Laura Matheny, R.N. - Medical Outreach Coordinator
A team of 39 volunteers recently traveled with us on our medical/dental outreach to a rural area in Ethiopia, Africa to provide the gift of medical and dental care to those in need. We met an overwhelming number of people in desperate need of even the most basic care. Throughout the week-long outreach, we had to remind ourselves that even though we may not have been able to help them all, it would be worth it even if we could change and help the life of just one.
On one of the days, we had a five year old boy with a large birth defect in his eye come into the clinic. This external cyst had grown on his eye and was protruding out to the point where he could no longer see or close his eye. Because of its repulsive appearance, the child and mother were considered outcasts of their village. As a result, they suffered from starvation. The child was transferred to the hospital by our team and with a simple, inexpensive surgery we were able to bless him with, the cyst will be removed and the child will regain his vision. His family will be accepted back into his community and the quality of his life will be drastically improved as he will no longer live with the shame of the physical deformity.
Jesus Himself said that he would leave the ninety-nine in search of the one. He was able to do that through our team on this outreach in Ethiopia. We were able to touch the lives of over 4,000 precious people, one by one, through the gift of free medical and dental care. We give honor to God for allowing us to participate in His mission across the earth.
On one of the days, we had a five year old boy with a large birth defect in his eye come into the clinic. This external cyst had grown on his eye and was protruding out to the point where he could no longer see or close his eye. Because of its repulsive appearance, the child and mother were considered outcasts of their village. As a result, they suffered from starvation. The child was transferred to the hospital by our team and with a simple, inexpensive surgery we were able to bless him with, the cyst will be removed and the child will regain his vision. His family will be accepted back into his community and the quality of his life will be drastically improved as he will no longer live with the shame of the physical deformity.
Jesus Himself said that he would leave the ninety-nine in search of the one. He was able to do that through our team on this outreach in Ethiopia. We were able to touch the lives of over 4,000 precious people, one by one, through the gift of free medical and dental care. We give honor to God for allowing us to participate in His mission across the earth.
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.
