1977 started slowly with a series of small shipments and a huge influx of supplies, but not necessarily what was needed:
- We are thankful for the profusion of supplies which continue to come our way. There is an over-abundance of some items, and our warehouse is fairly bulging at the seams . However, we receive very small amounts of such necessities as vitamins, anti-biotics, worm medicine and germicidal products . So these items must be purchased, and they are expensive . Since February we have spent around $3500 (2023 value) for medications. We will have to buy vitamins also–very soon.
A recent call from a National missionary brought an interesting story. He is with the Hindustan Bible Institute in India and needs medicine for six clinics and two clinic vans. While foreign missionaries are becoming more and more limited in that country, the opportunities are un-limited for reaching people with the Gospel in the clinics.
- Maury went on the Mexico clinic trip with the Flying Doctors of Liga International last month. He helped with the medicine in one village clinic where we have helped before. Many people were examined and treated. It is a very satisfying experience to help where the needs are so great; wish you could see one of these clinics in progress. . .people standing outside waiting their turn. . .so much sickness, so much hurting to see. We always return home with a fresh inspiration to serve the Lord in the Handclasp work He has given us to do.
In 1978/9 the second shipment for the Christian Hospital in Calcutta, India was sent. It had 16 tons of dehydrated food, vitamins, baby food, food supplements and medical supplies. The supplies were used in the Child Feeding Program and 120 bed hospital. Purchased in India these precious supplies would have cost over $400,000, yet Handclasp’s cost was around $30,000. In addition, an additional 19,000 pounds of medicine and hospital supplies to 26 areas in seven countries.
Six tons were shipped to a medical clinic program in remote villages in Haiti. Nearly $150,000 in value.
The clinics in the Mexico states of Sonora and Sinaloa were usually built by the townspeople and staffed by interns of the Mexican Medical Schools but usually had no medicine! The Flying Doctors of LIGA INTERNATIONAL donate their time and Handclasp usually proves the medicine. Here is a narrative:
- OCARONI is littIe village is located less than 50 miles from the City of Los Mochis, but remote because of poor roads. People come from miles away, many travel two days by open truck to be treated by medical, dental and eye teams. As the dental work goes on, small vending carts offer fruit, soft drinks, food and somewhat dirty snow cones. Those not in line for the medical work inside enjoy watching the dentists at work. Many of the doctors treat 100‘s per day!
- CHOIX is a village of 5,000. It boasts a hotel which is available to the medical and dental teams. There is also a very nice hospital where the doctors, dentists and associates may work. As special needs are discovered, arrangements are made for a specialist doctor to either treat immediately or the next clinic weekend.
- LORETO is a town of perhaps 3,000, located on the east side of the Baja Peninsula in Baja del Sur(south). It has been a popular fishing resort, so there are three hotels, beautifully located on the warm waters of the Gulf of California. One of the hotels is owned by a Mexican Senator, who makes all the arrangements and contacts for the LIGA groups to conduct clinics in Loreto and the surrounding areas.
- CARMEN ISLAND is a 40 minute flight from Loreto, the main livelihood is salt mining. There is no water available–it must be shipped in from the mainland. There is no agriculture so of course nutrition is a problem. The sun is so harsh that the women gather sea gull feathers from the beach and weave sun shades for the men. High on the ailment list is eye problems with many surgeries done in Loreto.
- LA PURISIMA is in a mountainous area, almost jungle like, with ample water coming from springs. The people farm and fish, but seem to be so uneducated in the area of nutrition and health matters that they sell all the nutritious things they grow. It is for this and other reasons that they are in poor health.
- Maury wrote: As I worked in and around the clinic, I passed through the substantial crowd waiting to see the doctors many times. Many were women with small children. An interesting thing was happening; the ones on the outer edge of the crowd seemed despairing that they would get to see the doctors. But as many were treated and they moved closer to the door, it appeared that hope had replaced despair. In fact, I am sure that faith had sprung up in their hearts because their expression change was evident: faith that help was just inside the door. Once inside the clinic, they saw and experienced the love of a concerned doctor who would do everything possible to fulfill their hope and faith. In one room, surgery was being performed by a Gynecologist. Women were receiving care for which they had no money. Physical problems were being taken care of that had been tolerated for a long time, because of no money to pay a doctor. Separated only by a curtain, the eye teams worked. Cataract surgeries were performed on people who would otherwise have had no hope of seeing well again.
In 1980 Handclasp started sending supplies to the refugees along the Cambodian border:
- The situation is greatly improved; food and medicines are in good supply in the camps along the Cambodian border in Thailand. Customs requirements are holding up a large quantity of supplies which weren’t handled quite right. People are being won for Christ in large numbers. Many hardened hearts were softened because of people loving and helping the physical needs . We will be shipping seven crates of medicine and food to other needy areas rather than Thailand.
And on to Zambia
- The Mwami Hospital is a 160 bed facility ministering to a large portion of the area surrounding Chipata, Zambia. The Hospital facilities include a leprosarium and a school of nursing. Located in the general area are 12 Hospital sponsored clinics.
- The rural people are very poor – many of the young children die of malnutrition. Although the government of Zambia furnishes limited medications, there are never enough. Donated medications are always welcome and much needed! Over 50,000 people were treated at the Hospital in 1979!
- More than just physical ills are treated at the Mwami Hospital. A concerted program of area evangelism is underway by two staff evangelists who reached out into the surrounding are with the good news of Jesus Christ. Additionally: the Doctors and Nurses also share their faith in Jesus Christ as the opportunity arises.
- HANDCLASP has just shipped over 3,600 lbs. of medicine and medical supplies to this fine Hospital. These eight boxes, with an estimated value of over $150,000 are but a drop in the proverbial bucket towards the needs of this fine ministering Hospital in Zambia. God willing, we would like to expand the ministery to this and other groups ministering to the Body and Souls of the needy in Africa.
And the needs in Haiti
HANDCLASP INTERNATIONAL has taken a step of faith. we have just shipped over $36,000 worth of medical supplies and approximately $50,000 worth of food supplements by rail to Miami for trans-shipment to Haiti. The dedicated medical missionaries will try to raise the funds to pay for shipping; however, with your help arid mine, that burden can be lifted from their shoulders.
The needs of refugees touched their hearts in 1981.
- Refugee problems abound. A new refugee camp is being established in the Philippines–on the island of Corregidor. Food, protein supplements and vitamins will be needed to help overcome malnutrition. And of course medical supplies are always in demand. But of all the world’s problems, hunger is the greatest. In 1981 we face almost world-wide hunger.
- More than 150 million Africans face the specter of famine, because of drought and “man-made disasters” of civil strife, causing critical food shortages. Immediate needs include water wells, seeds, and supplementary foods until such time as new crops can be harvested. Physical aid, education and spiritual ministries are included in long-range answers for many areas.
Letters came in from those who received the carefully packed medicine and supplies:
- LESOTHO: “Thank you go much for the shipment of Intravenous (I. V. ) tubes. I just saw an 18 month old infant looking healthy and happy. Just three days before the child looked more tike a prune than a human because of dehydration. Thank to your I. V. tubes the child is now well.”
- ZAMBIA: The gift of soap (in addition to medicine and other supplies) were especially welcome. It just feels good to have enough to issue to our patients and helpers in the Hospital. In the stores you have to stand in tine several hours for a few bars of soap.
- UGANDA: “We are extremely grateful for the shipment sent by Air Freight. It is impossible to express how thrilled we are for everything. All the drugs and supplies you sent are just the kind of things needed here in Kampala. Please give our love aand thanks to everyone for all they did for us.”
- HAITI : “Thanks so much for the milk and vitamins. They will certainly help the many starving children we see in Haiti.”
By the end of 1981 – just ten years in ministry Handclasp had shipped medicines, supplies, vitamins, hospital beds and other items to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Guyana, Nigeria, Uganda, Zaire, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, Afghanistan, Korea, HongKong, Taiwan, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, New Guinea, Soloman Islands, Fiji, India, Nepal, Haiti, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. (See maps above).
