Pakistan – October Update

Greetings from Toba Tek Singh Northern Pakistan. After a 40-hour journey, I am finally here to assist our Pakistani DOM team. My team was waiting for me in Lahore, Pakistan to bring me to Toba Tek Singh (5 – 6 hours further). As I write now, I can hear the noise of the speakers from several Mosque towers around the “Christian Ghetto.”

The DM-Pakistan team has been under heavy pressure the past two months.  Melting snow from the Southwest Tibet Plateau and heavy rains caused major flooding in the lowlands. This is the area where Osama Bin Laden was found and where our Pakistan center is located. The flooding has made thousands homeless while trying to survive without food or medicine. As consequence; this has brought a “tidal wave” of tropical diseases including the infamous “Dengue Fever” which has already claimed thousands of victims.

Meanwhile we had two fruitful expeditions, one to Hathara Zari immediately and one to Faisalabad. We treat all people, regardless of faith, with the same love. However this time; we specifically targeted the Christian Community to encourage and strengthen them. It was there where the bombing occurred just days after I left in March 2011. The death toll was over 70 and there were more than 1,200 wounded. To make matters worse, most of the seriously injured Christians were not admitted in Muslim clinics.

Muskaan, a young girl, was successfully treated for the non-malign tumor she had on her chest. Also a young mother who needed an urgent operation is very healthy here at our base, laughing and thankful to God for the help He has sent.  

In the minority groups we’ve encountered, none of the crippled children or adults can afford wheelchairs, which sell for $140 (US) in Pakistan. They are doomed to live their whole life on the ground just sitting in a corner of their hut that consists of mud bricks saturated with manure.  We urgently need 20 wheelchairs for the worst cases and hope to have the necessary donations to get them (you can donate on-line at DoctorsOnMission.org).

We also visited the town Gojra and held a conference November 10-11th. Gojra is the town where two years ago a Muslim mob attacked the Christian Community killing eight, plus torching eight churches and 300 Christian homes. Through the conference we made the clear point that the gospel is of the Kingdom is Good News! We shared the way of love and nonviolence, not ever forcing people but inviting them to know the Son of God Jesus, the King of Peace.

We then have a long and difficult trek to Texala in the mountains north of Islamabad where there is a true revival among the youth who are tired of the violence.

Meanwhile, I was checked twice by the “Criminal Investigation Police,” a group of extreme Muslims who watch closely all that we do. The good works give us a lot of friends and protection from moderate Muslims.

We are making plans now to buy a big property that will cost $60,000 to establish a real Medical Mission Base as God provides.