A Medical Breakthrough

A Medical
Breakthrough

Our medical and dental clinics serve the world's most impoverished and those in remote areas with little or no access to health care. And in 2018, we celebrated our 100th medical/dental outreach! Our short-term outreaches serve a vital need, and our hospitals and permanent clinics help many as well.

For one young woman living in San José Villanueva, El Salvador, our permanent medical clinic there means life as well as a transformed heart.

When 21-year-old Tatiana first came to our clinic, her kidneys were failing. She had already endured years of suffering as she waited for a kidney transplant.

“I really wanted to end my life,” Tatiana said. “I was in a lot of pain and I felt like my body was too weak and I couldn’t take it anymore.”

Friends had told Tatiana about a new clinic in San José Villanueva—a place “where the doctors were good,” they said, and really cared for their patients. As a last resort, Tatiana decided to give it a try.

Upon her arrival, she met Dr. José Pineda, a family physician who quickly determined that Tatiana had been given the wrong medicines which had permanently damaged her kidneys.

“We know you need a kidney transplant,” Tatiana’s doctor told her. “I promise I will be with you and fight for you—I will not let you be alone in this situation. But in the meantime, we will take care of you. We’ll make sure you don’t have an infection and that you have your dialysis on time. We’ll see that you have your vitamins.”

Like all of the staff at the medical clinic, Dr. Pineda is concerned with the spirit, soul and body. His patients are far more than just a name or number—they are precious individuals who each have unique needs.

“This clinic is different because we don’t only focus on giving them prevention medicine or curing the sick body,” Dr. Marcela Romero, the clinic’s chief doctor, said. “We also use the Word of God and the Gospel to heal their souls.”

Tatiana is receiving loving care while she awaits her kidney transplant. She has also been discovering who she is in Christ after reading books like Joyce’s Battlefield of the Mind.

“The book says things like, ‘Be strong and to let the Lord guide you. Keep on going because the Lord is with you,’” Tatiana said. “My self-esteem has gone up incredibly.”

Because of you, Tatiana has found new hope in Christ…and now looks forward to the good future God has in store for her life.

Little Things that
Bring Big Changes

We often take for granted our ability to take some pain reliever for that dull headache or quickly grab a bandage for a scrape.

Hand of Hope, Joyce Meyer Ministries World Missions, has seen the need for basic care like this around the world, so they have been holding mobile medical/ dental clinics for many years now, helping hundreds of thousands of people find the physical—and spiritual— care they need.

Patients often travel long distances to our clinics, where they will see a doctor or dentist completely free of charge. After they receive care for their physical health, we ask every single patient if we can pray for them. And from there, they go to the onsite pharmacy and receive free medication.

And, in 2018, we celebrated our 100th medical/ dental outreach, starting in an open field in Sioma, Zambia!

Throughout this year, teams of about 30 volunteers traveled to some of the most remote areas in the world. Locations where medical attention is nearly impossible to come by are quickly transformed into bustling centers where medical help and critical prayer support is available for all.

Many times, it is the little things—pain reliever, antibiotic ointment—that bring major changes to people’s lives. For 67-year-old Alex Lyafamani, it was a simple pair of reading glasses.

When Alex came to our clinic in Sioma, he said he had been living for the past few years with deteriorating eyesight. But as the nurse fitted him for glasses that day, his face lit up as he began to read out loud from one of Joyce’s books that was translated into his language!

In just a few moments, Alex’s life was transformed at the clinic and he was ecstatic to be able to see clearly again.

And the spiritual help offered at our clinics is a vital part of the experience as well. The two components truly go hand-in-hand. Patients receive prayer and are also given the opportunity to accept Christ. And at our 100th out- reach, more than 1,100 people received salvation!

We thank God for the opportunity to share Christ in far- away places. And we thank you—our treasured family— for serving the world’s most impoverished and making such a beautiful, lasting difference in so many lives.

Deborah
Scherer

Deborah Scherer had been a nurse for 33 years, but she never saw anything quite like this.

“While in Zambia, a lady came through triage with a stick in her eye,” Deborah said. “It had been there for almost a year, and it made her totally blind. My heart was in pain that she had to wait this long to see someone.”

Deborah is one of the many volunteer medical professionals who traveled to Zambia to take part in our 100th short-term medical/dental outreach. As a first-time volunteer, it was the culmination of so many of her hopes and dreams.

“For me, it’s everything I ever wanted to do in nursing wrapped up into one,” she said. “Wanting to help somebody, not caring about getting paid for it, and seeing somebody’s life change because of it.”

Thanks to you, our team was able to provide free exams and prescriptions for thousands of patients who otherwise wouldn’t have access to care. We also had the opportunity to share the Gospel message with every single person who walked through the doors.

That day, Deborah assisted the doctors as they carefully treated the woman with an injured eye. For this precious lady and so many others, this was a life-changing experience they will never forget.

“This won’t be my last trip,” Deborah said. “There’s such a need and they’re so grateful for everything that you’re doing for them, so it makes you want to do more and more. I’d stay here if I could.”

José
Escalante

For 19-year-old José Escalante, the clinic in El Salvador was a godsend. He was in so much pain when he arrived he could barely walk. His doctor quickly identified his condition as appendicitis and called for an ambulance to take him to the hospital for emergency surgery.

“If I would have gone to another clinic, it would have taken a longer time (to be seen by a doctor) and I might not have made it,” José said.

El Salvador is incredibly beautiful—it’s tropical and lush, and the beaches are fantastic. But in areas around the capital, gang activity is rampant. In fact, many of the people find that their everyday lives revolve around having to be aware of those gangs, and not getting caught up in the violence.

But in one of those neighborhoods, you’ll find a wonderful place of respite that’s bustling with activity and helping those in dire need. In partnership with the Abigail Association, Hand of Hope is bringing critical health care and the love of Christ to an entire community through the San José Villanueva Medical Clinic.

With a team of Christian doctors, the permanent clinic offers regular medical and dental care to many families who could not receive attention otherwise. The physicians also look for opportunities to attend to their patients’ spiritual and emotional health by praying for them and sharing God’s Word in Joyce’s resources.

Thank you for making it possible for José—and many others like him—to receive the life-saving care he needed. We know the needs are great, but together we are doing something about it.

Dr. Patricia
Rivera Jiandres

Dr. Patricia Rivera Jiandres has a heart that’s even bigger than her smile.

As a dentist at our medical clinic in San José Villanueva, El Salvador, Dr. Patricia loves the children and has a heart to see young women realize their worth and be confident in their smiles. For most of her patients who visit, it’s their first time ever seeing a dentist.

“Because of their economic problems, it’s too expensive to go to the dentist,” she said.

But at this clinic, patients see a doctor or dentist for just $1. And the clinic provides vital dental care for the community by cleaning teeth, filling cavities and even making dentures.

Through her compassionate care, Dr. Patricia does everything she can to save and restore a tooth before considering an extraction. In fact, many patients who are treated leave and tell others that their teeth were fixed rather than removed…bringing great relief to those who are hesitant about seeing a dentist.

Big or small—with each procedure, a difference is made in the patient’s life. They are prayed for and shown the love of Christ in other special ways, too.

When one young woman arrived at the clinic, she was terrified of dentists. At 20 years old, she still had most of her baby teeth, as well as a nightmare story about the last dentist she saw, who pulled many of her teeth.

“She came here and she was really scared,” Dr. Patricia said. “She (was afraid I would) remove all her teeth.”

What the young woman found instead was a dentist who delighted in repairing her beautiful smile.

“I did a denture…and put her baby teeth at the same level as her permanent teeth,” Dr. Patricia said. “When she saw herself, she was very, very happy.”

After spending her entire life afraid to smile, this young woman—for the first time—loved her smile.

“I’m very proud,” Dr. Patricia said. “The first thing in everyone’s mind here is God. So, as Christians helping others…it makes me very happy.”

Thank you for putting smiles on so many faces in 2018! God used you to help this precious young woman and many others to receive the help they so needed.

Dr. Anna
Salle

This was Dr. Anna Salle’s third medical outreach with our team. Zambia is a long way from her hometown in Germany, but it’s patients like these that keep her coming back…

“There was a man who was not able to move his leg,” Dr. Salle said. “So, we just did a quick investigation, then he said he cannot see properly. So, we tried glasses…and I really love this moment. He put on the glasses and his mouth was like—I could see that he was really happy!”

Dr. Salle’s adventure began a few years ago while she watched Joyce’s teaching online. After the program, she saw an ad for medical professionals who were interested in volunteering. She immediately applied for the next outreach and was soon packing her bags.

“It's different work as a doctor here than back in my home country,” she said. “But I feel like I really wanted to help people in poor countries who cannot have access to medical care.”

For Dr. Salle, these outreaches are the perfect intersection—it’s where her faith and medical skills meet in a way she has never experienced. It’s not just about administering healing, but it is also a unique opportunity to tell people all about the Healer.

“I love Jesus and I hope that the patients feel that…I think they feel it,” she said. “And yes, sometimes we just pray right at the investigation table with them. Just to make them know that Jesus is the doctor all above us.”

Panama
Medical/Dental Outreach

When one of the area’s head gang members walked into our medical/dental outreach in Panama, it was obvious that he was feared in the community.

But it was the last day of our medical/dental outreach and it was also evident that the man was in dire need of help.

After scraping his hand on a piece of metal, it had turned into a massive abscess. His hand was severely infected, and he was having a hard time moving his fingers because of all the swelling.

Doctors said the infection was getting so bad that it could have easily spread to his entire arm. So, volunteers quickly took him into the wound-care area, where the team cleaned out his wound and drained the abscess. He was also given antibiotics at the onsite pharmacy for free.

While he was being treated, the most amazing thing happened! He was told about the love of God and volunteers shared the Gospel with him. As they shared, a smile came across the man’s face and his expression began to soften.

It was like the light of Christ began to shine through him, and the man gave his heart to the Lord that day!

And that’s what these outreaches are all about—meeting people’s physical needs so we have the opportunity to introduce them to Jesus, the One who heals and saves.

Baby
Rebecca

As the doctor examined 10-month-old Rebecca, her fragile body fought to simply breathe. He had seen it many times before. Respiratory illness is common in El Salvador, and it takes the lives of so many young children who have no way to fight it.

It was a race against time…and young Rebecca just had to hold on for a little bit longer.