More than 1,500 people received care through a medical camp organized by GFA missionaries (pictured).
Medical camps are among the most effective ways to bring poor, impoverished communities the health care they desperately need. In one particular village, hundreds of men, women and children suffered from symptoms of COVID-19. Recognizing the need of this village, GFA missionaries organized a medical camp, with the help of a professional medical team, to ensure these precious individuals received proper care and attention. In total, the medical camp showed care and love to 1,500 people.
Woman receives care at a free medical camp hosted by GFA World.
The cry of suffering, fear-gripped people is heard all over the land of Myanmar. Amid an intolerable situation caused by political upheaval and COVID-19 surges, GFA missionaries are doing all they can to be a source of comfort for those in grief. Pastors, youth and women from more than 400 churches in Myanmar are heavily involved in risking their lives to reach out to extend help in various ways throughout the country.
Due to the present crisis in the land, many people have lost their jobs, falling into poverty without even having a proper meal for the day. About 70 volunteers from our churches have carried food supplies to various regions, visiting house to house during the past several months and helping the neediest.
GFA workers risk their lives to reach out …
Adding to the unrest in the land, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused people more devastation. With no proper medication and a lack of oxygen supplies, many people have died. During this crucial juncture, our church stepped out with 80 volunteers to carry oxygen cylinders in trucks to several parts of the country and visited house to house, rescuing many people from dying due to lack of oxygen supply.
People suffered not just because of lack of oxygen but also because they could not afford treatment, medicines or food. Our volunteer team, with the help of professional doctors and nurses, took this opportunity to travel throughout the country to supply medicine, provide food supplies and help people in need of urgent medical care.
Medical camps such as this one offer free medical care to people who may otherwise have no access to health care.
What GFA pastor Souta witnessed grieved him. The people in the village were poverty stricken, marginalized, uneducated regarding health and hygiene and lived without proper sanitation or health-care facilities. As a result, they frequently suffered from various illnesses. Without access to medical treatment, or the funds to pay for it even if it were available, these people bore the burden of sickness the best they could.
Compelled to ease their suffering, Pastor Souta organized a free medical camp, hoping to bring positive change and restore health in the community. He partnered with local government leaders and medical professionals, who volunteered their time and expertise, to provide quality health care to people with none.
Doctors performed routine checkups and treated ailments such as the flu, colds, allergies, diarrhea, headaches, stomachaches and fever. Though these are common sicknesses, early detection is often key for successful treatment. People without access to medical care often suffer needlessly, sometimes even die, from treatable illnesses.
More than 100 people benefited from the camp, which also included free medication, HIV testing and bloodwork. Pastor Souta and his team rejoiced in the camp’s success and that they were able to show Christ’s love and care by helping the underprivileged, needy people in this way.
Medical camps such as this one offer free medical care to people who may otherwise have no access to health care.
While many came seeking medical help, 22-year-old Sani also sought spiritual help. She approached Pastor Souta, asking for prayer.
“I want to come to the church because I have been mentally stressed a lot,” Sani told him. “I want to get peace in my mind as well as in my family.”
The missionaries’ concern also impacted a doctor who participated in the program.
“I worked with many non-governmental organizations, but this type of care, love and commitment I am seeing for the first time,” he said. “I would like to work with this church again.”
Thanks to donors like you, GFA missionaries can minister to people in need spiritually and physically through free medical camps and other medical outreaches.
GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program helped Primia receive medical care and offered her family encouragement in a time of urgent need.
Primia’s throat burned. Each time the young girl took a sip of water, her throat protested. Every bite of food took effort to swallow. Her parents thought it might be a side-effect of the weather, but as the months passed, the pain grew worse. Belicia, Primia’s mother, took her to the hospital, where she found out Primia had a severe case of tonsilitis.
Unable to Afford Medicine
The doctor recommended Primia undergo surgery to relieve the girl’s pain and prevent it from getting even worse.
After the operation came the news that Belicia perhaps dreaded most: the cost. They couldn’t afford the medication needed post-surgery, a side-effect of the poverty that afflicted their family. Belicia worked cleaning houses, earning a small amount of money. Primia’s father worked, too, but he spent his income mostly on alcohol instead of on his family, so Belicia alone had to provide for Primia and her older brother.
Belicia went from person to person, asking for help. As she borrowed money, the distraught mother did her best to pay for Primia’s medication. Belicia’s efforts alleviated the immediate crisis, but questions loomed: How would she pay back the money she borrowed? How long would Primia need medication?
Help, Hope Given by GFA Workers
Then, one day, three GFA World child sponsorship workers visited Belicia at her home, having learned of the family’s struggles. Primia had been a member of the program for three years. Without her enrollment in the program, Primia would not have been able to continue in school.
Among the various benefits the young girl received, including proper nutrition and tutoring in her studies, what Primia gained from the most was the care and guidance of the staff. The teachers encouraged Primia to be her very best, correcting and inspiring where needed.
But this care didn’t extend only to Primia. After hearing of the family’s financial plight, the workers visited their home to offer prayer and encouragement. Tears welled in the harried mother’s eyes as they spoke. Desperate, Belicia asked if the staff could help. Could they pay for Primia’s medical expenses?
Yes, they responded, they could help.
Belicia couldn’t believe it. It seemed almost too good to be true. Relief poured over her heart, leaving her nearly speechless.
GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program helped Primia receive medical care and offered her family encouragement in a time of urgent need.
“There are not enough words to thank the help that is lent from [the program staff ],” Belicia said. “Today, my daughter is alive just because of the prayer and assistance from [the program]. I can never be able to forget this great aid.”
With the help Belicia received from the GFA workers, she would no longer have to worry about increasing debt. As Primia recuperated, the workers visited and checked on the young girl, offering prayer and encouragement for her and her family. They were committed to seeing Primia flourish so she could reach for a better tomorrow, no matter what difficulties she may face.
Thanks to your support, stories like Primia’s take place wherever GFA missionaries serve. These faithful men and women can bring Christ’s compassion to the communities they work in because of donors like you. May the Lord bless you!
Leprosy patients in Asia often experience stigma and isolation, but many, like the woman pictured, have found hope as GFA workers show God’s care and sometimes provide medical assistance.
At a glance, nothing looked remarkable about the cluster of homes separated from one another by small patches of grass, but an invisible barrier separated them from the surrounding city. The residents of these homes were leprosy patients, isolated from the outside world because others viewed them with fear.
Leprosy Leaves Little Hope
Of the 50 families living in this leprosy colony, almost all had at least two members with Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Though the disease is curable and leaves minimal damage if detected early enough, patients from poorer backgrounds, like the residents of this colony, lacked access to treatment. Many ended up with irreparable nerve damage, resulting in damaged toes, fingers, ears, nose and eyes.
“My husband and I [have been] lepers many years,” said Nadea, a resident at the colony who also suffers from kidney failure. The medicine she needs is expensive, and she can’t always afford it. “I cry always thinking about our situation.”
Like Nadea, many of the colony’s residents suffered from other diseases in addition to their leprosy, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma. Their poverty ensured they could not afford the necessary treatment. Begging was the only way they could alleviate their situation—until GFA workers intervened.
All Receive Treatment
A group of Sisters of Compassion, GFA workers, served among the leprosy patients, providing meals, cleaning their homes and clothes and dressing their wounds. Touched by the Sisters’ care, many of the colony residents asked them to pray for them and read the Bible to them. The Sisters treated everyone with kindness, looking past their disease to see who they were: real people with real needs.
Knowing the residents’ need for medical treatment, the Sisters of Compassion and other GFA workers organized a free medical camp.
One chilly day, the workers, together with two doctors from local hospitals, gathered the families in the colony. The doctors patiently examined the patients and prescribed medicine to about 300 adults and 200 children. One by one, each resident experienced God’s love through encouraging words, smiles and help.
“Thank you all for your unforgettable service,” Nadea said.
One of the doctors remarked, “I am incredibly blessed today to serve this underprivileged community. … It is a great help you have done [for] these poor people.”
Through the compassionate help of GFA workers, the people of this leprosy colony are finding hope. God’s love is breaking through every barrier that has kept them hidden in plain sight.
In this slum community, many people suffer from severe health problems they cannot afford to treat. Pastor Tarik arranged a free medical camp to provide the care they needed.
Tarik, a GFA-supported pastor, serves in the heart of one of the largest cities in Asia. Looking up from the squalor and poverty of the slums, he can see towering skyscrapers and landmarks, like pristine mountains rising above a murky swamp. The people he ministers to are among the most impoverished and underprivileged.
As Pastor Tarik serves this community, one thing has grown increasingly clear: People’s health is suffering. Heavy pollution, exposed sewage and lack of awareness about hygiene have caused breathing problems, heart disease and many other sicknesses to ravage the community, sometimes resulting in death. Families struggle every day just to survive, and they can’t afford to visit the doctor.
Seeing this need and determined to help these precious people, Pastor Tarik knew exactly what to do: He organized a free medical camp.
An Obstacle Removed
Although medical events had been held in the village before, they had seen little attendance. But a crowd showed up to Pastor Tarik’s medical camp, which was open and free for everyone.
In this slum community, many people suffer from severe health problems they cannot afford to treat. Pastor Tarik arranged a free medical camp to provide the care they needed.
Darasha, who attends Pastor Tarik’s church, was especially looking forward to the camp. Multiple health problems had taken their toll on the man. He suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure and epilepsy. Darasha attended the medical camp hoping he would find some form of relief.
In this slum community, many people suffer from severe health problems they cannot afford to treat. Pastor Tarik arranged a free medical camp to provide the care they needed.
While there, Darasha saw Sisters of Compassion visiting with the attendees, offering a helping hand and gentle smiles. Soon, it was Darasha’s turn to see the doctors.
The medical team listened to Darasha and offered treatment, advice and appropriate medicines to help him combat his illnesses. When they finished, Darasha sought out Pastor Tarik.
“Thank you for conducting such a helpful event,” Darasha said. “Please continue to have [these] events in our area so that many people like me can find a solution to their health problems.”
Around 186 people received treatment at the camp. Many of the attendees expressed interest in learning about Christ, whose love made the medical camp possible. One person told Pastor Tarik they would help the church with any future needs.
In this slum community, many people suffer from severe health problems they cannot afford to treat. Pastor Tarik arranged a free medical camp to provide the care they needed.
“I thank God,” Pastor Tarik says, “for the privilege to be a great help for the people in my neighbourhood.”
