the studies,” says Dr. Yeny. During a meeting in May, the wives asked the husbands to prepare something special for them. The husbands coordinated a nice dinner in “a very special place,” said Dr. Yeny. “Some ladies commented there were up to15 years after marriage that they had received special attention from their husbands. That ended up as a real delightful night.”
Palawan, Philippines
Educating Against Faith Healers
Dr. Susie Cayaon is consistently approached by patients who have sought the help of faith healers. “In the midst of financial scarcity and inflation, a doctor’s fee, laboratory fees and medicines have become the hindrance (for patients) for proper evaluation and management,” says Dr. Susie. “Many have chosen to see faith healers or the quack doctors who charge them a lesser fee, no lab, and just a few herbs and roots from a nearby enchanted spring or forest. Enchanted oil, liniments, perfumes, writings on paper, sand and mud, even foreign-sounding prayers have been their medium for healing.” Unfortunately, Dr. Susie has noticed that God’s name is being used in these false medicines. “Even the educated people have succumbed to these ways,” she says. “Sometimes they claim healing and victory; sometimes they reach our clinic as the last recourse.”
Dr. Susie and her husband, Rev. Ben, are always happy to take these patients into the Luke Society clinic. “It is during this time that God’s truth is given,” she says. “Then trusting the Holy Spirit for success, the gospel is shared. By God’s grace and wisdom, we deal with the sick and their illness. Many times, we deal with those who have bring the patient to our care.” The Cayaons continue to serve the sick, the needy and the dying despite the opposition from faith healers. Dr. Susie quotes Galations 6:9, “And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after awhile, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.”
Bamenda, Cameroon
New Ministry in West Africa
The Luke Society’s newest ministry partner, Dr. Paul Atem of Cameroon, Africa, is another brother in Christ who has taken steps with the Luke Society to work toward his calling from Christ. Already the doctor for a private clinic, Dr. Atem felt God pulling him outside the city of Bamenda and into the isolated village of Tingoh. The roads to the neighboring villages are not drivable and the terrain is steep, but Dr. Atem has seen the desperate situations of the people. With the help of the Luke Society, Dr. Atem will be able to join a nurse on regular visits to the village, along with an evangelist to counsel the patients while they wait. We praise God for directing the Luke Society to another ministry.
Kayes, Mali
Locust Invasion Bad for Crops
In early September, Luke Society director, Indielou Dougnon, reported a plague of locusts in his ministry area. “They are devastating everything from millet, sorghum and tree leaves. What a disaster!” Indielou says. The Malian authorities treated the affected areas, but the situation continued to get worse.
Irian Jaya, Indonesia
Native Clinics Provide Quality Care
On September 20, the helicopter service used by Dr. Julius Surjadi went down, killing the pilot, Neil Roelser. Julius was brought to Nabire by the same helicopter just two days earlier. We lift up Neil’s family in prayer. He is married with two children, one and three years old.
Julius is encouraged by the work he has done training health workers. On a recent trip to Dimba, he assessed the health workers, and most of them passed. “Many of them don’t know the name of the medicine, but they know the function of each pill because each pill is a different size and color,” says Julius. “They also know the directions of each pill, when and how to take the pills. It’s great! Praise the Lord!”
Julius was assured of the health workers’ competence on a recent trip. “Usually in every trip, I always do a clinic to serve the local people’s health problems. But in this trip, none of the Dimba people were asking me for the clinic. They let me be busy with the meetings, training and talks of new buildings,” says Julius. “But I saw every afternoon people came to Lamekh’s (health worker) small clinic hut to get some medicines and injections. Thanks to God to see that we could reach the goal of this program.”