The year 2009 has been a fruitful year for Body and Soul Ministries, thanks to the generous donations and prayers offered up for the benefit of all of our missions and endeavors. We had the opportunity to work in many parts of the world, to assist God’s children who are stricken with poverty, poor health, hunger, natural disasters, and more importantly, spiritual need. Jesus Christ himself met the physical needs of his followers, and following his lead, we strive to stand with Him on the giving side of human need. Without the generosity and prayerful support from you, these works would not be possible. We are also grateful for the partnership we continue to maintain with Caris Foundation International, through which many of our campaigns have enjoyed continued success.

Kenya

In June and November we were honored to be able to take surgical teams into Malindi, Kenya. The teams worked out of two hospitals, the Malindi District Hospital (a government hospital), and Tawfiq Hospital (a community Islamic Hospital). It was an incredible blessing and opportunity to be able to work side by side with Muslim health care professionals, to show them the love of Christ, in this day and age where in many parts of the world there is such animosity between Christians and Muslims. In Malindi, however, you can thank Jim and Laura Reppart, of Caris Foundation International – Kenya, for working diligently to open communications with civic and government leaders to make this partnership possible. They also coordinated housing, food, transportation, and countless details for our medical teams. We ask for continued prayer on their behalf that God continues to open doors so that Christ can be shown to the Muslim community in Malindi.

While in Malindi, the surgical teams performed many difficult and sophisticated operations. Our teams targeted General, Gynecology, and Head and Neck procedures. Of the 600 patients evaluated and treated during the two separate missions, 379 had surgery performed. Caris Foundation International provided significant financial resources for the purchase and shipping of essential surgical supplies from the United States and from within Kenya.

We thank the many physicians and nurses who shared their talents and time during the past year in Malindi. Surgeons Dr. Robert Whitaker, Dr. Brian Camazine, Dr. Jim Netterville, Dr. Jim Smith and Dr. Cody Mihills shared their experiences and talents to bless the people of Malindi, and anesthesiologists Dr. Brad Oetman, Dr. Al Smith, and Dr. Adrian ‘Buster’ Herren worked through some precarious scenarios to keep patients alive and healthy during and after surgery. Dr. James Wilson, RNs Lesa Dale and Bob Langston also played vital roles in making the work in Malindi a success.

The surgical camps drew national attention in Kenya. The Prime Minister of Kenya, Hon. Raila Odinga, the Minister of Medical Services, Hon. Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, M.P., and Hon. Gideon Mun’garo, Member of Parliament for the Malindi Region of Kenya, visited the hospitals and spent time with leaders of our group requesting us to conduct additional surgery camps in the future in Malindi and other locations in Kenya.

While in Kenya, we were also blessed to witness the commencement of the John Connor Brown Training Center, as well as participate in the Made in the Streets campaign, a ministry led by Charles and Darlene Coulston, near Nairobi.