On Friday morning of Annual Conference 2019, the Special Offering is for Rotifunk Hospital in Sierra Leone. Following is an article by Amy Sessions, a board member and two-time visitor to Sierra Leone. Please give generously!
Prior to my first Mission of Hope Rotifunk experience in August 2017, I had for years felt a desire, a calling, if you will, to participate in a medical mission trip, but had not seriously prayed for God’s blessing and guidance. That changed about a month prior to receiving a phone call from Dale Smith from Mission of Hope, asking me to participate in an upcoming trip to Rotifunk. As a result of my experience on my Walk To Emmaus, I really began earnestly praying and asking God to prepare my heart and guide my steps toward a medical mission trip, and, wow, did God ever deliver
My trip was an amazing, eye-opening, faith journey that has forever changed my life and my outlook. God has given me a new pair of eyes with which I see and experience many things much differently. I traveled many miles across a deep blue ocean to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those less fortunate than myself. Ironically, in reality, the people of Rotifunk blessed me. They served, witnessed to me God’s incredible love, and reached out to me during my entire experience. The people of Sierra Leone are warm and welcoming, and it didn’t take much effort to place a smile on their faces, even though they have few of the comforts we enjoy here in America.
The staff at the Hatfield-Archer Memorial Hospital were a pleasure to observe and assist. On a daily basis, I was overtaken emotionally by what the doctors, nurses, and lab technicians were doing with the limited resources available. I witnessed the team of medical professionals delivering the best care possible by their standards of medical and pharmaceutical care to all of their patients.
One of my favorite things to do when I got home was to share my mission trip story with others. Upon sharing my story, I was invariably asked, “will you go back?” And my answer always was that “the better question is, when are you going back?”
I believe that God wants us to be “all in” for being the hands and feet of Jesus! For me, my love for Mission of Hope, and the village of Rotifunk, I’m “all in!” My prayer to go back was realized.
On my second trip, my heart was especially touched by a two-year-old from close to the village. When we arrived at the hospital on a Monday, she was listless, on a c-pap machine, malaria positive, and had a secondary lung infection. For three days she coughed almost every breath! She had a difficult time eating and would get choked very easily.
We tried the Solumedrol on her and her health condition began to turn around! Dr. Asante, the managing physician at the hospital, was amazed by the improvement. God is Good! On Sunday morning, little Amanita was sitting three pews ahead of me during the church service. What a story of hope and healing!
I am looking forward to what the future holds as Mission of Hope Rotifunk seeks God’s vision for the hospital and the surrounding community. My simple life in Africa during my trips truly make me appreciate life on a different level, particularly the quality of healthcare available in America. My message is that today and everyday, we must smile, live life.
Maybe God is calling you or your church members as well!
Download the Rotifunk Hospital Information Sheet to learn more.