Medical Clinic in Simon's Village

After all of the graduates got back to Burma, Dr. Bruce Gross initiated a medical clinic in the village of one of our graduates, Simon, nearby Tachileik. Here is his report.


Hi All,

On Wednesday I had the great privilege of working with one of our recently graduated Barefoot Doctors.  I have had a hand in teaching Simon in the program for the last 3 years.  He was an excellent student.  He lives in Tachileik, Burma, but grew up in a village about an hour away, up in the mountains.  

To get to his village, we drove for about 30 minutes in a truck to a small village.  There, about 6 villagers met us with small motorcycles and we went the rest of the way to the village on scooters.  I met Simon’s mother, his uncle, cousins, aunts ...  

 The houses were very rustic, to say the least.  The men in the village were out in the fields tending to the crops.  The ladies were busy sewing some of the native costumes that they wear for celebrations. 

First things first – sit and drink tea with the locals.  Then after a while we started the clinic.  It was great to watch Simon examine the patients.  I felt like a proud father, whose son was taking over the family business and working just like his dad.  

We broke for dinner at noon.  Simon then cleaned teeth with his Barefoot Doctor scaler machine for a couple of hours.  As you see in the video, there were the pig feeding troughs, the pigs, piglets, the chickens, and then Simon scaling teeth.  You can’t make this stuff up!  It is definitely a laid-back farming community.   

The ladies continued to sew and make panels for the roof out of thatch.  Pigs, piglets, rosters, chickens, and chicklets ran freely.  We visited the church, which was in very poor repair.  We discussed ideas to completely rebuild the church.  We talked about their poor water supply.  The needs were many.  

I was both sad and amazed.  Sad that the people were living in such poverty.  I was amazed that these same people were cheerful and greeted us with superb hospitality and gave us a meal out of their limited food reserves. 

I need time to process and pray after this village experience.  Lord, what is the best way to help this village?  The needs are so great.  They don’t need or want a hand out.  They need education, healthcare, and partners in projects.  Water projects, building projects, farming projects, and animal husbandry. 

Please join me in that prayer.

Bruce

Ultrasound Scaling Machines Received!

Soon after the new Barefoot Doctors arrived in Tachileik at Timothy's house, some of them received the ultrasound scaling machines Dr. Eddy and Ramona had given them.

They were shipped to Timothy's house in order to save transporting them from Chiang Mai on their day of travel. Others were shipped to Abraham's house in Taunggyi for the graduates who passed through there on their way home.

Here are a few pictures of those who received their machines at Timothy's house.

These much needed machines will be put to use right away. Dr. Eddy says they will make the Barefoot Doctors the most popular person in their village!  

In fact, Simon put his scaling machine to use right away in his village when Dr. Bruce, JP, and him went there for a medical clinic this week.

More Graduation Pictures

Most of us are back home now, so it's time to post some more pictures from the Barefoot Doctor's Graduation on February 28th.

Dr. Bruce Gross and JP Ferraro are still in Burma so pray for their safe return to America.  They have been doing some medical camps there, along with some of our Barefoot Doctors including Timothy and Simon.

Enjoy the photos!

Barefoot Doctors on Their Way!!!

The Barefoot Doctors graduates left this morning a little after 7:00 a.m.

They are very excited to return to their families and villages, but everyone was sad to part company.

They had three passenger vans and a pickup filled with their suitcases and supplies.

Here is the final picture taken just before they left.

Please pray for their safe travel today to Tachileik and then on to their homes over the next few days.

God bless them all!

We will put up a few more posts in a day or two, so please keep checking back.

Thanks for your prayers.
Jon

Graduation Thoughts from Dr. Bruce Gross

I just attended the graduation ceremony for the 2020 Barefoot Doctor class. Wow! What a time of celebration. The students have worked so hard and accomplished so much.  I’m very proud of them.

The students came in their native dress.  So colorful and unique, each having pride in their heritage.  

The ceremony conferred the Barefoot Doctor degree upon them, but more importantly, it authenticated their training and empowered them to go back to their villages with confidence and expectation.  Their training will open up doors to villages where the gospel is not otherwise welcomed by the village leaders.  

As I watch the students celebrating and taking pictures (endlessly), I think of the dichotomy.  They look so beautiful, colorfully dressed, almost uppity by Burmese standards, but in 1 week they will all have returned to their villages, wearing regular tattered clothing, limited availability of food, terrible mattresses, limited water supply, outhouses, ……..you get the picture.

And yet, they are happy, joyful, and enthusiastic.  “Things” don’t matter to them. They have their newly acquired skills, along with a passion for the lost.  That combination, makes them a dynamo, a spiritual force that will take the fight to the devil as they pierce the darkness with the Light of the Word.

The Barefoot Doctor anchor scripture is Luke 9:6, “They began going throughout the villages preaching the gospel and healing everywhere”.  These young men and women are the closest thing to the New Testament apostles that you will find, given the charge to go out, minister to the sick, and preach the gospel. 

I can hardly wait to hear the stories that come out their ministry in the days ahead. I anticipate stories of healing (both with medication and with the laying on of hands), stories of villagers coming to Christ, and stories of revival in villages. 

On a personal note, God has challenged me in my personal walk with Him. I have heard the Holy Spirit clearly say, “Bruce, you can do better”.  The students have been an inspiration to me and are truly genuine believers with a servant’s heart. My prayer is, “Lord, make me more like the students”.

Thank you so much for your support and your prayers.  

Bruce

Graduation Day, 2020!

Graduation 2020 was today at 10:00 a.m. at the Kalnin Leadership Center.

19 students from Myanmar walked across the stage to receive their vests, certificates, and gifts.

This included:  Shapan Deezi, S Tin San, Dingra Nen Bey, Lar Khin Hla, Marangdong Ning Sai, Nan Kee, Du Si Heh, Phon Shong Nan Sar, Mayan Lam Isaac, Maung Ni Chay, Maung Kyawt Thar, Tin Hnin Nwe, Samuela, Aung Kyaw Oo, Mai Lal Em Par, Wan San Hti Na, Phon Bur Nin Mang, Simon, and Ying Sau.  We congratulate them all!

It was an exciting morning for everyone involved, and many photos were taken.  Thanks to J.P., video was also taken, and the ceremony will be available soon to those who had to miss it.

Here is a smattering of photos from the day.  In the next couple of posts we will tell you more about graduation day.

  

Preparations for Graduation Tomorrow!

Wow! It's hard to believe that graduation is TOMORROW for our Barefoot Doctor Students!

We are so proud of each of them, and we are so happy they are reaching this milestone in their lives!

Many preparations are being made as we get ready to have a very special day together.  Not to be forgotten, they all had to take a final examination first.  That happened this morning, and everyone passed the test!

Then this afternoon we had a walk-through for the graduation ceremony.  Everyone should know what to do now as the ceremony proceeds.

The KLC building and grounds are being prepared, too.

Graduation is at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28th.  The ceremony will be caught on video so that everyone can see it later online.  If you cannot attend, we will be letting you know how you can see the ceremony on the internet.