Monday, April 7, 2008

Looking To The Future

There will be a transition in our work in the years to come. It has been our heart to give this work into the capable hands of our Indonesian staff--they are smart and dedicated. We are building the infrastructure while selected members of our team are being trained. It will be a number of years before this transition is completed but we are now investing in the future.

Well over 50 young people have completed the one year medical course taught by Esther Scarbough. They follow that training with a one year internship while serving at our clinic and mobile clinics. They get very good training and experience in those two years. They would be close to a starting EMT--with a focus on tropical diseases.

Nius and Melly are in Medical School in Jakarta. They are working hard and doing well in their studies. Neither one of them would have a chance to get this education because they come from poor families and this door would never open for them. It really is a miracle they are in Medical School.

Melly was short of support and the date for payment to enter school was coming. She decided if she could not go then she would give her support for Nius. Melly is a jewel and was willing to give all her support away to help Nius. This shows her heart and the kind of leader she is going to be. She is loved and highly regarded.

Nius is one of the bravest men I have ever met. He is a man of integrity with a desire to serve the poor. He does not want to get wealthy--he wants to help the suffering poor. He is also doing well in his studies. It is hard work but he is giving his all. This is a God given gift in his mind.

Our medical work needs more than two doctors to provide for the needs that we see on a daily basis. We now have two others in nursing school, two in dental school, one in pharmacy school. and two are training to be midwives. These are the ones we are investing in for the future. The time will come when we will hand the baton to them to run the medical work. That will be an awesome day.