We had a great week at Ann's Grove. It was a real busy week, with the lady that had both ankles injured and taking care of her. She happens to be a very good friend of mine, so I did get to enjoy some time to visit while she was 'down.' Bless her heart. But her spirits were good.
The highlight of my week was the Sunday morning worship service. Ann's Grove had invited several surrounding congregations and we had a huge turnout. It was a great blessing to me. I saw so many long time, dear friends. It was fantastic!
This has been a very busy week, as we have had a 31-member team here from Oklahoma City and Jacksonville, Florida. There was all the usual work to keep us busy, as well as an extra string of events, as one of the ladies fell down the stairs at the hotel and injured both ankles, fracturing one. She had x-rays and was put in a cast to immobilize it until they got home. She was given a wheelchair by a local businessman and friend who is very familiar with the work that is done through Operation Guyana.
Through the clinic there were 987 patients, with 19 baptisms. An average of 80 attended the evening services. There were also other projects going on at nights at 2 other congregations with other team members preaching. One of the locations was an area called Melanie, and on the last night, had an attendance of 80.
Continue to pray for our continued good health, as well as the people here in Guyana. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Ray and Debra Allen
Operation Guyana staff
WOW WHAT A WEEK!!The Medical Mission week at Ann’s Grove was a tremendous experience and deemed by nearly everyone to be a success. The team consisted of 31 members of four different U.S. congregations: two from Florida and two from Oklahoma with added assistance from Ray and Debra Allen from Texas. The dedicated support and ever present encouragement provided by Steve and Colleen DeLoach (who live in Arkansas when they are not in Guyana) rounded out the team of the week.
Nearly 500 Guyanese chose to participate in Bible studies with a very willing and knowledgeable crew made up of members from the U.S. as well as several members of congregations in the Georgetown area, including Ann’s Grove. Feroze Baksh and Desmond Zephyr, preachers/ministers now serving at Ann’s Grove and others from the host congregation assisted with the Bible studies. I believe there were also members from the Pleasance and Melody churches that helped with Bible studies. The Bible study workers know and believe the message of salvation so they can present it with love, enthusiasm and conviction. As a result, nearly 20 from all around the area were baptized this week. Praise God and pray for our new Brothers and Sisters as they grow and mature.
The clinic at Ann’s Grove provided medical and pharmacy services to over 450 patients. Dr. Buddy Barwick was very capably assisted by Catherine Rogers (PA), Becky Day (Nurse) and Chris Rice, Pharmacist. Our Guyanese guests that visited the medical clinic received many hugs, encouragement and needed medication to help them to feel better.
The eye clinic was a very popular place for the ones who came to the Ann’s Grove Medical Clinic. Cataracts and other vision problems are common in this land that receives fairly direct rays from the sun due to the proximity to the equator. We passed out over 700 pairs of sunglasses to adults and children. We also were able to provide over 400 pairs of eyeglasses (prescription and reading) to those who came. Dave Russell and Tommy Dyer from Florida brought equipment and skills to help determine the optical needs of the patients. They also had a computer based system with an indexed inventory of glasses to match patient needs. This is a much improved way to provide glasses to the patients. This has become a very effective ministry.
The church in Guyana is in a growth trend. There are now more than 100 congregations. I saw evidence of a desire for the congregations to support one another in their efforts to spread the Gospel. Sunday, July 5, five area congregations came to Ann’s Grove to show support and participate in a pot luck lunch. All during the week, members of area churches were present for the evening crusade meetings. I am confident that the seminars and lectureships scheduled and staffed by efforts of Steve and the Operation Guyana staff has had a very positive impact on this cooperation. The team this week contained five or six preachers. Rather than all of them staying at Ann’s Grove for the evening Crusades, they spread out into three neighboring communities to teach and preach.
The church at Ann’s Grove seems to be strong and thriving. They have a beautiful property now and they are proudly improving and taking care of the presentation it makes to the community. They have a very nice building in which to meet and now they have a nice, large concrete pad that when covered by the large tent they own was a greatly improved site for the medical mission just completed. Keep them in your prayers and plan to go to help them next spring or summer.
Guyana has made some remarkable infrastructure improvements in recent years. They have more traffic controlled intersections, better street lighting on the coastal highway, more cell phone towers and a much cleaner look overall. A government official came to the hotel one evening to thank us for our services to the people of Guyana. The years of such service has not gone unnoticed by the officials and because of the high reputation of Operation Guyana, they are very helpful when needed.
I mentioned earlier that “nearly everyone deemed the week a success.” Due to an unfortunate accident, Gail Jordan (of Florida) suffered serious injury to both of her legs in the ankle area. One was broken and so she will have some healing and mending time upon her return home. Keep her in your prayers.
The economy is such that contributions to mission efforts and travel on mission trips is being challenged. Let us all remember how gracious our great God has been to us and that He is challenging us to take that Good News to those who have not yet heard it.
Arlen Millikan
Tulsa, Oklahoma
