Our first use of the Clinic-in-a-Box

In Africa, at least here, things are rarely used for their originally designed purpose.  I could go on for quite some time about the unique and inventive ideas that I have seen in practice here.  One definitely learns to think outside the box.  That being said, I have discovered that I had packed a Rubbermaid stationary box in our crates.  Lately, I have noticed that I am needing a little more than a basic first aid kit when I go places.  So, I have taken my office box and turned it into a clinic box.  I am really excited about it because I had been looking for a way to go with Roy and the guys when they do evangelism in nearby towns.  I would like to offer some basic medical care as a compliment to the evangelism.
One of our students has been faithfully continuing to do evangelism in his assigned town, in spite of the fact that school is no longer in session and he is not required to go any longer.  Because of his faithfulness, a church has been established and are meeting faithfully each week.  A child of one of these families had been sick for about 2 weeks without improvement.  A medicine man approached them, saying that he could help them.  The pastor tried to encourage them not to go to th medicine man, but instead to trust God, so he came and asked me to help.  The kids and I took my clinic-in-a-box and walked with him to see the child, only to find that the family had already left to go and meet the medicine man in a nearby town.  Disappointed, we headed for home, but as we walked, we prayed that the family would be unable to meet the medicine man and would return home unsuccessful.  Sure enough, the next morning the family arrived on my front porch.  They had walked quite a ways to the village and then could not find the medicine man.  I was able to treat him and he is now doing better. That same afternoon, someone else from another town came and asked me to come and see his wife, whose leg was swollen up so that she could not walk.  I was able to take my clinic box and walk to her house, and not only treat her, but three other people as well while I was there.  I was humbled and grateful to discover today that all of the patients I attempted to treat are doing well and have almost completely improved. God is so GOOD!  And yet at the same time, I am more aware than ever that physical care is much more than just physical, especially here.  One cannot treat the physical without touching on the spiritual realm... and in that there is a battle... please pray for us whenever you can... and pray for these people who need so much... have so little... and try so hard.