Thank you prayer partners. With your prayers and God's marvelous intervention, just before thanksgiving, we completed a most successful medical trip. Many of the things that were accomplished during this mission we may never know but the events that were undoubtedly God-things, we will share with you

Although it appeared several times that this mission trip would not take place, God seemed to be saying to press ahead and see what He would do. First our location had to be cancelled. Our in-country partner was involved in a legal matter that would not allow him give time to our trip. Then the date had to be changed because of a conflict with one of our key team members. Then a church that was going to supply most of the team members had to pull out. A military doctor, who was going with us, could not get the clearance to travel because we could not give her the details her superior needed.

BUT THEN GOD- put together a wonderful team! Over half the team was past 60 year of age. A retired pediatrician and his wife a retired nurse from Fisher, Indiana, a retired doctor experienced in Family Medicine from Indianapolis, IN, a doctor, fresh our of residency, from California, a nurse examiner (her 37th medical mission trip), an experienced translator from Grand Rapids, a-nurse-to-be from Grand Rapids, a male nurse from Lansing, MI, a retired couple form Haslett, MI and Ruth, a retired nurse, and Frank, the team leader. In addition to these, we had two interpreters from Singapore and four from Macau. It was unbelievable how in a day's time this group became a team.

Another needy location was found where we could share our skills and Jesus' love in a tangible way.

Nurse Examiner, Barbara Collver

We were originally going to go to the Yao people group but now to the Hakka people, a people group we had not worked with before. And yet, these are also people for whom Jesus died. We had gone to be lovers-for-Jesus.

Another little obstacle to cross was that the Hakka people speak a different dialect. Therefore, we had to do a double translation, Hakka to Mandarin then Mandarin to English and then in reverse. However, we had some great translators. They all love Jesus and I think they may have even slipped in some of the gospel message without our team knowing it.

Dr. John Mitchell

We asked you to pray for some of our team that was experiencing back problems. Here is how things went. Before we arrived in Hong Kong, Dr. John Mitchell said that he was having serious back pain and did not think he would be able to complete the trip. After a few days in Hong Kong he thought he could do it. (Maybe it's because every since he was a small boy he had dreams of going to East Asia and seeing the Great Wall and here was his chance). He came and even though in pain he served the team well. I am sure that people saw Jesus in him and I know our team did. And he did get to see the Great Wall but only from a distance. Maybe next time. He will have back surgery in January.

Rick L. was our crowd control officer. He got to be the first person to represent Jesus to people who were very anxious to see the western doctors and get western medicine. How do you turn an anxious crowd into a line of people that wait their turn to go through triage? (With a smile and a loving heart.) And to think he could not speak the language but he learned how to do sign language quite well.

There was even a time when we thought we were going to have to leave Rick there as a permanent missionary. That's what happens when you get caught with a suitcase full of drugs while going through customs. The team prayed and we were able to get the medicines through without loosing a pill or paying any bribe. .All arrived safely.

Rick's wife Karen was a great asset to have in the pharmacy helping Ruth along with Luann, Dr. Mitchell's wife. There may have been $30,000 or more of medicines that had been donated for us to take. Our team dispensed over 1,100 prescriptions during the 8 clinics.

Many had the opportunity to share bits and pieces of the gospel with different patients. Everywhere we went we had government officials with us. Dr. Hill made a house call to treat the mother of a high ranking communist official. Other officials brought their loved-ones to the hotel to get treatment. Young nurses came to our hotel to be with our team.

We almost forgot to tell you about the exciting adventure that began our trip. Dr. Ian Bare was to arrive in Hong Kong, our first stop, at 7:00 pm. Our flight was to arrive at 6:15 pm. Frank told him that we would wait for his flight and show him the way to the hotel. One catch, our flight was 5 hours late. Ian was no where to be found. We though he must have gone to the YMCA, our hotel. We got to the YMCA and no Ian. We were told he must have gone to the other YMCA. A call proved otherwise. Now it was 1:00 am. A call was placed to United Airline -no answer- they would not open until 8:00 am. Our bus was to leave at 8 am. The hotel clerk suggested we (Frank and a translator) go to the police station, a few blocks away. The clerk walked us there. We asked the police if they could help us check with immigration to see if he had arrived. No they couldn't. Frank then remembered the emergency contact phone numbers he had. Ian's father was called in California. Did Ian have a cell phone? No! What did he as a father think Ian would do in this situation? Sleep in the airport until someone showed up. The police assured us that people sleep in the airport. Thirty-five minute ride back to the airport. It is now 3:00 am. There are about 100 people sleeping in the airport, most had papers or coats over their faces. We searched each one as closely as we could. Luckily Frank knew what Ian looked like. The last one to be checked was Ian. As we woke him up, you cannot believe the surprise on his face, he had wandered the airport for eight and a half hours and finely fell asleep. He said, "Frank, I knew you wouldn't leave me."

We had a great trip! Thank you so much for praying and giving so that this trip could be possible. Keep praying for the Hakka people to hear the good news of salvation. Pray that the officials will have softened hearts and that they would continue to see the good that comes with Christianity. We will probably be returning in April or May.

Ruth needs your prayers. She has been having back discomfort since August and it seems to be getting worse. She has an appointment with an orthopedic doctor in a few weeks. Pray that she will get the proper diagnosis and the right treatment.

Blessing to you all. Frank & Ruth

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