Craig and Marilyn R Hanscome

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Dear Folks:

MEMORIAL DAY

Today is Memorial Day and we think of freedom and those who died so that we can enjoy it. Craig's grandfather fought in WWI, his dad in WWII, many of those with whom they served died for our freedom. Today in Iraq and Afghanistan there are others who fight for our freedom and die for it.

We should also be reminded of those who, through the ages, have worked, suffered and died so that we could know deliverance from sin, fear and the power of Satan. Jesus died to give that freedom, then there is a long line of ordinary people called by God to sacrifice.to make it known. Stephen was the first to die for his faith in Christ. Paul spent his life persecuted, wandering all over the then known world to teach about Jesus. Monks took the gospel to Germany, England and Ireland, and through the ages, the list just goes on. WE have the joy and privilege to work here in Mali with a group of dedicated people who are also spending their lives serving others to see them freed from bondage to disease, sickness and sin.

CHANGES--THE YO-YO MONTHS

In the months of June-July we are very short staffed as two families and a nurse are on a short home assignment and another nurse will be on home assignment for a full year. Visiting doctors are covering successively, a month at a time. Also there are visiting med students and nurses, those interested in experiencing medical missions and seeing if God is calling them into this kind of service, who will be here to help. It is an exciting time. But we need your prayers as we work short staffed trying to meet the same needs. We give God praise for sending us Jake Tillet, a nurse who is pursuing career missions with the CMA, who in the period of less than two months heard of our need, sensed God's call to come, had his financial needs provided, and arrived in Mali for a year as a volunteer. Only God could put something like that together!

Others are in process, some coming soon and others preparing to come. Here is the update on the Doctors coming (a single pediatrician and two couples). He sold his house! The couples need prayer for the same! Please keep praying for them as they prepare to come to work at the hospital.

ANSWERS!

We had asked for your prayer for cultural and relational issues at the hospital, especially concerning a working agreement. The Lord has answered!!.. We were able to agree together on how to do the building in a way that does not seriously increase the cost but does give some added help and oversight. This is a huge praise!!! Thank you for standing with us!

The Outpatient Building (first of the three pods) is pushing up like a mushroom after the rain. In the month of June we will be placing the trusses, window frames and doors and by the end of the month hope to be ready to start on the second building. A team is coming in July to put the roof on. PTL for progress!

-In the month of May we held a spiritual retreat for the hospital and rural clinic workers, there was a real spirit of unity expressed during that time.
-Following that was our semi-annual board meetings for the Hospital and clinics. Again your prayers were effective as this was one of the best meetings we have had. There was unity displayed as we dealt with various challenges before us and a very good spirit in the meetings. PRAISE!!
-This spirit has continued as we deal with the day to day issues at the hospital. Please continue to pray for the ability to work well together as Malian and Ex-Pat leaders. This is so important.

In the hospital, the medical personnel have known wisdom for treatment and God's healing power! God is SO GOOD!

PRAYER

So what is our biggest prayer need now? Malian Staff! We need nurses in a big way! We stand ready to fully open the pediatric services but we are short at least 10 nurses! We seek those who have a desire to serve God with their professional skills, and who have a sense of the call of God.

Marilyn has started a reading class for some of the youth in our old neighborhood. Pray that she will have wisdom to know how the class should progress and be able to help them not only improve their reading/French skills, but also show them the love of the Savior that will one day lead to their salvation A couple of colleagues sometimes help with this.
ALSO, Marilyn is still working to help some of our new staff improve their French and is learning Bambara herself.

PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE! We asked you to pray for Dan and Amy as they returned to the States in late March after working with us for six months. They needed housing and jobs. And in one month God provided jobs for them both and a very nice apartment that they are furnishing by watching Craigslist. Thank you for Praying!

Rachel will soon finish her first year of teaching, and her husband Will was one of 30 candidates (of over 275) chosen to interview for 20 slots in a Physical Therapist Assistants program. Please pray for Him as the interview is the first week of June.

Joanna is doing well and will be winding up her year of teaching as well. She will not be bored though as there is plenty of work over the summer.

As ever we are so thankful for each of you, for your financial gifts that allow us to serve here, for your prayers that keep us serving effectively and for your friendship over the years. What a wonderful team we have! God bless you!!


In Him,
Craig and Marilyn

P.S. We are working on redoing our website for the hospital, hopefully it will be available this summer. But if you are looking for a project for your church, SS or VBS we do have a wide variety of ideas. From a $10 digital thermometer up to a $60,000 solar power project. So feel free to write us if you need a project.

Craig and Marilyn Hanscome
BP 19
Koutiala, Mali
tel: 223-2164-05-15
Mobile: 223-66-75-87-07

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

May 2009 finds 12 new nurses and nurses aids in the middle of a training period at the hospital. Pray that they will learn, catch the vision and become part of the team.

Praise: Three new nurses are starting their training time. Of the 13 who started in February we think that 8-9 should succeed and they will be hired to work at the hospital.

Pray for the staff as they work with these new trainees, that they will catch the vision of giving medical care in Jesus Name.

Praise: The Storage/Administration/X-Ray building is finished except for a few windows. We have moved all stock into it and we hope to move administration this month.

A team comes next month to roof the first buiding of the maternity complex. PTL for good progress.

Pray for us in this leadership role; that we will work efficiently, not be distracted by unimportant things, be able to listen and hear what those we are leading are saying to us. We feel that the Lord wants this hospital to be a place where there is true partnership between the West and Malian leadership, where we can give a high level of culturally appropriate medical care and where Malians are empowered to take leadership, direction and ownership in providing health care in Jesus name to the people of Mali. This is not a little prayer request! This is a summary of the way to pray for the Hospital for the next 5-10 years!

Mali

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