Denver Christian Docs

BILL & JAN BEVINS ON THEIR WAY TO AFRICA! Vol. I # 2 April 14, 2006 Moving to Africa is coming closer! Our target date is now September 23. Much has happened since our first newsletter, and we wish to let you know some of what is developing for us.

In January Bill returned to Africa with the CMDA’s short term mission group Medical Education International. First the team went to Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Mulago is a 1,500 bed facility with >200% occupancy! There we taught a five day trauma care course similar to what is taught in the U.S. The methodological approach of the ABCs has greatly improved emergency care here in the states over the last 30 years. We instructed 18 of the consulting surgical staff with the intent to train them to be able to teach this material themselves.

In the afternoon of the last day of the class one of the Ugandan surgeons cared for a woman who had been run over by a truck. Although Dr. Jackie was unable to save the woman’s life, she realized that the approach that had been taught organized the pattern of care into a priority scheme that would increase the chance of a positive outcome in future trauma victims.

The next week the MEI team journeyed to Nairobi, Kenya, where our team was joined by other U.S. physicians and nurses. For four days, we taught our 3^rd annual trauma and cardiac care courses. Our sponsoring organization there is the Kenya Christian Medical Fellowship. At the conclusion one the most common requests on the part of the Africans was that we train them as trainers so that this knowledge can be further disseminated in their country.

The joy of teaching for the CMF of Kenya in the context of trying to show the love of Christ has been so exciting! It also leads into Bill’s further vision of working in medical missions with medical education as well as patient care. We will work with this vision as long term missionaries with Africa Inland Mission, International. Our initial commitment is four years, although some of the projects opening up will involve anywhere from ten-fifteen years of work. Ultimately, our goal will be to help spread the gospel by working through education.

Missionaries provide about 60% of the medical care in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Christian Health Alliance of Kenya helps to coordinate the medical care of all the mission agencies. We expect to be based in the Nairobi area and work with CHAK and the CMF.

Jan also finds great joy in teaching! As 50% of Africa’s population is 15 years old or younger, we know that wherever we are, there will be children needing an elementary education teacher.

We are in the process of raising support. We especially covet your prayers! We need daily and weekly prayer support for this work. There also is considerable financial support raising. Pray, and if you are led to help in any way, contact us for information on how to support us in prayer and/or financially.

The plan now is to have a newsletter at least quarterly. If you or someone you know wants to be on this list, let us know! We will send this electronically as much as possible and by regular mail as needed.

Praise and Prayers:

**Our children are grown up! Will is married to a delightful lady named Wendi and they are living and studying at CU. Joe is studying in Japan for a year as an exchange student from Fort Lewis College in Durango. He returns to the US to finish college in August, before our departure date. Our children have always been in God’s hands, and we pray even more now for His guidance in their lives!

**Bill will be attending Tropical Medicine school in W. Va. June 13- Aug. 4.

**We will sell our home here and downsize to something smaller for Joe to live in when he is not in school and for us a place to return to when on home assignment.

**Please pray for the prayer and financial support this endeavor will require. We have always been in His hands, and realize it now more than ever!

Joyfully in His hands,

Bill & Jan Bevins

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