MAF Missionary Michelle Venter describes how their team has had success in visiting mothers in Goroka Hospital over the past year.
Story from Michelle Venter
It’s hard to believe that we have been visiting the hospital now for nearly one whole year! It does not seem like that long and yet when I look at the list of names of all the mothers we have met and all the relationships that we have made, then I stand back amazed! God has really enabled us to do his work, equipped us, opened doors for us and looked after us.
This year alone we have visited with nearly 200 mothers who have passed through the Susu Mama ward. Some we have seen once, and others built a relationship with over four months!
Every week we share a devotion with the mothers. In June we started working through a book called “King bilong Glori” which explains the story of salvation from creation to Christ with a one-page story each week. We have been able to give each mother her own copy of the book as well so that she can take it home when she leaves the hospital and continue to read with her family. As funds allow, we also give Bibles and various care-packs to the ladies and babies too.
I’m going to share some stories with you…
This lovely lady spent over four months in the ward. Her baby boy was born weighing 800g! She shared with us how a witch doctor had cursed her family and her unborn child and soon after this she went into labour - far too early. But God had other plans! The baby survived and grew strong and was discharged!
In September, my husband Brad was called to do a medevac flight one Saturday and for the first time in our years in PNG, I joined him. We flew to Andakombe and picked up two ladies with post birth complications. One of the ladies was very young and her mother accompanied her on the flight. The next week on my visit to the hospital I saw one of the ladies in the next-door ward! There was the young lady and her mother - who had just given birth to baby #9 the previous day! What a special surprise to be able to visit with them there again and celebrate another new arrival!
Finally, last Saturday we visited the hospital with the youth group that Brad runs. Each child brought a donation, and we made up food packs and gifts (Tok Pisin Children’s Bibles, crayons and books) to take to the children’s ward.
Through the Mama Care Ministry doors have been opened to us to visit various other wards in the hospital too and to see more needs. The youth sang Christmas Carols, decorated the ward for Christmas and Alex shared a devotion for the parents. It was such a blessing for us to share this with the youth and for their eyes to be opened to the needs of others.
Enjoy this video where Michelle shares how God gave her contentment being a mum and support for her husband pilot but also opened doors for reaching out to the community, in particular how she and her team has had success in visiting mothers in Goroka Hospital over the past years sharing God's love and care for them.