On 18 April, a mission day took place in Bolivia. The aim was to renew our commitment to the Great Commission from Matthew 28:19. This means praying for the mission, giving financially and getting involved in the work ourselves. Another aim was to present a new project: to establish a dermatology clinic for people suffering from leprosy. It also aims to screen people for Chagas’ disease and to help tuberculosis patients. A mission group called ‘GAMyS’ (Grupo apoyo mission y salud, meaning ‘Group for the Support of Mission and Health’) has been working with local and foreign leprosy specialists for around five years, seeking out people afflicted by this disease in order to help them. Outreach programmes are being carried out in the Bolivian hinterland, where free medical examinations are offered. A 10-hectare plot of land is now being purchased, and this is where the dermatology clinic is to be built. Furthermore, the ophthalmologist Dr Derksen from Paraguay is joining this project and will set up an eye clinic here. In addition to performing eye operations, the clinic will also provide further training for ophthalmologists.
Bolivienhilfe has been working with this group for the past six months to launch a joint project. On the site being purchased for this purpose, plans include not only a dermatology clinic, an eye clinic and a maternity ward, but also a Bible centre called ‘Arche’. This will feature a Bible exhibition and training rooms for Bible and music lessons. Plans are also in place to build a complex where retreats can be held. A sports hall for sporting activities and larger gatherings is also planned.
To raise awareness of this project, this Mission Day was organised in collaboration with the local churches. The Lord blessed us with ideal weather, and around 800 people came to learn about the mission work, to support it and to pray for it together. In the sermon, we were encouraged to let the spirit of mission take root within us and to take action to support it. The doctors spoke about their missions and their experiences with patients, about the hardship that exists there, and also about ways to alleviate this hardship. The main part of the event featured a detailed presentation of the project as a whole.
It was a blessed day, which will hopefully leave a lasting impression and inspire a commitment to mission work.
