MISSION TRIPS- ASARAMA

We arrived safely at Asarama at 8.50pm after a 50 minute boat ride through the creeks twists and turns in the dark of night via “flying boats.”

The following day on the 6th of October after our morning devotion and breakfast we were set to work the next 11hours non stop, using the Asarama Greater Evangelism Church premises as our clinic. More hernia diagnosis were made and the patients were scheduled for surgery for the 7th of October. 160 medical patients and 21 dental cases seen, and about 500 patients turned back home because we could not see them. It rained all day on the 7th of October , the day planned for all the surgery cases.

Dr. Jabben, the surgeon had arrived the previous night from his teaching sessions at the Teaching Hospital of the University of Port Harcourt, and had set up the operating theater the way he wanted it. After screening all the patients we chose seven patients for surgery procedures during this mission trip and began a list for other trips in the future. The selected patients included six men and one woman. From midday noon surgeries continued until 8.30pm. We turned back 30 other hernia cases. On this same day we saw 150 medical, 51 dental and the above 7 surgical
patients.

At 2 pm October 3rd we departed Port Harcourt for Ngo the Head Quarters of the Andoni local Government area of Rivers State. We arrived Ngo at about 5.30pm and was received by the local government Chairman Elder M. Etete who arranged for our accommodations. On the 4th of October after our morning 5am devotion and breakfast we were set to start seeing our first patients at 8.30am at the Ngo Cottage Hospital. About 900 patients showed up. Initially, the crowd was difficult to manage but because of the wisdom of the members of the medical team the crowd was controlled and every thing went well.
The nurse and the dental hygienist taught the crowd waiting for the doctors about HIV antenatal, breast feeding and Oral Hygiene during the clinic hours.
By 7.30pm we had attended to 200 medical and 28 dental patients.10 patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia were identified and earmarked for surgery. The rest had to go back home with what ever medical condition they came with, hoping someday the “water will be stirred” again. The Following day we worked about 10 hours without any break just to attend to as many patients as possible. We saw 95 medical and 21 dental patients.

All together in Ngo we saw 295 medical and 49 dental patients.

On the 10th of October we went to Abonnema a town of about 250,000 people with a general Hospital not functioning effectively. Here we saw 120 medical and 35 dental patients. I visited the hospital at about 3.30 pm and found only one patient in the entire 60 bed hospital. If only this hospital can be helped to function in its full capacity, it will serve many other towns and villages in the neighboring area.

The 8th of October we took a fast because of the crusade. We woke up at 5am for our devotion and spent some more time before the Lord in prayer. At 9am we went to do our rounds post surgery. All the patients did well and were all discharged with their medications, except for one that needed some more follow up because of the size of his hernia.
At 7pm we were at the crusade ground. Evangelist Carylin M. Holsey, ministered in song and words of encouragement, Dr. Tonye Briggs gave the message “whom do men say I the son of man am”, and Dr. Goin gave the closing prayer. At the alter call a prominent ruler of Asarama town gave his life to Christ and over 50 people came out for healing prayer.
We also ministered in the Asarama Greater Evangelism Church the following Sunday morning.

Appreciation: The zonal Minister Pastor U. Umoh remarked on behalf of Ngo and Asarama said” Considering the constraints you passed through, unfriendly weather and mosquitoes to minister to our body and soul. It takes God’s grace to think about someone and also actualize it. I know that Andoni has given you experience to tell your people. Also thanking the International Director for slating Andoni for this program. We lack words to express, but we say thank you. Take this product of our people (large smoked fish) and tell them it is the fruit of the land you surveyed.” After the church service we took a group photograph and left for Port Harcourt.