Report from North Africa Trip

The North Africa team wants to thank everyone who lifted us up in prayer during the 1.5 weeks we were gone. We definitely felt the Lord’s hand guiding and empowering us as we served there. As we look back over the trip, it is only by the Lord’s grace that he allowed us to accomplish all that we did.

Physical Therapy Centers

We were able to work at two different handicap centers where they employ active physical therapy to help children regain movement and functionality. One of the centers we served in hadn’t had any outside training from physical therapists in over a year. During our time at these centers, we saw and examined over 75 children.

We were working alongside and helping train 7 different N. African women who serve at the physical therapy centers full-time. This training included general medical and specific therapy techniques. Children would be brought either by their mother or another female family member some who traveled over 2 hours one way for 1-1 ½ hours of treatment. Here are just a few examples of successful treatments:

• A child sucking on a straw for the first time.A child be calmed and happy with a simulated swing for the first time.
• A child tolerating standing therapy without crying by modifying the technique for the first time.
• Giving hope to a mother that her child doesn’t need the expensive medical shoes recommended by the doctors in a very poor city.
• Giving hope to a mother that her Down’s syndrome son may potentially be productive in life.

But the most reward and delight came with the smiles and kisses we received after a successful treatment! We learned the more kisses given the more endeared one was! We felt very special by weeks end by the number of kisses received! Our prayer was and is that everyone in the clinic felt the love of Christ through us.

English Language classes

We were also able to conduct two informal English classes (over tea) with 7 different students. These sessions were conducted with family members associated with the physical therapy centers. In order for these students to have any chance at a decent paying job, English is an essential skill.

During one of our classes, one of the long-term workers turned the discussion to spiritual matters by asking a question in Arabic from the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Question 1 - “What is the chief end of man?”

Answer 1 - “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever.”

This launched into an interesting discussion with one of our students, who vehemently disagreed with this statement.

“As a Muslim, he said, “our primary view of ourselves is as Allah’s servant. He is the Master, we are his servants. We don’t think of Allah in those terms.” He went on to recite from memory the 99 names of Allah – “The All-Compassionate”, “The All-Merciful”, “The Absolute Ruler”, “The Pure One”, “The Source of Peace”, “The Judge”… He was able to rattle off about 20-30 or so of them with the help of his friends.

This comes from Muhammad who is reported to have said in a famous hadith:

“Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who enumerates [and believes in them and the one God behind] them would get into Paradise.”

It was a fascinating insight into Islamic belief system that pictures God as being totally set apart from humanity. So, images like God as Father or Bridegroom that portray God’s closeness and intimacy with mankind are considered ludicrous or blasphemous to a Muslim. It really makes you grateful for the intimacy and nearness that we experience with God! All made possible by God through the sending of his very own Son, Jesus Christ, who died as a sacrifice for our sins to restore our relationship with God. Praise the Lord!

Stay tuned for more to come next week including…

• Visiting the Q's future location & meeting their team-leaders
• Sharing with a local N. African business leader
• Getting to know one of the long-term workers