Hello Friends and Family,
Much has gone on in the past month. We have started having friends and missionaries come to visit us at our Safe Haven Oasis (http://lifeimpactministries.net/locations/safe-haven-oasis/) As we have mentioned in past emails, we have joined an organization that provides a safe place for christian workers to go and a confidential place to talk and recuperate before returning to their place of service. We joined the non-profit in October and will host christian missionaries and pastors. We want to provide this free or with very minimal input from the visitors. Please look us up, it is a great organization. And for our missionary and pastor friends that read these blogs- a valuable resource for you! Please pray that God will lead those to our Oasis that we have particular skills to help, to be able to meet their needs so that they can be rejuvenated and reconnected with each other and God, to return to service!
So Liberia is actively on our minds again! Not that it hasn’t been for that past many months, but at the forefront again. A friend of ours is in Liberia now- Greg Saunders MD. He went when I couldn’t go. It seems like it would be helpful to have another surgeon there to help Dr. Seton when Greg leaves. I cannot go till the early new year. As you are well aware- Ebola has fallen off the US news map since there isn’t any here. But it is still increasing weekly in those three most affected countries. Sierra Leone had 400 new cases last week, and Liberia and Guinea about 1/3 that number. There is much apparent stigma associated with those who have recovered from Ebola. So there are orphans and those who have lost many family members that now are outcasts of the society or shunned. I have heard that the rate of increase in the cities has declined, as education and more treatment beds become available. An Cooper Hospital, where I will go ,and other hospitals have started providing non-ebola care. It sounds like Cooper is treating many birth and gynecology problems, and many stroke patients. Since there hasn’t been much medical care otherwise- usual diseases of hypertension and diabetes are going under-treated. As I mentioned before, I attended the Ebola training course at the Center of Disease Control. It was a well thought out course with representatives from Doctors without Boarders and World Health Organization. We trained in the disease symptoms and treatment and then practiced donning and doffing (putting on and off) the PPE (personal protective equipment). I guess I will now be applying those principles. I am looking (with a travel agent) for tickets. Re-looked for life insurance- which doesn’t appear to be an option in epidemic areas. And am mentally preparing for service in a difficult area. Also am enjoying each moment I have with my lovely wife!! I pray that God lead in my life, and that I follow His will for me- now and in Liberia. Greg
Greg and Audrey Shank
www.missiondocs.org
http://lifeimpactministries.net/locations/safe-haven-oasis/