A Day of Ministering In Dabou

When we arrived after an hour and half van ride from the capital of Abidjan to the city of Dabou -- there were already several hundred families waiting for the "official" starting of the health program: Measles vaccination, Vitamin A, intestinal medication for worms and mosequito net. By the time the "official" start had concluded the number had increased and we were anxious to begin the program. Within three hours my partner had given over four hundred doses of vitamin A and deworming medication and I had handed out four hundred nets to children/families. The line continued to grow and we were getting closed to the end of our first batch of nets. The measles vaccination ran out first so as the attendent went to retrieve more vaccinations I played with the children waiting in line. Once the medicine arrived it was back to work handing out nets to those who had waiting in line now for at least three hours.
Every parent was so appreciated and thank us over and over. The children of course were not so happy after recieving a measles vaccination -- but I tried to make them laugh with my use of two years of high school French! It was truely an amazing sight. There were only short breaks of several minutes as the line was held up due to some issue -- but from 10 am to 5 pm our job was to provide the basic health care to a population in dire need.
To put things in perspective we where in 5 of the 18 districts and only at three of the sites in each of the five districts. In Dabou we were able to hand out 1500 nets on the first day. 1500 children who will now have a better future and prayerfully a healther life. 1500 children who will not contract a deadly disease which will task the local health system. 1500 in only three of the many sites across the country on this first day of distrubution. Could such a distubution cause a major change or trajectory of a nation? There will be some who say no but those who see by faith and not by sight -- must answer with a reasoning yes! How one may ask? I do not know the answer since I have been called to live and walk by faith. But when you look into the eyes of parents who are so grateful for what they have just recieved -- I know that God will use it for his glory and for the well being of the children.
I am so thankful for the prayers of those in the States -- you and those who have assisted are standing by faith next to each of us as we hand a net to a family. You are just a part of this team as those who are physically here and you may never know the incredible impact you have on this country.
The work has just begun and we have a long journey before we can rest -- but with the prayers of those at home and the encouragment of those on our teams -- God will see us through and may He recieve all the glory and honor due His name!!!!