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http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/may/01/medical-team-makes-a-house-call-to-rwandans/
]]>1: Establish a “See and Treat” program at the Ndengera Clinic to screen for early cervical cancer.
Background: Cervical cancer kills more women in low-income nations than any other malignancy. A variety of research and demonstration efforts have proven the efficacy and effectiveness of low-cost cervical cancer prevention methods. In Zambia, a study was done recently that demonstrated that for every 46 women screened for cervical cancer, 1 life was saved. These are miraculous results. Prior to our trip there was no screening program in the north or west region of Rwanda. Dr. Rushing and Caroline Fung spent many hours training Dr. Pascal (our local Clinic physician and Zaoudi our local RN) to screen for cervical cancer using the Colposcope that was donated by SW Washington Medical Center and treated several women with early cervical cancer with a cryotherapy machine that Dr. Rushing donated to the clinic. I don’t have the final number of patients treated yet but it is around 6, which represents 6 lives saved. Additionally, Dr. Pascal became proficient at screening and treatment and will be able to continue the program at the Ndengera clinic.
2. Oversee the drilling of a well for clean water. Living Water, a Christian organization, provided the in country equipment and skills needed, arrived before we did and began drilling on the Ndengera site. Because of the volcanic soil, the team met several challenges while drilling, not the least of which was using a special bit that they had no experience with. Eventually the bit was damaged without a successful well being drilled on the property. Fortunately, Pastor Simon and Living Water had a backup plan which provided for another site to attempt drilling with less volcanic soil. This site is about 400 meters from the Ndengera site. This well was finished last week and appears to be able to produce 5000liters/hour. The well is 120 meters deep with a static water level of 70 meters. This will be more than enough water for all future projects at Ndengera. The downside is that the well will cost twice as much as our original estimates because of the need to supply 400 meters of piping, trenching and wire. Fortunately, we had cash reserves for the fish pond that we will use to help finish this project. We anticipate that this year’s golf tournament (Saturday August 20, (shameless plug)) will provide the remaining needed funds t o build the fish farm either late this year or more likely, next spring.
In addition to these two projects, goats and pigs were given out to about 60 people, Bodabodas and school supplies were given to about 40 top orphan students, tools were given out to graduates from the auto mechanic school and sewing machines were given to two graduating students of the sewing program. We toured the agriculture land and were very impressed by the crops of sweet potatoes and beans.
Lastly, one of Dr. Rushing’s cancer patie nts made a generous donation to start a computer training school and provide for an electronic medical record and computer at the clinic. We were able to purchase 9 computers with all of the peripherals and a diesel generator for the classroom. Pastor
Simon says they will begin classes in a week or two.
It was a great trip in every aspect and I was blessed to be a part of it. Thank you, Liberty Bible Church, for loving these people, giving hope where there was none and making a difference for the many widows and orphans of Gisenyi.
Dr. Chris Finley
]]>While they are in Rwanda, the well will be drilled. Drilling a well is always a faith venture as you never know how much water will be found. Please pray for deep water! If deep water is found, a pump will be used to provide clean running water to the clinic, school and enable the future Talapia Farm. If shallow water is found, a hand pump will be installed which will still provide clean drinking water but will not allow for the other clean water projects.
The team will be returning on April 9th. Please pray for their safety, health and effectiveness as they share the Good News of Christ.
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Projects for 2011 include (est. costs):
- As you probably know, our feeding program will end this December. What a great victory this is! I would like to extend my personal thanks and appreciation on behalf of all of the children of Ndengera and the Gisenyi community, to all of the people who selflessly gave to this project. You have literally saved the lives of children.
- We are planning a fund raising dinner for Sunday evening, February 22nd when Pastor Simon will be in town. Jenny Harris has offered to do another Piano Concert fundraiser this spring which should cover the remaining costs for the Tilapia farm.
- The Canadian team will be building the chapel in November
- EL Morro and Real Life Churches will be handling the Pastors conference in August.
- If all of this is accomplished, the only thing left to complete for 2012 will be the construction of 12 school classrooms which should be doable in 1, maybe 2 years.
Great job everyone and thanks again for your effort, support and gifts.
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http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/26/rwanda-work-amazes-and-changes-group/
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]]>But “How was your trip,” is a much more complex question than it appears…How was your trip? Really, for me, indescribable. A torrent of complex emotions still floods over me daily, ranging from hope and happiness to relief and contentment, to despair and utter sadness. The poverty was so great, yet their spirit and will so strong. Their life is so hard, walking hours daily for food, water and maybe work. Walking in the most unimaginable dust, living with chronic illnesses of parasites, amoebas and HIV, cooking in their tiny mud homes until the walls and ceilings were covered in black soot (much like their lungs must be). Yet they would flash a beautiful smile and their eyes would sparkle in an instant upon receiving an empty water bottle or a starburst or even at just the sight of a Muzungu (white traveler).
The medical clinic building is about 2-300 yards from the construction site of the school. We would walk back and forth on occasion, to check on progress or to find someone we needed. When you leave the clinic building, you are immediately surrounded by children singing Mazung, Mazung….
We quickly learned that you could hold the hands of up to 10 children at the same time, one for each finger. (Sometimes they would fight to hold your hand). Walking across the field with 10 children singing mazung or who let the DAWGS out or asking their names and ages was a lot of fun for me but every now and then, I would stop and reflect that maybe I should not be enjoying this. They seemed happy. They smiled and jumped and did back bends and cartwheels. These children with nothing, played and sang and watched us. We easily recognized some of the children from photos we have here on our walls. They were always wearing the same clothes as they had on in the photos, probably the only clothes they had. They were filthy (although, so was I) there clothes literally rotting off of them, some with worn shoes, some with none. I couldn’t help but think that the reason they so eagerly and possessively wanted to hold our hands, was that no one normally holds theirs. I had a strange sense of detachment and guilt. Looking at their poverty, I thought,“I should be crying not enjoying myself.”Sometimes I thought,“why doesn’t this break my heart……What’s wrong with me?” Then a vision came to me of my children in those clothes. Seeing Nicholas and Andrea in the tattered and dirty clothes, in my mind’s eye, was overwhelming. Then the tears came and my heart broke. I do not understand this at all. Is this how God sees these children…..Maybe, it’s how God sees us?
I don’t know. All I know, is that my heart broke for those kids and it was right for it to do so. I hope you all have the opportunity to have your heart break for children such as these. I believe it is a rare but painful privilege…..
Thank you for making this trip…… this vision…….a reality. God Bless you, as He has blessed me!
Chris
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