ALIBA – We go and we serve at Amy For Africa.
We never know what obstacles that will be thrown our way, including the very thought of stepping into mostly Muslim villages like the one Saturday afternoon in Alibi.
There’s no fear because we know who is in control.
The 22-member mission team is finding itself to be adaptable during this medical mission to Moyo. Coachable is the word that comes to mind, too. Nobody questions whatever is asked of them.
They go and they do. Period.
Brent McKee’s t-shirt was soaked with sweat about 30 minutes into duty of drawing blood to check for Hep B. All of our matching gray t-shirts were similarly soaked as well. From around 11 a.m. to about 4:30 p.m. the work continued in several different medical areas with long, long lines at every stop. Our AFA doctors, Maggie Lawentmann and Bill Stephenson, did their normal diagnosing and treating with calm confidence. They are rock stars for Jesus, it’s simple as that.
Veteran nurse Randi Bowling stepped into a doctor’s role as well and that led to more receiving attention. It wasn’t hard for Randi to make the transition with her caring attitude and years of experience.
Tabby Loan and Amy Blankenbeckley were the nurses for Dr. Maggie and Randi and Chris Compston was the nurse for Dr. Bill. They saw at least 250 patients. and the people from the village stood in long lines all day.
Brent McKee and Steff Bowling drew the blood again for the Hep B shots and stayed busier than anybody in the village. They looked at long lines all day long.
Kathy Whitely and Kyrie Rice ran the wound clinic for a while. Kylie loves the little children, ALL the little children of Moyo. She is incredible with them and works the crowd better than any of us.
Kathy and Amy had a special mother-daughter moment where they worked together in the wound center. They attended and graduated from nursing school together but had never served as nurses together until yesterday in Aliba.
Katie Miller and Skylar Compston worked the physical therapy unit. Katie is going to be one fine physical therapist. She learned the Aliba word for hurt after a short time. Skylar is a young one, only 16, but maybe the most willing of the group to do whatever she is told. God has big plans for her. Count on it.
Word is beginning to spread about this medical mission even in remote places like Alibi, which is a 90-minute drive from our home base in Moyo town. They love to see the bus coming filled with joy and happiness. We carry hope with us.
Out of respect for us they suspended the Muslim prayer time for the day. That is the impact of AFA and that is huge. The village leader also asked us for Bibles. Re-read that: He asked us.
We’re getting better with every day that passes. Roles are beginning to be established including that of our general, Amy Compston. Somebody has to lead and Gen. Amy does it well. She had everybody organized in a matter of minutes, deploying her talented army to different areas. Amy doesn’t do anything without thought and prayer and making the medical mission work better was at the top of her list. It showed on Saturday and it all went better because or her leadership/organizational skills. That’s why today’s MVP goes to her. She could be MVP every day for what she does for AFA.
That’s not to say there weren’t other terrific candidates – everybody who came on this trip is an MVP for whatever they offer. It really is team that is put together to serve in a special way. We reached literally thousands today, touching them with medicines, clothes, a hug and a prayer. Bibles were handed out and the little village of Alibi was a far better place after we left than when we arrived.
We came in Jesus name so they got a visit from the Master and Maker of all things, too. We couldn’t leave them with a better gift.
TOMORROW: Church and visits to the Moyo Babies Home and the Moyo Hospital.