From the Field

For years the Operating Theatre (OT) at Kudjip has been a place of healing.  Men, women and children have come and willingly placed their lives and the lives of those they love into the hands of the men and women working in the OT.   From the surgeon who does the operation, to the anesthesia men and women who provide the meds so the patients aren’t feeling pain and aren’t moving during the surgery, to the scrub nurses who assist the surgeons, to the central supply workers who make sure there are always clean instruments and drapes for surgery each plays a part in the healing that have occurred. We took the time last week to celebrate and remember how God has used the building, the old OT in the old hospital, and the people who have worked in the building, to bring healing both physically and spiritually to many lives.  We heard stories about the first patient Dr. Jim operated on 30 yrs ago, who have being in a coma for 3 days, woke up, gave his life to the Lord, and is now a pastor in a remote village; how people in provinces far from here, hear the name of Nazarene Church and have stories to share about how their lives were saved at Nazarene Hospital in the operating theatre; and how that OT is the reason we have 2 surgeons now, instead of one, and more. Margaret Mugang shared history of the Church of the Nazarene and the…
Source: Remembering days of old and looking forward to the Mountains ahead from Erin Meier – Asia Pacific

About 2 months ago, while playing basketball I felt some pain in my shoulder.  Having dislocated it 5 times in the past, I wasn’t too worried about it.  I took some normal precautions of rest, ice, antiinflammatory medicine and PT exercises to strengthen my shoulder.  After a month, it was still hurting me, and so I started to wear a sling on my R arm while at my house for some relief from the pain.  The sling did help at night, but my shoulder was still bothering me during the day while working.  I tried to rationalize that I needed my R arm to work, but finally, I broke down and started wearing the sling full time and have now become a one handed doctor with helpers. We have a volunteer family here and their 19 yo daughter wants to be a doctor, so she has agreed to be my scribe. Marissa joins me on rounds and in the clinic, writing my notes for me.  In payment for being my scribe, I try and teach Marissa a little something about medicine – what I am hearing, doing, feeling, and thinking. She seems to be enjoying the chance to be in the hospital and learning about medicine, and my shoulder is enjoying the rest of being able to be immobilized throughout the day. Ben and Jim have also volunteered their surgical services to cover my C-sections when I am on call, which is a blessing as well.           I have had…
Source: When one hand is not enough from Erin Meier – Asia Pacific

Southern Taiwan:  I know that it’s been a long time since we have posted on our blog – and I apologize.  As we were climbing into the van for departure to the next church on our visit schedule today, we realized that our bodies are getting a bit tired. In March we were full-speed ahead, getting ready for home assignment and the busy speaking schedule in the US and Canada.  After traveling thousands of miles and sharing with so many of you, we returned to Manila June 23rd and by the 25th of June, I (Todd) was headed to Indonesia with our team. Arriving back in Manila on the 1st of July, just 9 days later found Connie and I flying to Taipei to start a 10 day teaching and training tour across Taiwan. Pastors Conference We were so very blessed to share with the Yang Mei Church on Sunday the 12th, and then teach communications and Nazarene Mission International workshops for the Taiwan Pastor’s Conference during the week. Aboard the High Speed Rail from Taipei to S. Taiwan. Friday afternoon saw us climbing aboard a High Speed Rail from northern Taiwan to southern Taiwan, reaching speeds of 186 mph! Taiwan High Speed Rail Wow…covered in 96 minutes what would have taken more than 5 hours by car.  We’ve never gone that fast on the ground and not gotten airborne! Today has been a 15 hour day, traveling to and visiting with pastors and church members in 6 churches from…
Source: Teaching, Traveling, Trusting God in Taiwan – Thanks For Your Prayers! from Aebischer – Asia Pacific