Missionary Report:
Teresa Davidson
An evil had penetrated the land…and it was still there. It had stolen the strength of the protectors, the economy of the nations, the voice of the people, the fathers of the children, the histories of the cultures, and the very life of the country. People were still suffering under the oppression of this evil; you could see it in the depths of their dark eyes. Evidence of it lay as skin sagged on long, thin bones. You could see it as they lay in the hot sun, too weak to protect themselves from its rays. You could hear it in the mothers’ wails as their children succumbed to its vile force. You could even feel it as the drums pounded the red dust of the hot earth. What was this great evil? Dared anyone speak its name aloud?
HIV/AIDS is a vicious evil Africa is fighting…and they are losing this battle. Our medical/construction team of 12 saw great evidence of this as we ministered in South Africa and Zambia this June. But where there is suffering and oppression, God reveals Himself miraculously. We also saw spectacular evidence of this.
Our first week was spent in South Africa with a local missionary, Ilma Hall, in a village named Moleketla. We worked with a preschool, providing health assessments on the children and fixing their roof, fences, gate and windows. We also set up a free medical clinic, working with a local health care provider and were able to spend an afternoon doing health care in people’s homes. We also worked with Horizon International’s missionaries Andries and Nelly van der Merwe, touring their facilities, learning about their vision, meeting the orphaned children and doing some home health visits.
If all we provided was our medical and construction services, our trips would not be worth the effort or resources expended. Our teams follow God’s instructions to first meet the physical needs of the people…then meet their spiritual needs. Each patient we see in clinic is presented the wonderful message of salvation, and given the opportunity to respond. Hundreds came to Christ through the ministry of our team this June. The overworked church staff and volunteers in Moleketla told our team that we were the only mission team to come help them in over a year. They also said they felt encouraged and experienced revival among their own group. To God be the glory! Please pray for this church as they follow up on all the people we encountered that week. Pray for the revival in the village that we so fervently worked toward. Pray for strength and encouragement for the staff and volunteers as they do this work. And please pray for the chief of Moleketla, for he gave his life to Christ during a home health visit that week!
After a weekend spent on safari with our South African partners in missions, we headed to work and minister at Zimba Wesleyan Mission Hospital in Zambia. We covet your prayers while we are on these trips, and see evidence of God’s answers daily. Each time we enter a country with medications, I as team leader, take a risk. In Africa, “rules” tend to change based on the person and/or mood of the day, so there are usually hiccoughs. When stopped by customs officials in Zambia, things got a little “interesting”. God protected me and we were able to pass with only a small delay and questioning. Please pray for an American team currently ministering in Zambia. These same customs officials confiscated the team leader’s passport and are threatening arrest for bringing in a restricted medication.
The week spent at the mission hospital was very special. This 100-bed hospital was operating with no physician at the time of our mission. Our medical staff came along side the local staff members, providing them with assistance, and in some cases, a much needed break in their work. Several patients really made an impression on our team. One of those patients was little George. He was brought into the hospital late in his illness and extremely sick. His eyes were open and staring, every breath a struggle. We were able to get an IV in (good job Jenn!) and start IV fluid and various medications we had brought. I didn’t have much hope for little George to live through the night. So we did what we could…then we prayed. I am so grateful to our King to be able to say that George survived! To God be the glory for this miracle of his life!
There are so many stories to tell about patients and families we were able to minister to in the hospital. Like the survival of a 13 year old girl who had fallen into a fire and was badly burned. Or the two very tiny premature babies in the maternity ward. Or the lady who sat in the dirt outside and had her relatives change her dressings on her legs. And the 2 week old baby with a blistering rash all over its body.
I praise God for the members of this team, who faithfully followed God’s calling on their lives. That not only includes the 12 members who physically went to Africa, but also the members who gave (time, encouragement, money, supplies) and those who prayed. We are currently organizing supplies and raising support for the next trip. If you are interested in further information on how to help…how to go…or how to sponsor a child in Africa, please contact Teresa Davidson at teresa@jtdavidsonhomes.com or (319)841-8061. We will be going back next year…who’s going with us?