When the movement led by Jesus’ first followers met with headwinds, some of its mobile teams were unable to journey across borders, so the pioneering leaders adapted quickly.1 Leaders met in faraway locations to draft letters addressing theological inquires from developing communities of faith.2 At least one letter was addressed to more than one [...]
“I was born at that hospital; I am from Gutu that is why I’m interested.” With these words, Prof. Feresu on last week’s video conference call linking Ontario, Gutu, and Harare, let me know she had a personal stake in Gutu Mission Hospital. She is now on the Gutu Mission Hospital Infrastructure team. She [...]
“Are you going to leave us after you finish building the clinic? Are you with us for the long run?” A village elder asked one of our team members at the early stages of our involvement in the community of Gambade. They had heard about NGOs that establish projects and programs then abandon them [...]
We waited patiently, there is no law against forbearance. However, there is a law against travel during the pandemic. But when we could no longer bear it, teams began to take steps to serve from a distance. We have been separated from our overseas friends and partners for far too long, but only in [...]
30 years ago, Tom Peters’ wrote the book “Thriving on Chaos”. It was even popular in Kenya where I read it in 1990. It was about flexibility as an essential for corporate survival in a world where customer preferences were so unpredictable that constant market volatility was the order of the day. The main [...]
There is an audacity that comes from certitude. This kind of conviction that drives action is deeply rooted and nothing can divert it. I am persuaded beyond all doubt that an ancient Jewish prophecy about God showing up and being available to everyone was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, I live and work with people [...]
In difficult times as has been with the pandemic-related restrictions, curfews, disease, deaths, income instability, and all the uncertainty we are still going through it is easy to become discouraged. God not only speaks tenderly to (re)assure us of His promises, but also plans prophylactically for our despondency by giving us work to do. Words [...]
It may have been an act of foolish pride or the custom of the day, but King Hezekiah exposed his royal treasures and military resources to a future enemy. It was part of a downward spiral of unfaithfulness to God accelerated by successive generations of poor leadership, which fractured the relationship between the kingdom [...]
The siege lasted seven years. It was brother against brother; the offspring of Abraham the Midianites through Keturah against the Israelites who were sons through Sarah. Israel went into total lockdown; everyone was confined to caves; such was the curfew that food preparation was a dangerous activity. The devastation felt like a swarm of [...]
Four labour-intensive projects in the Old Testament had similar ends: people connected with God; became worshipers or by the admission of their moral failure renewed their relationships with Him. These projects separated by decades and, at times centuries, were part of an overarching scheme to elevate Jerusalem into the spiritual Mecca for all humankind, [...]
Our teams have known the frustration of having willing hearts eager to serve held back by the restraints of international public health regulations and the laws that govern use of donor funds entrusted to us. Like everyone else, we long for freedom to travel and meet family and friends without masks. Yet, we face [...]
From an organizational viewpoint, the next year and a half does not hold promise for measurable mission impact. We have no plans for team travels in 2020 and do not know when we will be able to make those plans. The consensus among our team leaders is that the first three quarters of 2021 [...]
(Lessons and Observations from Ezra and Nehemiah’s Projects) What keeps us going when we face obstacles? What if the facts known to us say that we are up against formidable difficulties? How do we remain resolute when we face hurdles within our own organization? What are we promised and how do we pray? The [...]
The birth of a child is a joyous occasion, most of the time. Sometimes mothers die or are weakened by illness because of pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal mortality or death due to pregnancy is still a major, yet preventable, health concern for many countries. In an earlier blog I wrote about maternal mortality ratio [...]
For over seven decades EMAS Canada has used healthcare as a tool for communicating God’s love through teams that provide medical and dental care. Helping partners all over the world with better medical infrastructure and equipment; knowledge and clinical skills, have been key expressions of our mission, especially in China. The traditional method of [...]
Our dependence on volunteers and donors is a well-known fact, and when we see a decline in their numbers we are naturally concerned. And we are not alone. In a recent report in the Time Magazine, Oxfam is having to reduce staff by close to 30% due to reduced revenue following the impact of [...]
EMAS Canada depends on volunteers who travel internationally to deliver aid through education, medical and dental services. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had, is that close to 75% of our volunteers will not serve overseas in 2020. Several teams cancelled missions and two where cut short for the safety of our volunteers. [...]
Covid-19 is laying siege on the world. Almost everywhere, the pandemic is disrupting businesses and industries, local and international travel; schools and colleges are closing; courts are postponing hearings; and governments are making urgent plans to curb the spread of the causative corona virus. All over the world, hospitals are scrambling to increase intensive [...]
A personal story about generosity and teamwork. My father died on January 28th. I knew it would happen someday; but I was not ready for it; suddenly I had to face the implications of his death. He had been unwell for a long time and an invalid since July. Now I was in charge. [...]
Our MISSION to heal, teach and SERVE those in need in a Christ-like manner translates our VISION: Christ-centered healthcare teams proclaiming God’s love to all the world through healing and teaching into tangible and measurable outcomes. Service means more to us than what healthcare workers do for individuals and for communities. Christianity teaches that humans [...]