Pediatrician Washes Feet in Madagascar

As a girl, she knew in her heart God was calling her to someday be a doctor. And this knowledge gave her the determination to become a pediatrician. Medical school is not an easy prospect for anyone, but the fact that she was a young, single mom with a baby put her trust in God to the test. 

If you ask her today, Dr. Lori Buffa will say that she ultimately succeeded because of God’s grace. With an astonished grin, she says, “I know it was God, because there were people in school who were smarter than me that didn’t make it. I know I never could have made it on my own.” 

For Lori, taking care of children has been a ministry, not a career. So when she had the chance to join Joyce Meyer Ministries’ Hand of Hope medical/dental missions team on their trip to Madagascar, she was determined to go. 

It was clear this mission would take her out of her comfort zone. Madagascar is a struggling country due to intense poverty, inadequate health care services, lack of food and clean water, and violent crimes that are common in areas where desperate people live. But the anticipation in Lori’s heart about God’s mission for her on foreign soil kept her excitement and expectation high. 

From the beginning, she was touched by the gracious, thankful attitudes of the people as they waited patiently to receive care. Many needed basic treatment due to poor hygiene; a main source of bathing is a trash-infested lake and skin infections are common. The wound care team treated many pus-filled sores with worms in them. Infected teeth were also abundant, and the dental team pulled multiple teeth, bringing instant relief to people who had been living with constant pain. 

The team spent one whole day washing children’s feet and treating wounds with antibiotics and clean dressings. A generous donation allowed the Hand of Hope team to purchase socks and shoes, so many children walked away with clean, protected feet. Lori, who is a mother of two, shared that it was a humbling privilege to wash feet of children who had never had a decent bath before. That’s a tragic situation for any parent to have to experience. 

As a medical volunteer, Lori invested her money, time and heart to share Christ and love people half the world away from her home. And she’s praying about when she can go on her next God-appointed mission, which is inspiring and admirable, but not completely selfless determined that God sent me on this trip for ME, not so much for Madagascar,” she says.” 

If you’re a medical/dental professional, we’d love for you to join with us on an upcoming trip. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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He’d Saved for Years to Build Their Home – Nepal Earthquake

Tuicha, a truck contractor, has worked hard all his life to provide for his family. He’s in his early 70s, but has had to continue working to care for his son, who is differently-abled. 

Though life has not been easy, he had recently saved up enough to start building his own home. Though it would be small, they were very happy. 

But when the earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, all of that happiness crumbled right alongside his home. 

Heartbroken, they wondered how they would go about rebuilding their shattered lives. As rescue teams and aid started to trickle into Lalithpur district, Tuicha felt a stirring of hope. 

Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions, has been able to reach out to many people and among them was Tuicha. As they handed out food supplies, blankets and first aid, Tuicha’s wife was thrilled. She now had the supplies she needed to cook her family a proper meal! 

Because of your generosity and the kindness of our team in Nepal, Tuicha and his wife are filled with hope about the future and believe they will be able to rebuild their home again very soon! 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Water Filters Bring Hope to a Community – Nepal Earthquake

A few weeks ago, they were living happy, normal lives. Today, they stare at their water supply, fearful to drink even a sip because of broken pipes and contamination from the sewage lines. 

After an earthquake rocked Nepal on April 25, many went to live in makeshift shelters, and had to look to each other for food, supplies, blankets, tents and first-aid. Even as help started pouring in to the nation, Bhulbari, a small town had not received aid and its people were beginning to wonder if help would ever come. 

Our team observed this, and not only brought them food and supplies, but also a few clean water filters. 

Working together as a community, the people made sure that each person would receive their share of clean drinking water. With each filter proving to be of use to several families, the people of Bhulbari now have a reason to hope that with time, things will get better. 

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

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Emergency Relief & Medical Care Reaches Families in Nepal

Last week, our Hand of Hope Asia team visited Kolkana, one of the areas that has suffered the most devastation from the 7.8 earthquake in Nepal. 

Families are desperately trying to salvage their belongings from the rubble. And with many homes partially or completely destroyed, they are left to sleep out in the open, where it is raining and temperatures can drop to 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Our team was able to provide 75 of these families with emergency provisions of rice, noodles, pulses (legumes) and sugar. They also provided blankets and tents to those living without shelter.  

Helping Pastor Samuel

We’ve met with Pastor Samuel, our Hand of Hope coordinator in Nepal, who is living in a tent at the church grounds, along with his family and other families from his church. 

We also worked with him to pass out essential relief items to 30 families at his feeding center in Lalitpur, including food, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and blankets. 

First Aid Medical Care

Our medical volunteers have partnered with the Red Cross to set up an emergency First Aid clinic right in the middle of the inhabited area, so the people are able to easily access it. 

They found many people didn’t seek medical attention right away and tried to care for themselves, tying rags and pieces of cloths around muscle tears, sprains and wounds. The medical team was able to assess the people (many of them elderly) and provide medical care to treat their wounds. 

Future Plans

Work in Nepal has only just begun and our team will continue to assess needs in areas like Dolkha and Sindhupalchowk to provide assistance to villages that haven’t yet been reached. They are also looking at long-term options to rebuild homes and churches destroyed in the earthquake.  

Thank you so much for partnering with us to reach out in disasters like this. It’s because of your donations that we are able to be on the ground immediately providing relief.  

Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.

Follow Hand of Hope on Facebook | Twitter