Wednesday, November 28, 2007

International Christian Hospice Newsletter Update December 2007

Greetings and Christmas Blessings to each of you and your family!

We look back in gratitude to our awesome God for what He has done in 2007 through International Christian Hospice. How amazing that He has allowed us to participate in His plan for this ministry. We thank Him for all of our friends and family who have partnered with us in so many ways. We are reminded this Christmas, by Jesus’ entry into our world, that He is our personal Good Shepherd who loves each of us with an everlasting love. “Oh come let us adore Him!”

The latest ministry news is all about walking by faith through the open doors set before us. Our vision trip to Dominican Republic (D.R. is a nation sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in the Caribbean) last spring set the stage for our return in November. The week prior to our arrival in D.R. they were struck by hurricane Noel. The massive flooding took its’ toll on the country, especially the people living in the low areas near rivers or any water source. Thousands of homes were swept away, roads and bridges washed out leaving unknown numbers of people dead or homeless with many towns and villages stranded. In this country of 7 million, 1.5 million are Haitians and these are among the poorest of the poor. In the wake of these great losses and disaster God brought ICH with His message of hope found only in Jesus Christ.

God partnered us with His people who are at work in the D.R. in surprising ways. The original plan to travel with a team from Radio Bible Hour to do ICH training for Pastors changed, which God often does. The team lead by Dr. Smith came down the second week as they had planned but now their main goal was to minister to the flood victims in the Jimani area which was hit very hard. They were able to do some medical clinics and food distribution and help villages with other types of relief. Meanwhile we met and worked with a couple who are missionary MDs, Diane and Francisco Sabado, who already have a dream for hospice in the D.R. Through the years, they have taken into their home and cared for many people who were terminal until their deaths. We were able to spend several hours with and minister to a man who has colon cancer that is currently living with them. Because of the love he is being shown each day he expressed to us that he now has assurance of God’s care and peace no matter what the future holds. The next day we joined the MDs as they took a US mission team to do relief work in poor villages which border the dumps. Another day we traveled 3 hours inland and assisted the team with a medical clinic in a remote area which has no medical care. We also visited some property that they are praying about being the site for a Christian Hospice facility. God has given them the desire to open several Christian Hospice training and care facilities throughout the D.R. and we are excited about the opportunity ICH has to minister with them.

It was also a blessing to present our ICH training to the hospital staff and the Director of Integrated Health, Elizabeth Saunarine, RN at Medical Missions International (MMI).
They told stories of seeing people daily at the hospital who are dying. The ICH training provides them with knowledge and resources to understand the special needs of these people and their families. MMI has trained Health Promoters who visit villages to provide health training and care where people live and they were so grateful to learn how to better minister to people who are dying at home. As a result Elizabeth has invited ICH to participate in an international MMI conference in Peru in January 2008. We will be able to present Christian Hospice care to national representatives who run mission hospitals in 6 different countries in Latin America.

Training at Community Church Bus load of relief from the church Medical team from the church Dr. Sabado in clinicIglesia Comunitaria Cristiana (Christian Community Church), in Santo Domingo the capital city of D.R., hosted our ICH seminar for a group of about 35 church leaders and medical professionals. We became very excited as we shared our ministry with these dynamic Christian Dominicans. This is a rapidly growing, evangelical church led by Pastor Guerrera with the focus not on the people’s lives within the walls of the church. The primary goal in all aspects of church life is reaching out into the community with the Gospel. They currently have a daily preschool ministry, a gym open to the public playing Christian music and offering counseling, weekly meals to feed the local homeless in the city and a free medical clinic in the church for the poor. Many church members who attended our training form teams who visit weekly in the local government hospital to pray with and befriend the ill. We listened to many stories of the hopeless and dying people on the streets and in the dismal rooms at the hospital. The compassionate believers of this church are already out their rolling up their sleeves in the name of Christ. Over lunch the Pastor shared his vision with us for all the churches in the Del Camino Association, of which he is president, in 8 Latin American countries. He invited us to participate in their plan for community development bridging the church with the world around it by sharing the Living Word in the form of Hospice.


To further seal our relationship with these believers we went with them on a Saturday outreach to two poor communities. One volunteer group distributed rice and other foods, foam mattresses and other supplies which the church purchased to homeless flood victims about 2 hours out of the city. The group we worked with consisted of 4 MDs and 2 other church members. We went to another town, Bani, 1 ½ hour away. Bani is in the south and was hit hard by flooding. Over 300 houses were destroyed, leaving 1000+ people, mostly poor Haitians, homeless. The cultural rivalry and dislike between the Dominicans and Haitians was no where to be seen as the MDs examined and treated 318 sick people in Jesus’ name. 60 of these people were being housed in the second story of the community building where we held the clinic. The local Del Camino Pastor with whom we worked that day took us on a walking tour to the flood area and mud filled homes no longer habitable. We prayed together for God’s Spirit to pour out His mercy and grace on this area of such great need. The Pastor told us of the growth his church has experienced in the last 2 weeks. The reality of God’s love is being lived out by the believers of this third world country. ICH must provide training to these national Christians so they can reach the dying around them with the only Hope for all men.

God opened another door of opportunity through an interdenominational Pastors’ Association. On Sunday we were invited to introduce ICH ministry for the first time to about 50 Pastors on Tuesday morning. Then we were promptly scheduled for a half-day training seminar on Friday morning. The training was hosted by a missionary couple in a Dominican church plant of the Four Square Church. A group of 11 Pastors and 33 church leaders attended and many told us that they were now planning to begin Christian Hospice outreach in their churches. We concluded the seminar with promises of additional information and training in the future for these eager Christian brothers and sisters.

We have tried to convey to you the powerful and effective tool International Christian Hospice can be to the developing world in the hands of the believers. Just this letter with highlights of one month of our ministry is enough to overwhelm us.

Susan explaining meds in clinic










Susan counseling









Area where 300 homes weredestroyed










Haitian refuges who lost homes












Devastated area near Bani, DR











Our Bus stuck on trip to clinic











That is why we earnestly request your fervent prayers for three very important things.

First, pray for other Christians to answer God’s call to serve with International Christian Hospice. This could be in short-term or full-time service.

Second, pray for financial provisions to meet the needs for ministry travel, training and materials.

Third, pray for wisdom and discernment of God’s plan for moving forward through so many open doors. In 2008 our opportunities lie in 2 additional Latin American countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia (totaling 10 countries of ministry).

“Life is but a vapor” says the Psalmist and his words clearly describe what we have witnessed happening to people all over the world. Were Christ’s 33 brief years of life significant for you? The power we have in knowing the Man whose birth we celebrate is beyond anything else in this life! We urge you to search your heart in light of these words of Jesus…

“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing.
And the words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63 NLT

You can join with International Christian Hospice to take the words of Christ to the nations; words which He promises bring eternal life. Please send donations to:

International Christian Hospice Inc.
145 Chillinghan Rd.
Irmo, SC 29063

Have a Blessed Christmas and New Year filled with His Vision!

Serving Him together,
Ron & Susan
Ron and Susan Naish

Monday, October 1, 2007

September 2007


Greetings to our dear friends and family and welcome to our new “blogspot” method of getting our newsletter to you. (ichospice.blogspot.com) We are excited about this way of being able to keep you all informed on a regular basis. We are also providing our newsletter by regular mail. There is much news to share because God has been faithful to continue His work through International Christian Hospice.

We traveled to Central America in early August with our agenda full for the coming weeks. Our 2001 Ford Escape was being kept by friends for us and our first challenge was to obtain a Central American license tag. As you probably remember we drove from N.C to Central America last January and we applied for permanent tags last March in Honduras. We were disappointed to learn that new tags are still not available this fall. So we continue to pray and wait. This caused our plans to change somewhat limiting our driving exclusively to the country of Honduras with paper permit in the glove box. But God’s plan was still in place despite the normal inconveniences of working in developing countries.

The first two weeks we spent time with our Central American directors, Pastor Moreno and Pastor Francisco, who live in the northeast area of Honduras. Together we visited several sick people in their homes and provided Hospice support to some churches in this area. Our first opportunity to appear on a Christian T.V. station was a great experience. Pastor Francisco interviewed us live on the air explaining the unique ministry we are offering the Honduran people. A few days later we had an enjoyable visit from a couple from the U.S. who traveled with us to the more remote eastern area where the Garifuna people live. In one home, while visiting an elderly, sick lady, Ron was able to share the Gospel with a neighbor who decided to place his faith in Jesus that day. We never know who will be listening when we arrive in someone’s home. A seemingly simple event can turn into a divine appointment with God leading us each day.

In mid-August we traveled across the country to the capitol city of Tegucigalpa. Preparations were being made for the first ICH team to arrive and work with us in the field for two weeks. God delighted us with a special blessing of bringing Chris and Rachel Embler across our path again (Chris is Susan’s cousin) in Tegucigalpa. Our paths last crossed in January in Alabama but God had now brought them all the way to Honduras on their walk from N.C. to Peru. Yes, they are walking by faith and ministering along the way. Check out their blogspot for their amazing story of God’s provision and protection in a year of travel on foot. (http://www.ourwalkoffaith.blogspot.com/) We were so blessed that God lead them to us for this time. God used their faith and testimonies to inspire us in areas of our lives in which we have been trusting in ourselves, our abilities and our possessions rather than trusting God.

The team of eight people, lead by Chuck McCurry, arrived in Tegucigalpa from Lexington Baptist Church and we began the field training phase of our new ICH team. What a huge blessing and encouragement to have them working with us! We know that many at home have been praying for us and this group because we experienced God’s hand going before us in powerful ways.






In the first 3 days we had opportunities to present ICH training in two churches and also to the staff and parents of a Christian school. This opened the door also for the special talents of two team members who do clown ministry. God surprised us again with His unique plan of bringing these special talented “clowns”. They added much joy, especially at an Old Folks Home and as we visited a very sick boy in his home. This boy’s mother, along with many others responded to the message of Christ’s love and decided to follow Him.

We must share a story of the power of our loving Father in an experience Ron, Chuck and Don had doing a home visit with a Pastor. On Saturday morning we presented ICH training to a group of people in a church on the outskirts of the city. We discovered that two of the women in this church had been in our seminar two years ago in another church and had since been doing Hospice ministry in their community. Now 23 others wanted to learn how to minister to the sick and grieving also. In the afternoon we planned to make home visits so divided up into groups. Ron, Chuck, Don and our translator Lourdes went with the Pastor to visit Fabian who lived in a very small home on top of a steep ridge. They climbed to his home and found him in bed with only his 8 year old grandson to care for him. His wife was working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week which is the normal work schedule, to provide a small income for their needs. Fabian had suffered a stroke, had a lung and kidney infection. He was very weak, uncomfortable and in respiratory distress. The men were able to reposition him and get some food and drink for him. They had prayer with him and made plans for the Pastor and ICH volunteers from the church to return and assist him and his family. The men shared with the team that evening the helplessness they felt. Fabian’s location and physical situation presented the impossibility of getting him out to the hospital or to a place where he could receive treatment and care. The situation seemed hopeless. So we prayed for Fabian and for the church who would be continuing to minister to him. On the next afternoon, Sunday, we presented our ICH training at another church a few miles away. The small group gathered slowly and we began teaching. We often tell stories and give examples of people we have met who need Christian Hospice ministry and Ron told the group about Fabian. One of the men in the group began to ask questions and was very interested in him. During the break he introduced himself as Dr. Fu, a Chinese/Honduran physician. He provides medical care for the poor by making house calls and usually receives payment in eggs or tortillas. Dr. Fu eagerly offered to visit Fabian with the men the next morning. On Monday morning the men met Dr. Fu at the church at 7:30 and hiked up to his house. This morning his son and grandson were with him and his wife had already left for work. Dr. Fu gently examined him and also drew blood. He began asking questions and the story unfolded. Fabian had become a believer a few months earlier. His condition had worsened and he was too weak to make the trip down the mountain to the hospital for an appointment. He had begun to pray for God to send help to him. He

told the men that they were God’s answer to his prayer. What a testimony of God’s great love for each individual! The powerful faith that this man displayed to his family also had eternal significance. Ron and Dr. Fu shared the Gospel with the two boys who were watching everything and they decided to give their lives to Jesus that day. Dr. Fu promised he would cover the cost of the lab work and would return with medication and there would be no charge. The entire team witnessed the great love that our Shepherd Jesus has for the one lost sheep. We were all reminded that everyone, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is precious to God who gave His life for them.

We left the city and spent one day ministering in the village of Alubarin. From there we spent two days in the hot, southern town of Choluteca near the borders of El Salvador and Nicaragua offering hospice training in two churches. By now the rainy season had begun and the road out of Choluteca was flooded beneath two feet of rushing river current. We learned this as we sat in a long line of traffic and the authorities predicted 6 hours until anyone could cross. But we serve the God who is in control! We were expected at our next place of ministry so our team sang praise songs and prayed to our God who can do anything. Within 45 minutes the water level had dropped to below the crossing and we were allowed to travel on. Each day the team grew in faith as we saw the hand of God at work around every bend. We serve an awesome, powerful God and nothing is too big or too small for Him.

Chris and Rachel stayed on with us for a week after the team left for the U.S. God gave us the perfect window of time just before hurricane Felix hit to purchase and deliver Bibles to the north east coast of Honduras. Chris, Rachel, friends and family had donated money to provide Bibles in the newly translated Garifuna language. These people of African descent live in secluded, remote villages. We had the privilege to place 236 Bibles in the hands of Christians who work and live among these people. We were able to go to the village of Corazal and present a Bible to Sulma. She is a Garifuna leader in her small church of 15 believers. We were thrilled as we listened to her read John 3:16 in her heart language for the first time. We are witnesses as God is pouring out His Spirit and sending His Word to places that have been closed to the Gospel in the past.

We were sad to say goodbye to Chris and Rachel but we parted on buses going in opposite directions. They headed south to Nicaragua and we headed northwest to Guatemala City. Our car had to remain in Honduras in storage awaiting tags but our flight back to the U.S. was scheduled out of Guatemala City. The results of the hurricane in the area we traveled was minimal with only a few mud slides and the bus was able to pass through them. Our flight connections were delayed so our trip from Guatemala City to N.C. lasted 2 days. Thank you to those who pray for our safe travel!

We are honored to be involved in two Global Missions conferences this fall, one at Biltmore Baptist Church and one at Lexington Baptist Church. It will be good also to spend some time with our family especially the new grandbaby expected in October.



Please pray for our next ministry work in November. We will be traveling to Dominican Republic and Haiti to work with churches and clinics presenting ICH training. It will be a privilege to work with the Radio Bible Hour missionaries in Jimani at a Pastor’s conference. This is another new area of work that God is opening up.

We cannot tell you how we appreciate your prayers and your financial gifts. It is all to the Glory of God and to enable His plan for the work of International Christian Hospice.
If you would like to receive our newsletters by email or our blogspot rather than by regular mail please email us at ronnaish@bellsouth.net and let us know.

God bless you and we pray that you will experience His love and power in your life each day!


Serving Him together,




Ron and Susan Naish