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MAMOU
Led by the Lord
to come to the clinic.
YOROSSO, MALI, AFRICA
November 1-14, 2008
On Saturday November 8, Mamou came to our clinic in Yorosso. The Christians in the area were very surprised to see him at the clinic because of his reputation of practicing fetishism. After his consultation, he was led to an area where he granted permission to the pastors to pray for him. Then he came to the nursing area to have a dressing done. Mamou has had leprosy for years and his skin needed dressings. We had the following dialogue: "Mamou, did you know we are Christians?" His answer was "yes" in his language. Then. "If you know we are Christians, why did you come here? He answered, "Because you are Christians." So the nurse responded "Then, let me tell you the story about the love of our God". Right there, Mamou responded to this love and wanted to know more about Jesus.
We went to visit him in his village the next day. Mamou promised us he would go to church. Since we came back to our homes, we have heard that Mamou has been going to church and has brought his 18 fetishes to the church to be destroyed. His new church family welcomed him and participated in the ceremony where Mamou burned his fetishes while the people from the church sang hymns of praise.
We are praying that he will remain strong to his commitment and that he will feel the Lord's presence in all aspects of his life.
Next November (2009), the medical outreach will take place in the village of Mahou where Mamou resides, where most of the people are involved in some kind of fetishism and are constantly living in fear.
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Congratulations
To Luz on the birth of her baby Ibeth born the 16th of October 2008.
Luz and Alicia have been members of the MMI staff in Peru since 2004.
(photo: Luz Chaisa, Ibeth, Alicia Quispe)
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NEXT PROJECTS
Jan 8- 23
Medical/construction
Jan 23 - Feb 6
Medical
Feb 6 - 20
Medical/construction
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Dear MMI friends, 
We just returned from an outreach in Lima Peru. The team worked on the flank of a mountain, where many famiies have made their home. No donkeys, nor large bulls, no sheep nor sheperds like in the nativity scene, but there were many small humble homes reminding us of the humble home where the Lord was born. There was a lot of joy and laughter. No one was talking about the economic crisis. What crisis? They live day by day in "economic crisis". They are the people who worked for others for a few dollars a day and they live with the constant worries of everyday life. What were we to learn from these people? The answer is that poor or rich, our life is in the hand of the Lord and our hope and purpose are in HIM.
May Christmas bring you the blessings of being with friends and family during this season and experience the joy and the hope we have in the assurance of HIS presence, HIS love, and HIS care for each of us.
Happy celebrations!
Happy Birthday, Jesus!
And thank you for joining us this year in ministry!
See you in 2009! Madeleine Allard, Director |
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Dental Ministry in Panama
(by Murray Carpenter Sept 26-Sept 6)
 MMI returned to Panama this fall to host a team of dentists from Florida.
The team came with 6 dentists, 2 dental hygienists, with various helpers.
They felt that the outreach was one of their most fulfilling short term mission. They connected very closely with the locals. The team presented the evaluation sheets to the pastors at the end of the outreach as a reminder of their responsibilities to follow up in ministry. It was a very emotional moment for everyone.
(in the photo: Matt Henry DDS, the son of Dr. Dan Henry, a veteran in dental ministry) |
 Submitted by Lynette Zuidema
Stretched in challenging working environment.
The
main reason I was so excited to serve in Mali was to work with one of
the poorest populations in the world. The people we've seen in our
clinic this week lack the most basic of health care. We've had the
chance to treat wounds that start as an easily treatable problem, but
are allowed to fester and worsen. One man I've met is Patrice who has
come twice a day for IV antibiotics and dressing changes.
As I'm
being stretched serving in a new environment, with limited supplies,
with chickens and flies buzzing around me, I am humbled by this man.
We don't speak the same language, but love greeting each other
everyday, and I know he's grateful for our care. I know he warms my
heart, and trust that he sees Jesus through our work.
(photo: Lynette giving treatment to Patrice -- Patrice will come back in January to our clinic in Bamako where he will receive a skin graft of his wound on his left leg. We received news that all skin grafts took well from out last outreaches in October and November and one of the men is testifying of the Lord's goodness. After 17 years of having a leg ulcer, he is now healed after his skin graft. His leg is completely healed.)
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A gift that lasts (submitted by Christine Berg - Peru December 2008)
 God showed me that serving Him is not about how many prescriptions are filled or how many patients are seen. Loving the Lord is about loving others; the members of our team, the patients, the families, and all the children that generously share their hugs and kisses.
I learned that even though I can help others with my resources and skills, by biggest gift to others is loving them just as Christ loves us. By sharing Christ with them, they receive hope and joy, which lasts far longer than any tangible thing that we could give them.
(Christine is a nurse working in an intensife care unit at Stanford hospital in San Francisco, California) | |
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We thank you for your participation, and your ministry throughout the year 2008. You have blessed so many people and many have found a new Hope in Christ. And you have blessed us also with your prayers and encouragements. Each one of you are serving with your gifts and talents. It is always a delight to see how strangers can build such a strong bond in such a short experience. We invite you to join us again in 2009.
We have posted new projects for 2009, trusting that the Lord will provide for each one of them.
We hope to see you again this year on the mission field.
Wishing to all a very intimate Christmas with your family and friends. May the season bring you joy as your celebrate the birth of our Saviour. And may the New Year bring you new ventures as you walk trustingly in our Lord and Friend.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
MMI staff and friends.
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