Eternal Impact Report :: Northern Africa

Checking vitals

Loretta Speicher, RN, with a patient at the orphanage.

Long-term Impact

Loretta Speicher, RN, and Kathleen Smith, PA, teach dental hygiene.

Last November, HCM sent a team of eight to the Lillian Trasher Orphanage (LTO) to minister to the children, widows and staff who call it home.  They spent four days conducting wellness examinations and teaching health education.  Because the outreach was focused on just the orphanage, the team was able to give more exclusive time with each person they came in contact with.

"The children and staff felt very loved and cared for," Jennifer Day, the AG representative to LTO and missionary host, said.

Elaine Bennett, one of HCM's missionary associate nurses, realized that the Lord had her minister to the staff and elderly of the orphanage, and not just the children.  Elaine went on to tell the blessing her translator and ladies working at LTO were to her.

"They are treasures of strength, hope, determination, and love," Elaine said of the three elderly ladies who had grown up as orphans under the tutelage of 'Mama Lillian.'

These ladies left such an indelible mark on Elaine because of their servant's heart and willingness to help the HCM team everyday.

"Orphans aren't just little children," Elaine said.  "They're grown-ups, too."

Seeking to not only meet immediate needs, the team spent a great deal of time teaching health education seminars to the children and community.  A total of 19 classes were held on topics such as personal hygiene and basic health issues.  The team also separated the older boys and girls in order to talk about adolescent issues.  They were eager learners and the team enjoyed the additional time to bond with them and to influence their lives.

Spending quality time with the children offered many of the team members additional opportunities to pray with them and minister to their spiritual needs.  Many accepted Jesus as their personal savior, and several were encouraged by the one-on-one focus.

Kathleen Smith, an HCM missionary associate and physician assistant, had a vision while praying with two sisters.  She saw a deep root in their hearts that God was trying to pull out.  The root symbolized the sorrow of losing their parents.  Kathleen shared with them that God wanted to plant the seed of love in their hearts rather than sorrow.  They took these words to heart, and in the days that followed there was a definite change in their countenances.

See the full Eternal Impact Report.