International Christian Hospice News
Letter Fall 2016
“Every time I think of
you, I give thanks to my God…For you have been my partners in spreading the
Good News about Christ…and I am certain that God, who began the good work
within you, will continue His work…” Philippians 1: 3-6
We are humbly reminded by this scripture that there is
nothing greater than bringing the message of hope and peace, God’s “Good News”
found only through our Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul writes, we echo his thanks
to God for all of you who have served with us through ICH. How honored we are to confidently claim His
promise that He will continue His work within all of us and ICH around the
world!
Guatemala
We had a great time
of ministry in the coffee highlands of Guatemala in August. Our base location was Hospital Cristiano Santa
Fe working with Dr. Sergio Castillo. Our
team was made up of 9 members of Lexington Baptist Church and our ICH Director
from Honduras Pastor Francisco Ilias and his wife Blanca.
Our team tackled several much needed practical
projects. The entry steps to the
hospital grounds from the road have been a safety concern every time we have
visited. This is the access and exit for
everyone who enters for care (usually weak and sick) and leaves after treatment
or surgery. In the past we have assisted
post op patients down these steps to waiting vehicles for their ride home. Some of the men on our team rebuilt the
stairs and paid for a local welder to add the handrail. Dr. Sergio’s wife Veronica gave us a very
tearful “thank you, and my mother thanks you”.
Now her elderly mother can once again visit the hospital and help.
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| Pastor Francisco and wife Blanca |
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| Praying for healing |
Our team tackled several much needed practical
projects. The entry steps to the
hospital grounds from the road have been a safety concern every time we have
visited. This is the access and exit for
everyone who enters for care (usually weak and sick) and leaves after treatment
or surgery. In the past we have assisted
post op patients down these steps to waiting vehicles for their ride home. Some of the men on our team rebuilt the
stairs and paid for a local welder to add the handrail. Dr. Sergio’s wife Veronica gave us a very
tearful “thank you, and my mother thanks you”.
Now her elderly mother can once again visit the hospital and help. 
 |
Dr. Sergio and his family moved into their newly renovated
house across the road from the hospital in June thanks to efforts of many teams
over 4 years. ( Please check older blogs )The old hospital building
where they lived for 19 years is now getting remodeled into team
accommodations. Our team provided paint
and supplies to begin this project.
After patching and repairing damaged plaster walls we were able to give
14 rooms fresh coats of primer and paint.
Some members of our team assisted Dr. Sergio in his clinic
in San Antonio. They were able to triage
60 patients for medical care and provided 30 patients with eye screening and
reading glasses. Another blood pressure clinic
and eye screening was held at the hospital.
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| medical team helping Dr. Sergio |
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| blood pressure and general health screening |
One of the highlights of ministry is when we are invited
into the highlands above the hospital.
Dr. Sergio lovingly serves the poor indigenous people throughout this
region of Guatemala. Many colleagues ask
him “Why? You could be a rich surgeon in
Guatemala City!” The Mayan people are
considered the lowest class and medical care is inaccessible. They travel by bus or on foot from their
villages in the mountains often many hours to receive his care. Payment may be a few coins, fresh eggs or
produce. God has opened this region to
ICH. We have been honored to visit in
homes of the dying and grieving families, offered our training to local
believers and delivered Bibles where there are none. God has allowed us to build ongoing
relationships with Pastor Eligio of Canaan Church. The roads are rugged and only accessible by
4 wheel drive. Part of the trip is
walking on well-worn trails. On Sunday
our team members were ministering guests in the village of Xujija (shu-he-ha)
at Canaan Church among the Quiche’ people. We began our day by providing blood pressure
screening, eye screening and VBS for the community. Special prayer was offered for a young woman
with serious medical problems. For the
evening service Pastor Francisco and Chuck McCurry brought messages with Gospel
presentation. Thank you once again to Lexington Baptist for
all the hard work, compassionate outreach and giving in Jesus’ name that
blessed so many lives!
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| transportation |
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| walking to church in the mountians |
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| VBS |
Special Projects
Please pray with us about Dr. Sergio’s daughter Melisa. She was enrolled in Medical College in
Guatemala City in January. God has given
her a desire to be a surgeon like her father and a love for the Mayan
people. She plans to join him in his
work among the poor. As a family they
have stepped out in faith and sacrifice once again. They are trusting God to provide for her
education from month to month. We are joining with them in faith by asking for
financial donations. Any donations will
be tax deductible if made to ICH and the entire amount will go to her
education. Please accompany it with a
note to designate for Melisa.
Please pray with us for Genesis Moran. She is a 5 month old baby in Honduras. Pastor Francisco has emailed us of her
special need. She was born with a hole
in her heart. She needs heart surgery
which can be performed there in Honduras.
The cost of the surgery is $2,500.
(Can you imagine paying only this amount for pediatric heart surgery
here in the US?) Please consider helping
and make donations to ICH for tax deductible receipt. Please accompany it with a note to designate
for the baby’s surgery.
Pakistan Project Outreach to Muslims
Please pray for ICH work in Pakistan. This is the first opportunity for ICH to
reach into the Muslim world. God has
answered our prayers and sent the Din family who are organizing and preparing
for ICH ministry in their city. They are
currently visiting hospitals and homes and are enlisting other believers to
assist in hospice training and evangelism.
We are asking for donations to help with their costs for printing
materials, travel, and ministry expenses.
Please make donations to ICH and accompany with a note to designate for
Pakistan.
What is coming for ICH?
·
Plans are being made for ministry travel for
2017. Two trips are ahead in the spring
of 2017 to Honduras and Guatemala. Please
contact us if you are interested in making mission trips with us.
·
Dr. Sergio is coming to the U.S. to share about
his work and medical missions. Speaking
engagements can be scheduled through ICH.
Please contact us for details of schedule.
Thank you all for your interest and continued prayers for
ICH! May God bless you as you serve Him
wherever you are!
Serving Him together,
Ron and
Susan Naish
803-781-0656
Donations received at :
ICH c/o Rich Banis 303 Madison Heights Dr. Marshall, N.C. 28753
