Dr. Gene Smith and his wife Arlene, medical missionaries working for World Challenge, recently returned from holding medical clinics with Doctors For Life in KwaZula-Natal, South Africa. Below is a report from Dr. Smith.

Patients Seen: 470
Prescriptions Filled: 1162
Salvations: 206

As we traveled around the KwaZulu-Natal areas of South Africa you notice the beautiful countryside, game along side the road and how pristine the huts in the villages look from a distance, but then you go to a village and do a medical clinic and you see just how devastating the AIDS virus has been to this gorgeous country and these wonderful people. Their only hope is Jesus, or this nation will be decimated by AIDS shortly.

We went to one orphanage where the children were delightful. They seemed happy and they loved the Lord. They sang worship songs for us and even though they had so little, they had each other and a home to go to at night. Some of the kids did not have a specific school shoe that was required to wear with their uniforms so World Challenge bought them the shoes they needed and we blessed them with something they would not normally ever be able to have — a chicken dinner from Kentucky Fried Chicken. They were thrilled! We received lots of hugs and thank-you’s to our group and to World Challenge for everything they did for the 14 orphans. These children are orphaned due to AIDS, but these children are also blessed because none of them have AIDS.

We headed toward the Northern part of the KwaZulu-Natal area and stayed in an area close to the Kruger National Park. We were scheduled to have a clinic, got up early and arrived at the tribal counsel’s office and the man in charge had forgotten to arrange the clinic for that Saturday. You always think that it has to be your agenda, but the Lord was in charge as Johan, our driver and “in charge of everything person”, became so sick we had to take him to the hospital and then back to the hotel to bed for a day. He was so sick that he let Arlene drive (that means he was really sick!).

On the way back to the hotel we had to stop along the side of the road for him several times. He was down for a day and a half, but the Lord is even in those interruptions. There was a young European couple staying at the hotel that was traveling together. The young girl was from a Christian family, and we had time to share the Lord with them. They wanted to come to one of the clinics with us, where they definitely heard the word being preached during the clinic. The young girl cried several times as I counseled and shared the Lord with patients. We have since received an e-mail from them thanking us for letting them come to the medical clinic, as it was a highlight of their trip. We continue to stay in touch and pray for them. They need Jesus.

We went to another orphanage in an area where there is no running water, no electricity and no heat. The roof leaked and we froze all day long. The only warmth in the rooms came through the windows that we sat by for light in order to do our clinics. My heart went out to the orphans who lived there without heat. Here we were in the middle of South Africa and that is the day it decided to snow. The outhouse was quite a hike, about 50 yards across slushy mud and water puddles as it was thundering and lightening and snowing. I pray that somehow we will be able to at least provide a stove that these kids can have warmth in the midst of the cold winters in these mountains. I asked the missionary why there wasn’t any heat for the orphans and she said that they can barely afford the food to keep the children fed.

As we had our medical clinic some of the kids helped Arlene with the pharmacy and translated for her, explaining to the patients how to take the medicine we gave them. The most thrilling part of the day was during the clinic, seeing the room full of patients waiting to be seen, wrapped in blankets and winter coats, then hearing a group of youth in the other room singing praises to the Lord. They did this for about three hours. What a blessing in the midst of the hardships. They had such joy on their faces as they sang to the Lord.

As we travel around South Africa we find the people are so steeped in ancestry worship and witchcraft. We have had patients come in and tell us that some medical doctors have told them there is nothing we can do for you; you need to go see the witch doctor. What a horrible thing for these people, as they are dying of AIDS, to be told to go to the “devil” to get help since you will die soon and go out into eternity! Jesus is the only hope for this devastated nation and this is the darkness that covers much of South Africa. The harvest is ripe but the workers are few! We saw several patients delivered of ancestry worship and witchcraft in our clinics. They just need the opportunity for someone to take the time to tell them of the love of Jesus and to offer them salvation! The Lord is beginning to shine His light in this nation and we are trusting that many more will begin to bow their knee to the one true God.

During our clinics Doctors For Life always shows videos of life’s problems these people face, with a salvation message at the end. We had to laugh at one clinic because I would ask the patients after I would examine them if they had Jesus in their hearts. Many that day told me they didn’t when they came in but after seeing the video, which shows Heaven and hell and different scenarios of people going to one or the other, they said they asked Him to forgive them of their sins and be the Lord of their life. We would pray with them and offer them encouragement. What a testimony of what the Lord uses for his glory! Again the Holy Spirit moved and the Father called many to Himself.

We saw one patient with far advanced Leprosy in one of our clinics. He was encouraged as we treated him and prayed with him.

Dr. Albu and his wife Karen and their sister in law were able to come for a week and help with the clinics. Karen translated for me (Dr.Smith). Dr. Albu saw patients and did many dental extractions, while their sister in law did injections, blood sugars and AIDS tests. The Lord did such a work during this time in South Africa. During the clinics Johan would show the videos; he would give a salvation message before and after; and he would pray with those who desired to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We had such a good evangelistic team and many came to know the Lord through the simple truth of Jesus dying on the cross for us no matter how bad we have been and of His great love for us.

One person that stands out in my mind is a young lady who came to us with AIDS but she had no symptoms. Her boyfriend had just died of gangrene of the leg secondary to AIDS and her baby daughter had a terrible skin disease secondary to AIDS and was dying. This is so common to see two to three people per home in various stages of AIDS and dying.

We had another young woman whom I diagnosed with AIDS and I wanted her to take an AIDS test and she said, “I don’t want to know. I am not going to take the test.” Your heart breaks for these people. The only hope for this nation is Jesus! Please pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen Dr. Albu & Karen VanEden, Johan and the Doctors For Life team, Karen’s parents and brothers and their families who minister to the Zulu people in each of their areas and offer them Jesus and the way of salvation. Only the Lord can change this nation and only the Lord can draw these people unto himself. Don’t forget them as they toil alone many times. We need to remember to hold their arms up as Aaron and Hur did for Moses in the midst of the battle.

The more we travel the more we realize these are the people who are on the front lines — the ones who day in and day out face the tragedies and sorrows of those lost and those without hope. They are the ones who offer the hope to these dying nations and we need to remember them in our prayers and with our financial support.

Blessings,
Dr. Gene & Arlene Smith