February 2012 Newsletter

Dearest Friends and Family,                                                                                  3 March,2012

Severe storms with several accompanying 24-hour power outages have resulted in TCC’s February newsletter being late. Hoping this missive finds you well, we greet you in Jesus’ name. Also wishing we could report sensational evangelism efforts this month resulting in numerous Bible studies and several won to the Lord, we must admit that this has not been true. Many sick folks arriving at the clinic have required working hard, long hours while three of TCC’s staff have been on maternity leave or vacation. Sharing the Lord this month has been confined to teaching at morning devotionals, prayers with patients, and sending out World Bible School lessons.
Continuing to travel a long way to be seen, patients with malnutrition, rheumatoid arthritis, typhoid fever, amoebic dysentery, inability to urinate due to schistosomes (parasites) in the bladder, acute alcohol toxicity, fungal and bacterial skin infections, sexually transmitted diseases, scabies, TB, brucellosis, and HIV frequent the clinic. The large amounts of infant formula, antifungal shampoo, medicines, and peanut butter many of you donated are being used to help them. Reaching out with Jesus’ hands to those who cannot repay you is something YOU are doing daily. While some of the baby formula is being used for patients at the clinic, much has been donated to local orphanages, which are delighted to receive it for their needy children. And as Dorcas’s friends displayed the items she had sewn for them, yours are on display at TCC and being distributed to clothe the needy.
Two visitors who also labored to assist the clinic in February were Jon and Bryan Willingham, an electrical engineer and his son from Cross Point Church of Christ (Florence, AL).  Assembling the  complicated X-ray machine and connecting it to the new, large generator and transformer took several days’ work amid frequent power outages. When the generator was finally turned on and electricity flowed to the X-ray machine, a small fire began in the transformer, evidently damaged in shipping. Although Jon and Bryan had to leave before the problem was solved, repair continues on the transformer and we hope the X-ray machine will soon be functional. Thank you Cross Point, Robert and Dot Fields, and the Willinghams for sending and coming!
In March and April we anticipate the arrival of two medical students to work with us. Then in May and June Rick and Cynthia Nobles plan to return for two more months. How cheered we are to have all of you! Already the tractor bought by the Nobles and Cross Point Church as well as the “Kawasaki mule”—“punda”(donkey), the Tanzanians call it—provided by the Beck and McMindes families are serving a great purpose at TCC. Thank you AGAIN, generous givers.
Lastly, let us “Jjpe moyo–kwa sababu Yesu ni jibu”(keep the heart–because Jesus is the answer)
From Africa with love,
Danny and Nancy Smelser