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Amelca Food Pantry

   AMELCA is a partnership between St. Peter's AME and First Lutheran. The Food Pantry is staffed and supported by both congregations, and is located, at FLC. It is open every Wednesday from 10:00am until noon.

IHDN

Mission Report from the International Health & Development Network (IHDN)

            IHDN is a Springfield, IL-based, medical missions organization. IHDN owns and operate a small missions hospital at Weta, Ghana.  Weta and surrounding towns and villages have a population of over 60,000 people. This is the only medical facility for these people in Ghana, who earn less than $2 a day.  First Evangelical Lutheran Church (FELC) became associated with IHDN in 2006.  At that time, Dr. Jamie Wade, who was a medical student joined the medical mission steam to Ghana.  At total of 3 short term volunteers from FELC have been sponsored to join IHDN missions team to Ghana so far.    This report describes the major activities of IHDN for 2012.

Mission Trips to Ghana

            IHDN sponsored two mission trips to Ghana in 2012.  The first trip was from Jan 26 to Feb 23 with 4 volunteers and a final year medical student, who is now a doctor.  The second trip was from July 2-18,with 9 volunteers.  Ms. Kelsey York, a member or First Evangelical Lutheran

Church was sponsored to join the team.

            During these mission trips to Ghana, volunteers  provide medical and surgical care at the IHDN Mission Hospital, train nurses, work in the medical laboratory, conduct workshops on Christian

Leadership and community  development. Over 3000 people were treated by IHDN volunteers, in partnership with their Ghanaian team during the 2 mission trips. Most of the patients had malaria, hypertension, diabetes and degenerative joint disease.  Surgical operations were performed on 61

patients. Most of these patients would not have had the chance to get these operations had the volunteer teams not gone to Ghana.  Over 10 patients with breast and other cancers were also treated during these trips.

            Nursing education is a major aspect of the mission trips. IHDN provided nursing assistant training to 10high school graduates interested in nursing. Some of these students end up being employed by the IHDN Mission Hospital.   In-service training was also provided to present nurses on issues of critical care and emergency nursing care.

Construction projects

            IHDN is continuing the construction of inpatient wards for the hospital as funds become available.  Work is presently focused on a 40-bed unit.  The walls for this building have gone up and the roof have been installed. Outstanding work include plastering of the walls, plumbing work, tiling, electrical, installation of windows and doors, which is estimated to cost about $110,000.  There also a need for extension of access road (drive through)  to these wards, which is yet to be tackled.

            A six-unit single room flat was completed during the year.  This is being used to provide accommodation to the nursing staff.  Other nursing staff, who do not currently have decent accommodation are praying for the day when new flats will be built for them to occupy. 

            A canteen/cafeteria was opened during the year. This will allow patients and staff to be served food under hygienic conditions.

IHDN Mission Hospital

            IHDN mission hospital has provided care to over 25,000 patients, since January 2012,with 50 Ghanaian medical staff.  They work under severe challenges.   There is no full time doctor and payment for services from the National Health Insurance program is very unpredictable.   Most of the suppliers of medications to the hospital have not been paid making it difficult for them to continue to supply the drugs.  Most doctors do not want to work in a village setting because they could make more money by working in the big cities than what IHDN is able to afford.   IHDN is looking for retired or semi-retired physicians and nurses from the US to go and help work at the hospital.

Shipment of Container to Ghana

          In October IHDN shipped a 40ft container to Ghana. This contained supplies and donated office equipment by Dr. & Mrs. Robert Carney and Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach Center, with doors donated by Dr. & Mrs. Ferdinand Salvacion.  These shipment go a long way to assist with the ongoing work in Ghana.

Fundraising Dinner in support of the Inpatient Wards

            IHDN hosted a fund raising dinner on March 23 at the Hope Evangelical Free Church.  Volunteers from FELC, including Dr. James and Mrs. Susan Wade and Mr. Milton Scott and others, participated in this event.  A total of  $54,635 was raised. This has been sent to Ghana to assist with the construction of the inpatient ward. We thank all those who supported this event.

Conclusion

            The work of IHDN has been a journey of faith.  We thank all those who have come along with us. We look forward to a continued fruitful relationship with FELC

IHDN.org

LWR Quilters

    In October 2012 the First Lutheran LWR Quilters took 100 quilts, 100 school kits, 100 health kits to the LWR collection point at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Champaign. From there they were taken by tractor trailer to LWR Distribution center in Minneapolis, MN. From there they were sent to point of greatest need all over the world. It is very humbling to try to wrap your mind around the magnitude of the global need for these quilts and kits. The First Lutheran LWR Quilters feel very blessed to be able to make and donate these items to LWR. These ladies meet every Thursday morning at 9:00am to work on these quilts.

Story Book Project

    Sponsored by Lutheran Social Services, this ministry helps maintain mother and child connections while the mother is incarcerated. Thanks to donations, books and tapes are provided for women in prison to record their voices reading books to their children. For more information, contact Marilyn Oftedal, Judy Busing, or the church office.