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Dugger May 2008 Email Update
15 May 2008
Hi everyone,
Greetings from Madera, California where the grape vines are all green and the sun is shining! Time sure has flown since we’ve been here in the States, but we expected that. We feel like we’ve accomplished a lot during this time, particularly recuperating from the stress of our ministry and receiving restorative care. It has been great to have time to spend together as a family, and we’ve even had some time to do some rock climbing (our family “obsession”, as many of you know). We’ve also enjoyed visiting with many family and friends and catching up after being gone so long, even if it’s just been by phone in many cases. We count every minute of this as a blessing.
Meanwhile, we remain closely (sometimes daily) in touch with our team back in Papua. The clinic continues to operate, although at a slower pace, in our absence, and it sounds like things are going fairly well. Ben Bogle, RN continues to work part-time with our Papuan staff, and I’m sure he has his hands full. Having internet access available is a huge advantage, and allows me to continue to participate in giving advice on difficult cases, and even forward these cases to specialists here in N. America and Malaysia. For instance, Ben can send digital images of x-rays or photomicrographs (digital images from our microscopes) to me, and then I can render an opinion or forward these images on to a specialist. It’s pretty amazing!
The HIV and TB problem in Papua continues to grow. There are several organizations heavily involved in educating Papuans in these diseases, but relatively little effort to actually care for those already suffering from them. We are seeking help from various organizations so that we’ll be able to increase our role in this important ministry, but so far without success. One current concern is in the care of leprosy patients. We don’t have a great number, but they do trickle in, and the government, which used to provide leprosy medications (as they sometimes do for TB) has informed us that they no longer can provide these medications. These are the practical realities of working in medical ministry, and we can have joy in knowing that we always have the ability to offer spiritual healing in Christ to every patient, regardless of their physical suffering. That’s what makes this type of ministry so exciting and rewarding!
Grace continues with her book-keeping responsibilities for CrossWorld Papuan field while here in the US, thanks to the internet. Her work in this area will expand, beginning next month, as she assumes financial tasks from our friends the Janofski family as they return to the States for home assignment. Tricia Pottinger and her family will be leaving for furlough in June. Tricia has been the cornerstone of setting up and organizing the day-to-day operation of the hospital’s front office, and she’ll be missed greatly.
A common hardship for missionary families on furlough is when other families also go on furlough. There are several in Wamena who will be leaving the field. Claire’s class may be down to about 3 kids in the 4th grade and she is still adjusting to the idea of several of her friends being gone when she gets back. Another common hardship is the loss of pets while they’re away. We’re saddened that our pet Cockatoo, Yukon, was stolen last month, and last week our dog, Denali, disappeared and hasn’t been seen since. Yes, they’re just pets, but these “little” things can take an emotional toll on our family….
We have had encouraging news that a Dutch nurse and her family are making concrete steps toward possibly joining our team in Wamena. They are headed to Bible school in England in the next few months, and plan to come to Wamena to visit this summer. We pray that God will clearly lead them according to His will as they make these plans and see for themselves the ministry opportunities available in Papua. If they do feel called to join our team, they will then head to Bandung (a city in Java) for an estimated 9 months of language study before they would join us in Wamena. Please pray for them as they make this big step out in faith.
We continue to look forward to returning to Papua at the end of June, however we have to await the completion of our visa application process before we can return. There are many steps to this process, and as usual we can never be sure how long the whole process will take. The paperwork has to pass through many government offices for approval, and we ask that you pray that these officials will actually be present in the offices (often they are away for days or weeks), and that they’ll give their necessary approval. Again, it’s all part of the adventure of working in a place like Indonesia!
We truly appreciate the prayers and financial support so many of you provide to make possible this ministry to a remote place with many suffering people. Please know that our Papuan staff (and many of our patients) are aware of your involvement, and are very thankful. We often mention you by name to them. If you would be willing to email us a photo of yourselves, we would like to establish a bulletin board or photo book for our staff and patients to see who is making this work possible. They also often pray for individual supporters of the hospital, especially those with specific prayer requests.
News Alert from Hillcrest International School (HIS), Sentani, Papua, Indonesia:
For the 2008-2009 school year, the school is still in need of: 4th grade teacher 6th grade teacher High School Social Studies Teacher Computer Network Manager
If you’re looking for more information about the school, check out their website: http://www.hismk.org/. You can contact Grace for more information too.
Serving together
Kim
Temporary US address: 7509 Road 29-1/2 Madera, CA 93637 Cell: 559/455-3379
Indonesia address: Box 239 Sentani 99352 Papua, INDONESIA
If you’d like to begin or continue supporting this ministry, you can mark your donations
Project 37707
and send to:
CrossWorld, PO Box 306, Bala-Cynwyd, PA 19006.
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