Please take a few moments to read this update from Dr. Wayne Ellis. Wayne and his wife Anna continue to take six months each year to do medical and other missions work in Kenya, East Africa. Their daughter Aliya attends the Rift Academy as a student, and their son Michael, although a college student here in the States, makes his way to Kenya occasionally as well. Wayne practices medicine at the Kijabe Hospital as well as providing teaching and training. This ongoing ministry has had a lasting impact on that hospital both physically and spiritually.
I wanted you to hear from Wayne directly now that he and his family have returned for the remainder of this year. If you are not familiar with Wayne, keep your eye on the keyboard on Sunday mornings, where he plays as part of our Worship Team. He usually has on a pair of jeans and a bright smile. : ) -Pastor Jym
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. -Isaiah 43:19
Isaiah 43:19 is the theme verse for the year 2018 at African Inland Church Kijabe Hospital. It has also become my personal theme verse for my trip to AIC Kijabe this year, because God is doing many new things in Kenya.
As you think of Kenya you may think of HIV/AIDS. HIV is certainly present in abundance in Kenya, but there is now so much more hope for people infected with HIV. The United States government has been supporting Africa with HIV medications for more than ten years now, and it is making a tremendous impact. Places like Indiana University are helping keep track of the supplies and patients while they are taking their medication. I have not seen a patient die of a fulminant AIDS disease now in approximately two years - compared to the past, when at least two of my patients died every day as a result of the AIDS virus.
As a physician, I am excited about life, and yet, as a Christian, I am more excited about everlasting life. Witch doctors still exist in Kenya, and you may even find a witch doctor who considers himself a Christian, but the real church of Jesus Christ is growing. Seventy percent of Kenyans consider themselves Christian, and as I talk to my friends, they can usually trace their Christian family tree back at least two generations and can tell me the name of the missionary who started their family tree. They are excited for God. In the chapel at the hospital there always seems to be dancing, singing, teaching, and many prayers of the saints. If you want to be encouraged that the church is alive and well – travel to Kenya!
I am privileged to train young physicians at AIC Kijabe who want to take their training to remote parts of Kenya and all throughout Africa. I have no greater joy than to train young physicians in their faith and practice. What joy it is to see them pray with their patients and to see many patients come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Kenya continues to have many areas of rugged wilderness and wasteland, spiritually and physically, but I have been blessed to see God doing a new thing in that great country. I call it “streams in the wasteland.”
Thank you to those who are acquainted with my family, and those who are not, who pray for us when we are on the field. It is a great blessing to know that our work is being supported by those we leave behind in Indianapolis each year.
Dr. Wayne Ellis