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| Lydia Before |
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| Lydia After |
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| Achiever After |
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| Achiever Before |
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| Elliott After |
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| Elliott Before |
His EEG results came back with significant improvement with his brain activity! God is so good! I am beyond thrilled with this news. It makes all of the ups, downs and fears of the past few months worth it.
While this news brings me joy, there is so much that is breaking my heart. Our mission team has spent the last 2 weeks serving the people of Cameroon in various ways. There are children at the same orphanage where Elliott is from that are not having their medical needs met. Some of this is a lack of education on the part of the Orphanage staff and the other is simply lack of funds to be able to care for so many children.
I witnessed children with severe diaper rash, coughs, green goop seeping from their eyes and yellow fluid draining from their ears. We provided help for those that we could and I made phone calls to solicit additional support for the others.
The Director of the Orphanage and I had a talk the other day about the lack of resources and the number of children that they have to care for. That very morning, they turned away a child that someone was seeking a home for. We have no idea what the fate of that child will be.
My heart continues to break every time I walk out of a place where people are suffering. 3 years ago, I came to Cameroon for the first time, not knowing why I was coming. I didn't want to come. I got on the plane telling the Lord that I was coming out of sheer obedience. 2 days after arriving my heart was broken for the medical conditions of the people. I told the Lord, I am not a Dr. There is only so much that I can do. What am I supposed to do with everything that I see? The Lord has filled me with love for Cameroonians and placed a burden in my heart to build a medical clinic to help the children at the orphanage as well as needy people within the community.
As a ministry we have been able to help a few children here and there with various medical needs. Elliott is the latest child that we/you are assisting. Traveling from city to city and hospital to hospital for sometimes simple things has renewed my passion to bring quality medical care to the people of Cameroon. I have watched people suffer needlessly and in some instances, people have died when they only needed simple treatment.
Celebration Community Church has "caught the vision" of assisting with the medical needs for the people of Cameroon. They have identified buildings that can be put together in a weeks time and have a team of people who are committed to coming in March of 2013 to help erect the first temporary structure for the medical clinic. We have land available here. What we need now is finances to make it happen. The cost of the 3 buildings being made, and shipped to Cameroon is approximately $50,000. We will not know how much Custom's duties on the buildings are until they are in the country. The company making the building needs a deposit of $8,000 to begin construction. My goal is to raise 1/3 of the money by August 1, 2012. This means we need 160 people to donate $100 by this date. Are you one? Will you prayerfully consider joining us in the effort to change the spiritual health and physical health of our Cameroonian brothers and sisters? Any gift of any size is also greatly appreciated.
My personal support needs have changed a bit since taking Elliott in. My new support goal is $1850 per month. This includes the $1,000 a month for living expenses, transportation, insurance in case I need emergency travel home etc. Elliott's needs are approximately $850 per month. (known costs) One week in Yaounde is $350, (we must travel at least once a month for a week to see the Neurologist and have all of his tests done) $250 monthly for medical tests and medication that he currently uses, $100 month for formula and $150 per month for a nurse to assist with his care part time. These are his known expenses. If he has other medical issues that come up this will vary.
My plan for the summer was to come home and begin to raise money for the medical clinic as I raised my support for the next year. Elliott is going to need more care than the orphanage can provide and because of this, I have cancelled my flight and will stay in Cameroon until he his in good shape. This has put me in the interesting situation of support raising from the field. I will be honest when telling you, this makes me nervous. I haven't had to be in this position before but I am taking it as my faith muscles stretching once again. My entire life is a faith walk and this is just one more step in the journey. If you are interested in giving, you can click on the DONATE button above. All gifts are 100% tax deductible.
If you are interested in donating specifically for the medical clinic, you may also mail checks to:
Celebration Community Church, 805 10th Ave. North, Clear Lake, Iowa, 50428 - please put Cameroon Medical Clinic on the Memo line.
When I think about all of this, it's daunting but my God is bigger than all of this and I know that He will provide for what He has called me to do.
Thank you for all of your faithful support over the years and especially of late with Elliott. His life is sure to be a testimony to those around him as well as those in your community. He already has a great testimony in that most Dr.'s here wondered how he could be alive a few months ago.I see the progress that he has made in a short time, and it brings me joy. There are still days that I cry and I hate to watch him suffer but I know that God is taking care of him and the Lord will see us through. I'm looking forward to the day of his total healing and the joy we will have when we celebrate, celebrate, celebrate!
