From the Field
Updates from Luke Society Ministries
Matupi, Myanmar
Believers Under Attack
In early June, Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader, was freed after spending more than seven of the last 14 years in house arrest. She visited some areas in northern Myanmar, including Matupi, where the Luke Society clinic is located. While there, she stayed with her supporters, including local church leaders. The ruling military junta, which came to power in 1988 and hasn't stepped down since Suu Kyi won the general election in 1990, arrested Suu Kyi again and put her in prison. The people who befriended her were put on the government’s wanted list. Many of those people fled into India to avoid arrest.
In September, the government in Myanmar continued to place battalions in the city of Matupi. Scared for their lives and worried about forced labor, many of the young men fled the city. Forced labor would include building barracks for the soldiers. The Luke Society clinic was raided, and the water supply to the clinic was cut off. The soldiers filtered through the city, destroying houses at random and raping girls and young women.
Please pray for safety and deliverance on behalf of our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted and discriminated against in Myanmar.
Jalapa, Mexico
Retaining Wall Built
Dr. José Luis Guerrero is happy to be tending medical needs inside a new clinic building. But he has been worried about its stability because it was built into an eroding hillside. Dr. José Luis was thankful to the Lord when funds for the retaining wall came through unexpected and miraculous ways. Now the ministry can focus on expanding up to the wall rather than sliding down the hill! Effective ministry is happening in the small village of El Porvenir. Many children are being taught about Jesus, and their families are receiving quality medical care.
Managua, Nicaragua
Seed Distributed to Families
The ministry is continuing to care for the needs of their neighbors. Thirteen latrines were built in five communities. Nine wells were rehabilitated in three communities. Seventeen water filters were distributed. Seventy-two families were supplied with bean seeds, 31 families were given corn seeds, 46 were given fertilizers, 40 with vegetable garden seeds, and they started community gardens in three communities. We pray that these numbers will continue to grow and that more lives will be touched in Jesus’ name.
Palawan, Philippines
Spiritual Battle Waged
Dr. Susie and her staff recently waged a spiritual battle against demons possessing a woman’s body. Susie blames the quack doctors located in Quezon. Patients seek the quack doctors’ help because it is cheaper, but it takes a serious delve into the spiritual world. The woman came to them after three months of suffering. “As we prayed for her, we actually fought against the five demons that were answering us back,” said Dr. Susie. “She was delivered from the bondage, and we led her to receive the Lord as her personal Savior that night. We at the Luke Society are privileged because we have the Lord Jesus in our lives, and He is the One who takes care of our bodies and souls.”
Quibdo, Colombia
Street Clean-Up Successful
In the displaced community of Cabí, the Luke Society community social workers organized a day of community cleaning. The community leadership, a group of social workers from the university and the Luke Society all pitched in for the clean-up process. A request was granted for the support of the municipality collection system and equipment. According to Luke Society director, Ligia Camargo, “They fully cooperated with the campaign, and huge rubbish deposits were placed in four pits.”
It seems that the clean-up day has spurred the public company into action. They are seeking the advice of a local engineer on the matters of cleanliness, sewage and human waste disposal services.
Encarnacion, Paraguay
Woman Finds Care
For six months, a 46-year-old woman had been hemorrhaging. After visiting all the rural doctors, no one could help her. One of her friends commented about the new Luke Society clinic, which specialized in women’s care. She went to the clinic with high hopes of being cured. She underwent tests, and her diagnosis was a benign dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Luke Society director Dr. Jorge Gomez-Frey wrote, “Presently she is in good condition and is thanking God for placing a specialized clinic with good service at an affordable price and close to her community.”
Trujillo, Peru
Student Wins City Scholarship
Bertha Aldave, wife of Luke Society director Felix Aldave, has been working with school children, supplying them with needed notebooks and other school items. Bertha is excited to report about a boy named Oscar Loayza. Oscar finished high school under Bertha’s watchful and helpful eye and applied to the Mining Engineering Institute. Praise God that he was admitted to the school with some of the highest-ranking scores and was awarded a scholarship!
Papua, Indonesia
Cassettes Being Used for Ministry
Dr. Julius Surjadi is excited about a new venture in his ministry. He found a Christian company that will prepare pictures of Bible stories to go along with stories on cassette. “We bought … a special tape which can run without battery power by turning a crank by hand,” he wrote. “My idea is that the evangelists can go from one hut to another and show them the pictures of the Bible stories to help the unreached people have an image about the Bible figures.”
The tapes are being recorded in Wolani, the language of the people Julius is trying to reach. “I'm thinking about making a recording in Wolani talking about personal hygiene, good environment, nurturing kids and nutrition.”