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March Newsletter
Somewhere I read: “Until you feel it, until you smell it, it just isn’t real.”
This applies 100% to my experience in Haiti. There are still, after more than 2 years, thousands living in tents with little sanitation and no running water. Filth is rampant, the stench is overwhelming. The far-away mountain regions are in even worse conditions. We needed to get there! Here is why…
Prayer Points March 2012
Haiti: Our expedition went very well. We undertook went to very remote areas. This was possible through the use of “motorcycles” with the whole team … hours and hours on dusty dangerous paths through the mountains. Thank Points: We brought the gospel to hundreds of people in the isolated mountain region. We met many of their needs despite appalling conditions related to infectious tropical diseases. We found Alidieu – (a boy who had surgery in Belgium). He is looked great. Also the bilateral cleft lip surgery for Cilene went very well. She stayed in the city to learn to read and write. Prayer Points: For the establishment of Haiti’s financial and medical records so that everything can be monitored and adequate coverage/accountability can be given to those who give. For the stop of spreading tropical diseases emerging such as Malaria, Elephantiasis, Dengue Fever, Typhoid Fever, Cholera etc… For a solution to the problem of orphans. Especially those located in remote areas. Ideas abound, vision too … but we are looking for “hearts”, which are sensitive to God and realize that we cannot do anything without the necessary support in word (prayer) and deed (financially). For ministry transportation. Currently we do not have our own and this means expensive transportation costs with no air conditioning. Often our team ride in the back of an open truck with personnel covered with sweat and dust by arrival. This is a bad situation for the medicines. Bolivia: Thank Points: That I have arrived safe and sound…still… Also, legally, we are standing correct concerning the “Amazon” situation. There is only still some fear of actions by criminals who don’t look if a situation is legal or not. They work outside the law. For the work of Dr. Ino. He is the new director of DM Bolivia. I am worked 17 years with him and he is the perfect deal. We have seen hundreds of children together also with Dr. Oscar, Dra. Esther and 2 Odontologist’s of our Southern team. For the great cooperation of being able to work together with Compassion International. We do the medical work and they take care of all administrative issues. Prayer Points: That the administrative “reform” within the mission may continue smoothly. That we may retain the right vision and get back in the Amazone via alternative “routes”. The strategy is there already…. Pakistan Thank Points: Ability to purchase wheelchairs for Doctors On Mission. This is particularly appreciated by the Pakistani Christians since the mobility of many disabled people have for years been left to chance. For our safe expedition to the mountains northeast of Islamabad (Texila, Atkin). Prayer Points: We need much prayer for the Pakistani team. There is infiltration of Muslims … We also need much prayer for wisdom regarding financial and medical records of our Pakistani team. Also for ministry transportation in Pakistan. As of current; we still do not own means of transportation. The follow up of financial and medical administration is a big concern for me in Haiti as well as in Pakistan. I need to get (and keep) them on the right track. Almost no attention is paid to it. This leads to problems because I want to work as conscientiously as possible to follow up everything month by month, even if I am on a different mission field like now in Bolivia. The biggest general prayer request for Doctors On Mission is that we have – compared to the monthly income – a loss of about $ 10,000 each month. Till now, this could be absorbed by our Belgium reserve fund but this fund is going down very fast now with the European crisis. Something must be done to counteract this further. It would be unfortunate if this work should be stopped completely by a shortage of funds. Rik Celie, MD – Missionary www.DoctorsOnMission.org FB “Mission Doctors”
Pakistan – January Update
Our aim has always been to treat everyone regardless of religion or political affiliation. This is to show God’s love in this lost world. But the recent expedition to Gojra, Pakistan was special because we particularly wanted to support and encourage persecuted Christians. There was also an evangelization campaign planned. This was a very bold venture considering the past riots of Gojra where Christians have been killed. It was in Gojra where, not so long ago, 300 houses and seven churches were burned by a mob of more than 10,000 fanatical Muslims. As if this was not enough, eight Christians were burned alive! After viewing some video footage of the attacks; I am forever haunted by some of the scenes. I particularly remember a young girl (not yet fourteen years old) who had her left arm cut off and then set on fire! No words can describe such a tragedy. This only reinforces my call to do everything possible to help these people. We hope to continue helping by medical outreaches, pastoral support, and building Christian hospitals, churches and orphanages… As the foreign missionary; I was invited on stage to testify in an “open air forum” with more than one thousand people there. I knew that it would not be difficult for a sniper to shoot me from one of the surrounding buildings. These buildings are, after all, kind of pigeon houses built on each other sky high. Normally, Christians may not carry arms in this region. Yet they received permission (for one night) from the local police to arm themselves and create their own “security” service. I was shocked when I saw armed men to my left and right, until my friends convinced me that they were Christians. I was strengthened by the many prayers of support for me and this event. I even received “Psalm 91” from one of our DM Facebook friends. After reading this, I had not only peace, but also the much needed courage to go boldly for it. The event was held on the day when Muslims make the annual sacrifice of goats and sheep according to the covenant made between Abraham and God. I have a hunch that the Epistle to the Hebrews could very well have been the Epistle to the Muslims. It is the letter in the New Testament that demonstrates clearly that the sacrifice of Christ was once and for all. His sacrifice was enough for everyone who believes in Him. More than one thousand people came to Gojra and many responded!It became a great celebration! An invisible protection was all around us. The peace we felt was overwhelming. Yes, we could joke and laugh and dance and thank! I tell you, we have a new Jesus movement in these countries. It’s great to be part of it! We then went to an area northwest of Islamabad for an important medical expedition. While there; the situation was anything but safe. The peace, however, remained at all times in our hearts. The team spirit was so good that it looked like a trip to the Rocky Mountains. So much joy surrounded us and we felt safe! However, I became very ill suddenly and had to return. Despite the fact that I had bought the cheapest ticket, they gave me a first class seat. A very kind man sat beside me. Feverish as I was, I told my story with my last bit of strength. The man was very impressed about the work of Doctors on Mission in Pakistan. Then, he confided to me that he was a senior official of the U.S. government, but with Pakistani roots. He was also the founder of Project Hope in the U.S. They had built thousands of houses in flooded areas. He also knew that no “infidel” (non-Muslim) could enjoy good treatment in Muslim hospitals. He promised to help Doctors on Mission in building a medical mission base with a hospital in Toba Tek Singh. I will be meeting with him soon. Life was going out of me… My illness was serious. Large blue-black colored spots colored my skin. Then, the worst came. I felt lightning and electric shock in my head. I knew it was small intra cranial bleedings. I went to a good hotel to rest and had the necessary medication with me to treat myself. I called in an Interpreter (who turns out was a Christian). I received a wonderful touch of the Lord and my whole body miraculously recovered quickly! A great peace came into my heart and soul. After 1 week of rest, I could travel to Belgium. Click here to make a donation to Doctor´s On Mission work around in Pakistan.
Conflict in Pakistan
While I was working on the Haitian project, I received urgent messages… again from Pakistan. Our team was ambushed and fired upon by extreme Muslims who came out with 8 automatic rifles (Kalashnikovs). By a miracle, nobody was injured and our ancient little white van came through the ambush. Pastor Viktor described it as follows: “In cooperation with Voice of the Martyrs (the only Organization with which we can work together there), we brought blankets, literature and other supplies to a specific region. We wanted to show God’s compassion in the actions we do. Afterwards we had a wonderful prayer meeting in which the Gospel was explained. The “enemy” was clearly not happy with this action. When we were back on the way home we were suddenly ambushed and shot at by at least 6 radical fundamentalists. They shot at us with automatic weapons. I could look in their eyes and saw nothing but hate. But God may be praised because we did not only come safely through the ambush, there was not even one bullet that had hit us!” Two weeks ago, some fundamentalists kidnapped two Pakistani pastors. Our young team (that knows no danger because of their strong faith) followed the kidnappers trail but lost their tracks in a densely wooded area when it became night. Also, a 12-year-old Christian girl fell in a 7-foot well while on her way home from school. She died instantly. Our team visited her poor family and brought gifts (food, clothing) to comfort them. Click here to make a donation to Doctor´s On Mission work around in Pakistan.
HIATIAN CLEFT PALATE SURGERIES
After Pakistan I began the Haitian children cleft-palate surgical project. The children arrived in Belgium one week early! It absorbed more time and energy than I expected, but it was a great success! Our many thanks go out to Dr. Luk Cesteleyn and his medical team. Our great thanks also go to some great families who helped in hosting and caring for the Haitian kids. The results are great! Celaine (11 years old) no longer needs to hide confined to a corner of her parent’s hut in the Haitian mountain area. She got a bilateral (both sides) cleft lip palate. Alidieu had a unilateral cleft lip palate now has an almost completely normal face. Because of his lameness and mental retardation, he will have a difficult life in a country like Haiti that has no shelters for such children. In his region, there are hundreds of orphans who are naked and ravaged by disease. They wander around and their situation is worse than American pets. In this region (Artibonite) and the surrounding areas there are now more than 465,000 cholera patients! About 10,000 people ̶̶ mostly children ̶̶ have already died. It looks still like the quake happened just yesterday! The kids were back in Haiti by the end of the year. There, they were greeted with great enthusiasm. Our team there in Haiti and friends was astonished to see the “new” faces. Click here to make a donation to Doctor´s On Mission work around in Haiti.
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