Dearest Friends and Family,Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.” Albert Schweitzer
Recently I received an email from someone asking me a question. When I replied he stated, “He did not remember my writing about it in the past.” He recommended I share it sometime. His question was about evangelism at Maua Methodist Hospital. Personally, I believe everything we do in the care of the patient/client and in our out-reach programs is evangelism –‘feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, looking after the sick and prisoner.’ Along with those six requirements about which Jesus Christ spoke, the hospital does many others: ”31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew 25: 31 – 34.
Every morning before the staff begins work, we have a 15 minute devotional time in the Chapel. We pray, sing, hear scripture and a devotional about the scripture. We end by sharing the words of grace of with each other. Even amongst Mission Hospitals we are an exception as we have Chapel 7 days a week.Immediately after Chapel our two Chaplains and two Evangelist head for the nursing wards where they do a morning devotional with the patients and then see any patients that need some special spiritual counseling or help. At 12:20pm and 4:20pm either a Chaplain or an Evangelist preaches to the visitors that are awaiting our visiting hours to begin so they can visit family and friends.
On Wednesday evening we have a healing service that begins in the Nursing Students kitchen. Any patient who can walk, meets in the kitchen. There is singing, Bible reading, preaching and then each person there is prayed for individually. From the kitchen the persons doing the healing service go to each nursing ward to pray for the patients that are bed-ridden. We pray for every person that goes to theatre (operating room). We have Muslim’s that have surgeries and we ask them if they want us to pray. To date we have never had one that said, “No.” When praying for them we pray to God, Allah.
Any staff member that has any kind of problem is welcome to see one of the Chaplains for counseling. We don’t start or end any meeting without prayer and we have lots of meetings. Seldom do we have anyone visit our home that doesn’t pray for us and for the hospital before they leave. God is a vital part of Maua Methodist Hospital and our staff work to include and remember Him as often as possible.
Many people have found Jesus Christ as their personal Savior through the spiritual ministries of the hospital. When this happens the patient’s name and village are sent to our local Bishop (District Superintendent) for follow-up.Often in Maua, the names of business have a Christian basis. If you ask the owners of the business why they gave their business that particular name, you will hear their faith story and how that name has meaning to them.
I am so proud to work at a hospital that so honors and includes God. It is a joy to be able to share one’s faith, pray with patients, and speak openly of our love of God. When I taught in the School of Nursing, I often spoke of the wonders of God’s incredible creation of the human body. Politically correct here is including God in all our activities.
This past week we had two dear friends visiting us, Ruth and Denny VanAndel. The VanAndel’s were missionaries with us in Nigeria. What a joy it was to share the ministries of the hospital with them and what a delight to see and hear their reaction to those ministries. We had such a meaningful time together, even though Bill and I worked daily. They rekindled my flame and I am so grateful.
This coming Sat., 21 June, our first mission work team arrives. The team is mostly from Chandler, TX, with one team member coming from Strawbridge Kingwood UMC in Houston. The leader is a close friend, Shirley Murray. I had said we were having four teams this summer but since then one more cancelled so we are down to three teams. The entire hospital is excited about the three teams and so grateful for their commitment.
Kenya is struggling as are many other nations. Today in the newspaper we read that the inflation rate is 26% up from about 10%. Food prices have soared in our area. Tomatoes and potatoes doubled in price as did corn (maize) and beans our two staples. Gasoline is $7 a gallon. Farmers cannot buy fertilizer as it is so expensive it is not being imported. Even hospital staff who have a steady income have cut way back and often cut certain items completely out of their diet.
Needless to say, the hospital is hurting. We still need to feed all the patients and yet the cost of food is so much higher. We are presently working on a conservation plan so that we might survive this difficult time. We are seeing increased numbers of children with Kwashiorkor (protein deficiency) and starvation.
We definitely need your prayers. This is not the time to raise the price of our hospital care as everyone seems to be hurting financially. The good news is God is incredibly creative and if we can listen to Him, we are confident He will guide us through this current situation.
We continue to work on the Strategic Plan. I am praying we will complete the project in the next two to three weeks. There seems to be so many things that must be done NOW! It is extremely challenging but we are grateful to God for the opportunities we have to help the hospital move forward.
Thanks to all the people who sent and/or emailed me a birthday greeting. We are always so humbled by the love, emails, prayers, cards and caring we receive on our birthdays. We are grateful to the Prayer Calendar and those who faithfully read it and communicate with us. Many of our cards are from people we do not know. The best part of our birthday is there are so many people that are praying for us. That is our greatest need and most precious gift. Please continue to pray that we be ever willing to do God’s will. I recently read this prayer and thought I would share it with you.
“Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need: Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father! Give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations: I simply present myself before Thee, I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs which I know not myself; see and do according to They tender mercy. Smite, or heal; depress me or raise me up: I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them; I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice: I yield myself to Thee; I would have not other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to pray. Pray Thyself in me. Amen” Francois de la Mothe Fenelon (1651 -1715)
In His grip,
Jerri & Bill Savuto
mailto:Savutosavuto@maf.or.ke
Maua Methodist HospitalBox 63,
Maua 60600Igembe, Kenya
