Senegal
Like other developing countries, Senegal has a high infant and child mortality rate and many of the people suffer from diseases and illnesses that could easily be treated if there were clinics and medications available to them. But our presence and our assistance is about more than physical healing, it’s about love and hope.
To this end, we have partnered with the United Methodist Church’s Global Ministries’ Mission Initiative already at work in Senegal, specifically with Mbour United Methodist Church. Mbour, a major city, has one of 19 Methodist churches in Senegal. Our partnership will strengthen the Church in its efforts to share the gospel, to support its many community outreach programs, such as feeding and micro-finance programs, sewing school and hygiene education, and especially to meet health care needs.
University UMC has sponsored two previous medical mission trips to Senegal with another scheduled for this winter. The first mission trip (April 2011), with ten team members, including myself and my husband, held four clinics, one in the base city and three in different villages. Over 950 patients were seen and 500 pounds of medication were distributed. The second mission trip (April 2012) had twelve team members, all for the first time except for myself and my husband, including the wonderful addition of French speaking Pastor Leslie Tomlinson. We saw similar miraculous successes with over 1050 patients seen and 750 pounds of medication given for the relief of pain and diseases.
This bears witness to University’s long devotion to “holy tenderness.” God turns your financial sharing into healed hearts and touched lives.