Healing for the Body and Soul…
Mercy Medical Teams
June is a popular month for tourism in East Africa. In fact, it starts the “High Season” known for higher numbers of people and higher costs on tourist attractions. However, not everyone comes to East Africa just to see the wild animals. A group of 11 LCMS folks from around the US arrived in Moshi, Tanzania on June 15 to serve as a medical team. As the week went on, it felt like this team had worked and laughed together for years. God brought all the necessary gifts together for His work to be done.
Daily the team traveled over an hour each way to a remote village of Kahe. The Lutheran Church in East Africa partnered with us and the local health department to host a free medical camp – we call them Mercy Medical Teams. It was obvious that something big was happening in this village as folks came to see what was going on. Each morning the crowd waiting for us grew in number.
Each guest starts the clinic process by hearing a Gospel presentation about God’s love for them. Then, they were checked for vital signs, nurses took their medical history, Doctors examined, labs are taken, wounds are treated, and many left with the medication they need. While they wait patiently, the crowds talk and laugh together.
The host congregation and area Pastors served as hosts and interpreters. The local villagers got connected to the congregation and its members, as well as the local health care providers from the closest clinics and hospitals.
One of the many highlights for this team was the daily morning prayers with the gathered crowds before the work began. It was a wonderful way to share the reason everyone was there. Another highlight was an emergency baptism of a sick baby before we took him and his mother to the hospital for treatment. What an honor to witness the child becoming part of God’s kingdom, and our family of believers before our eyes. |