Australian Team News

Mission trip to Hope for the Island

June 23-July 4/09

Gold Coast Christian Surfers - Australia

Written by Team Leader: Steph Van de Kemp

No matter how many documentaries you watch on Third World poverty, you can’t really prepare yourself for the experience of actually visiting a place like this. There’s just something that gets lost between here and your comfy TV room. I’m not sure what that is…the smells, the sounds, the energy. It’s hard to say. I guess the point is, when you come here, you feel this place. You feel the hope that this ministry brings to the people. Many live in desperation. You can see that. Hunger, sickness, abuse – all these things exist. Yet in the midst of it, Hope for the Island reaches out, showing God’s love in practical ways. With so many stories to share, I’m sitting here, trying to figure out where to start. I think I’ll just tell one story, and hopefully it paints a picture of the amazing things that go on here.


A Symbol of Hope

Jesus reached out to the poor. In fact, He showed amazing love to those who were suffering. He showed His love by addressing practical needs – providing food, teaching, healing, and praying. The staff at Hope for the Island is following the lead of the best leader who ever lived. And the results can be seen in the eyes of the local people. It’s one of those things that get lost between here and your comfy TV room. I think its hope…and I think it’s spreading.

It’s our eleventh day at Hope for the Island. We’re loading the truck with medical supplies preparing for the bumpy one hour journey to San Benito. It’s a small village, with huge need. When we arrive the people are waiting for us. Many line up to receive medical attention. The health issues are a result of many factors, primarily a lack of nutritious food and inadequate hygiene. It’s heartbreaking to see all the babies suffering with scabies. They are so thin and pale. We play with the kids and spend time talking and praying with the adults. We give toothpaste and clothing and shoes. With only ten pairs of shoes to give out, the scene quickly turns into something like a mosh pit at an AC/DC concert. Those who manage to get a pair are so happy. I feel ashamed when I think of all the shoes I have at home.



The most beautiful thing happened while we were driving away. There was a boy there with clubfoot and I’m not sure why, but he’s crying. His mother is trying to comfort him. One of the staff at Hope for the Island had saved the best pair of shoes for this little guy. She calls out to him and hands him the shoes. Everyone is watching. The look on his face…it’s like he’s the most special person in the whole world. I play the scene over in my head and it brings tears every time. In the midst of all the suffering, Hope for the Island reached out and touched the one who was hurting most. This boy will have a difficult life, growing up in poverty with the added challenge of a physical disability. He will remember this moment forever. And when life becomes really hard, this memory will bring him the hope he needs to endure.







I’m thankful to God for the time we’ve had here. Working with the youth to build a skateboard ramp, surfing, playing games with the local kids and having a chance to help people with their needs – it’s been an amazing time for us.


Gold Coast Christian Surfers - AustraliaTeam Leader: Steph Van de Kemp




















God answered a big prayer last week when the school textbooks


that the parents had to buy were given a 50% discount by the distributor!! With most of the families being indigent this brought a lot of relief. Our teachers are happy to be at a good pace in the classes after enduring a challenging first month helping our nursery students adjust. Also keep in prayer our discipleship classes. Each week we pour into the lives of the youth. They are really starting to grasp and apply much of what they have learned over the last year. I am especially thankful for the growth I see in my surfer group. They are very hungry for the Lord. They are taking the initiative by volunteering to help reach out to the children in the community with our staff. It is always exciting for me to hear them explain how God’s word is coming alive to them. What they learn they are encouraging the younger ones with as well. Having young men on fire for God is a very new thing for us to see in the island. Pray that God will spread the fire and rise up leaders within their ranks!
Stay tuned for some other big answers to prayer in our next update that will be sent out in a couple of weeks. We serve a faithful God who is working in our midst!!!
Derek
Director
Hope for the Island

Dinah's Report

Medical Mission team reports from HIF staff leader Dinah Espanto;

LOCATION: Ezperanza, Del Carmen

We always see it as a privilege when God sends us souls to minister to. Over seventy villagers came to us during this clinic. We prayed and counselled, dispensed medicines and dressed wounds, cleaned skin diseases and gave out vitamins to children 2 yrs and under. We taught them a geriatric exercise program, gave out soap and shampoo and reinforced proper hygiene as we cut the children’s fingernails. While playing games, we taught them the song “God is good to me” in their dialect. It was a wonderful day for all the community!

A little 9 year old girl named LetLet touched our hearts. During the activities for children, we noticed her at a distance staring intently with eyes so heavy and sad. The doctors asked us to prepare ourselves because a little girl needed special treatment. As we waited in a private curtained off area, LetLet was led in. She had been in an accident when she was 2 years old. Without any medical help, her body healed with disfiguration. She was hunched over and was barely able to stagger along because of the pressure placed on her thighs from her upper torso. Very apprehensively, she allowed us to reveal the pressure sore that has existed for over a year. It is amazing she was still alive! The huge sore covered both thighs all the way up to her genitals. She was in a lot of pain and the sores oozed with puss and had a horrific odour. At first she was so stiff and didn’t want us to touch her, but after talking and praying with her she started trusting that our intentions were good and that it was our desire to help her. We cleaned the area and removed the build up of puss. She showed immediate relief with a beautiful smile and was so happy to be able to stretch her legs. With no parents to be found, we asked a local health worker to clean the wound daily. We left them with the needed supplies, shared God’s Word and love with her and prayed for her. A week later when we did a follow up visit to her home we were shocked to see the condition in which she lived. Neglect is the only way to politely describe where and what she slept in. Despite her environment, she was smiling from ear to ear and was so happy that we came to visit her. We bathed her and cleaned the small remaining infected area. What a joy to see her walk with straight legs and to hear of her return to school! Later when we passed by the school we could hear the children singing the songs we taught them about God’s goodness and His love! The following day LetLet accompanied us to minister to a frightened little boy who suffered from seizures. God works in unique ways to fulfill His purposes!

LOCATION: Kaub Islet

Together with the Rural Health Unit, we traveled through mangroves and small islands before reaching the beautiful shores of Kaub. We were not prepared for the stark contrast of beauty and suffering that we were about to see. Here we ministered to over 80 villagers in much the same way as in Ezperanza. One very frail 9 yr old boy named Vincent came with bare feet and a very enlarged belly. He was severely malnourished and as hard as it is to believe, like many children, ate sand to stop the hunger pains!!! After a simple act of compassion such as cleaning wounds and providing vitamins, many little ones were clinging to us. They are starving physically and emotionally and it breaks our hearts that we are so limited in what we can do. Before leaving, we taught some parents how simple, yet effective hygiene, can prevent many of the diseases they encounter daily.



Home Fellowships embrace change

After much consideration and prayer, God has led us to take a step back from direct involvement and leadership over the 7 Home Fellowships that HIF pioneered. We have poured into these groups for the past 5 years. Villagers in these Home Fellowships have by God’s grace taken a stand for their faith despite persecutions and hardships. Though it is difficult for us to move on, we feel that we need to follow the example of Paul. Despite the concerns and trials he foresaw, he knew that true growth would only come in his absence. Instead of depending on him, the body needed to set their hope and confidence in the Lord alone. During the next 2 months we will be helping walk them through this transition.

The overall response of the members has been optimistic. One member testified that God is preparing her to step out and share her faith and God’s Word within the Home Fellowships. During one of her daily devotional times, God gave her the boldness to speak out what God imparted to her through His Word. As she read, she felt as though she was encouraging her brothers and sisters in the Lord. She was so excited to be doing it, and then she realized she was alone. It was the next day that we shared about our plan to take a step back and let them function as the body of Christ. In faith and joy she shared that she is ready and went on to encourage others that the time has come to go to the next level in their walk with the Lord.
Monthly our staff will join each group as well gather them for special events and seminars. Pray for wisdom. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to cover these groups. This new step has given us more time and energy to focus on Children and Youth Ministries. They are hungry for God’s Word and are thriving with our increased involvement in their lives. We glorify and lift His name on high as He leads us!!

Please continue to keep all these needs in prayer. Pray that God will give us wisdom and protection as we reach out to those facing hopeless and troubling circumstances. As always, pray that those we minister to not see us, but Jesus and the eternal Hope found in Him alone.

In the Lords hand
Derek Van Ryckeghem

April Report

Positive changes in our Medical Mission Clinic (MMC)

God has blessed and used our clinic to tangibly extend His love to the poor who suffer from many sicknesses and diseases. The Picture to the right is a table full of roundworms. This is one of many common parasites in our area that fill children's bellies. Our work in the clinic has established a bridge into the communities surrounding Hope For The Island. Through this connection, people have come to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Home Fellowships have been established and we have been given influence with the local government!!

For all this we thank God who has helped us reach so many of our goals! There is one area that we feel we continue to hit a wall. We have not seen improvement in the quality of life or an overall progression in villagers’ health. We offer counseling to each patient to help them prevent many of the sicknesses and diseases they face. Unfortunately, most people willfully choose to disregard our counsel and at the same time expect that they can get medicine anytime the sickness returns. Taking medicine obviously meets a short term goal, but prolonged use and abuse of medicines will have many negative effects. It is for this reason that we are attempting to change our approach.

On April 3 we held a 1 day seminar in connection with our municipal rural health center. The seminar focused on sickness and disease prevention. All those wanting to remain beneficiaries of our MMC must first undergo one of these scheduled trainings. Each person is given a list of diseases and the practical preventative techniques we expect them to apply. During our follow up home visitations we will be able to determine if the patients have made steps towards change. They will be held accountable to do their part if they hope to continue to avail of free medicines. We want them to see the medicines as a privilege not a right. It is our hope that parents will learn and take responsibility for the health and well being of their family. It is with this long term goal in mind that we are making changes. It is our hope to impact future generations.

Art program – update!

The response to this initiative has been encouraging! We have 48 participants ranging from 10-29 yrs. Each one of these young artists has the potential and desire to develop their skills. They are excited about the possibility this will give them to earn income and contribute to the needs of their family. The top three were awarded cash prizes (see picture), however all participants are sponsored with materials and training over the next 4 months. By September we have an artist friend coming from Maui who will help refine their gifts and teach more advanced techniques. By October we hope to display their art in resorts and sell it through our gallery. Please keep this livelihood project in prayer as well as the discipleship opportunities HIF will have throughout the training period.

Answer to prayer!

Last week during one of our weekly scheduled Home Fellowships, Jenn encountered a very sick baby. The child had severe pneumonia and a high fever. Jenn watched as his little chest heaved up and down as he struggled to take in even a little air. With a numb expression on their faces, the parents were prepared to accept that their baby was going to die that night. Having no money even for supper that evening, they had no hope to cling to. This is the hopeless reality that many families face; the possibility of losing a child to a sickness that could be treated. Pneumonia hits the top of the list for reasons children die in our area.

I quickly drove the baby with his mother and father to a small hospital in the south of our Island late that afternoon. All along the way I was praying hard. The sound coming from his little lungs still rings in my ears. It seemed as though he was slipping in and out of consciousness. He was immediately treated at the hospital. The doctor shook his head in frustration to see yet another child with such severe pneumonia admitted that day. As with Mark Anthony, we chose to believe in faith God's diagnosis over that of the doctor's and we prayed. Thank God that in a matter of days his health was restored! He is now back home, happy and breathing free! The total cost that HIF spent to see hope come to this child was $25. It's hard to imagine that a mere $25 stood in the way of this child having hope for life beyond that night!

Closing program!

Our Foundational Learning Center Preschool completed the year on March 25! The closing program went well as the children proudly presented songs, dances and memory verses. Each child was honored with certificates and ribbons for their many achievements throughout the year. Our theme was "Children are a gift from God". We were blessed to have a friend from Canada visiting who gave an encouraging message to the parents to fulfill their responsibility to care and nurture that special gift from God!

Blessings and thanks to all for your partnership in helping make this work possible through your prayers and support! As mentioned in February update, we need to construct a new preschool building for our upcoming June school year.