LAMB NEWS – JULY 5TH, 2009

Greetings from LAMB.

Here at LAMB the monsoon season is with us. That doesn’t mean it rains all the time, but we do have some very long, heavy downpours. It is all part of the annual cycle, and is in truth a blessing – even if for the community outside of LAMB, roads and paths become mud walks. The thunder and lightning which is often a problem at this time of year has so far done no damage to LAMB.

As is often said, times of adversity are often times when new growth starts. That is how it feels at LAMB at the moment. We are being challenged by big funded projects coming to completion, the world financial woes, and a reduced number of patients because of a Government voucher scheme.

But it is extremely pleasing to see the energy, fresh thinking and action now under way. Senior managers in particular are proving to be leaders indeed – getting out and about to find where we can help in the future, looking at the things we do to find ways of doing things better, and then actually making the changes. Simple examples are in making the hospital more patient friendly by setting up an information desk – using existing staff; looking at fairly simple changes to the out-patient clinic so that we can increase the numbers of Training Centre students able to get practical experience at any one time; and at the community clinics publicizing their services better so that community members know what help they can get.

At the big scale, senior managers are now all active talking with other organizations for whom we do work to see what else we might do for them. In truth, LAMB’s high quality reputation is very helpful to us in that.

For us serving here, we often never know in depth the effect that we are having on others through demonstrating God’s love. Sometimes the results come in less direct ways. A US citizen who was at LAMB for a few weeks recently has since commented that she had not previously seen Christians putting their faith into action as at LAMB. After her time here, she wanted to start reading the Bible and exploring her Christian beliefs

We pray that we will continue to be a positive influence in God’s world
And lastly, attached is a photo from the session last month when 30 children had their feet put in plaster as the first stage of repairing their club feet. They will wear the plasters – in this heat and humidity – for maybe 5 weeks, and then wear shoe braces, for a short while all day, and then at night for 4-6 years. A big commitment, but it is a proper cure, low cost, and enables the children to lead a fully normal life thereafter.

LAMB NEWS – JUNE 6TH, 2009

Greetings from LAMB.
In our part of Bangladesh, we escape the damage of cyclones which hit near the coast. The first rice crop of the year has been harvested, and the fields are full of stubble. The villagers are busy with the straw and grain. Although sometimes a bit troublesome, rains and higher temperatures are starting to be with us, a blessing for this country where so many people depend on agriculture.
At LAMB, it is a time where extra good things seem to be happening for children with disabilities. A generous and enthusiastic Australian businessman has set under way a program in Bangladesh, starting at LAMB, to tackle the problem for children born with club feet. It is using a non-surgical method developed in the 1950s by Dr. Ponseti of Iowa, but only more recently becoming widely accepted.
With the help of another organization which focuses on people with disabilities, LAMB will now also be able to increase its production of assistive devices. Usually – at LAMB – made of wood, these are items of equipment which help the mobility of children (and adults) with disabilities.
We also have the good news of a small grant from a UK charity which will help us with the work to get children with disabilities integrated better into society.
As usual, we have good news of short and long term Christian workers coming to LAMB. Although the most common image is of doctors, teachers and those trained in Bible studies, the support from young, but experienced specialists in such areas as Finance and Epidemiology are making a huge difference to the effectiveness of LAMB’s research and accounting. For them, to see God’s work in this very different environment is a mutual blessing.
This month, we are not without challenges. We would very much appreciate your prayers that God will grant us the wisdom and creativity to find ways to adjust for the future. The number of in-patients at the hospital has fallen by a tenth, as has the number of ante-natal visits and the number of babies being born. This is because in one of the areas from which LAMB patients traditionally come, the Government has started a voucher scheme providing free care, so patients are going to Government hospitals. Although their approach to care is different, if the scheme encourages people to seek care who otherwise would not, and so saves lives and misery, then it is a good thing.For LAMB, we pray for wisdom in how to manage the modest change in the short term, but more importantly to see into the long term as to how we may best be used to bring about God’s vision.