SURINAME MISSION AUGUST 23 - 31, 2001

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Sigourney lives in Suriname and is about two years old. Her dark, curly hair, beautiful bronze skin, and frilly dress immediately attracted our attention. She exuberantly swung a rather large object with her left arm a doll or toy typical baby play. But, when we looked to see what she had, we were dismayed to see the object was not-a toy,-but-her extremely large, misshapen, hand, with a deformed left shoulder and upper torso; a condition since birth which has confused local physicians. At times she is hospitalized for severe pain. We solicit your prayers for her and, God willing, a medical solution in America. We seek and will appreciate recommendations of and responses from qualified specialists.

It was a privilege to work again with Salvation Army hosts Aalt and Tertia Fikse at a clinic we all set up in a church in Paramaribo, the capital. Our first day ended slightly early due to word-of-mouth advertising which is used to prevent overwhelming numbers of people; by the next day, however, the huge crowd made it obvious there would be many we would not be able to see.

The cooperative hard work of both the U. S. and local teams enabled us to treat 771 persons with 260 who prayed to receive Christ. Surinamese nurses provided good support to the U.S. medical team, Bala Rao, Ann Rao, and Tom Burton, in the examination and treatment of a myriad of physical maladies including malnutrition, high blood pressure, diabetes, dermatological problems, pregnancies, suspected cancers, intestinal parasites, and sexually transmitted diseases. The 482 teeth pulled by Tom Love give a graphic picture of what a day was like for him and seasoned dental assistants, Holly Love and Betty Glasscock! (Also, as Suriname is near the equator, temperatures were well into the nineties in the non-air-conditioned building.) The privilege of seeing children's rapt attention to Geraldine Honchell's rendition of the Wordless Book is always special, and the Gospel was also presented to the other waiting patients by local witnesses and videos. An increased number of needy patients ready for examination was made possible by the diligence of local nurses led by Ferral Burton in Triage.

As we pray and obey, the Bible says God is faithful to do "above and beyond all we can ask or think!"

God bless you.

Tom and Ferral Burton

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