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Plans change for HCM’s trip to Zimbabwe |
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 Pharmacist Allan Knowlden prays with and encourages a church member that was visited by the HCM team while in Zimbabwe.
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With medications and supplies in hand, a team of 12
volunteer healthcare providers arrived in Bulewago Zimbabwe, ready to set up a
typical HCM medical evangelism clinic for the community. Arrangements and plans had been laid out
months before for this five-day clinic to offer medical, dental, and optical
care as well as medications, health teaching, and spiritual counseling.
However, none had expected the curve ball that awaited them
as they arrived at the airport to meet with their host missionaries Jim and
Brenda Strysko. The Strysko's informed
the team that they had been denied the permission by the government to hold a
medical aid clinic in the community. All
the time and resources that had been invested in the trip would have appeared
to be futile to any outsider, to not fulfill the original purpose of the trip.
Nevertheless, the team readjusted their focus and decided to
offer God what they had-themselves.
When it was evident that the initial plan of a medical
evangelism clinic wasn't possible, the team and missionaries decided to
concentrate on the local church and what could still be done to serve it. A strategy of home visits focusing on prayer
was developed out of the situation.
Over the next few days, the team members went out two by
two, visiting families of the local church and spending time with them in
prayer. Medicine was set aside and
prayers for salvation, healing, and encouragement were at the forefront of each
visit. Several miraculous healings were
reported, such as blind eyes being opened, lame able to walk, and stroke
victims released from paralysis.
Team leader Katheen Ewing said that it was a wonderful
outcome to a different clinic situation.
"[It was a] true evangelism team," Ewing
said.
Health teaching also became a focus for this team. The team members held teaching sessions at
the church about hypertension, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS while the people waited
for individual prayer.
As it turns out, the medications and supplies brought by the
team were still put to good use-the team left them with the Stryskos to be used
in their medical outreaches to the community. Brenda is a nurse practicioner and works with a local clinic.
Despite an initial change of plans, this team was flexible
and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a total evangelism
outreach where the Hope that Heals was creatively shared.
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