History of the Mission to Soddo, Pt. 1
At SCH, we are standing on the shoulders of Christian pioneer missionaries and missionary doctors who went before us. As we approach our ten-year anniversary in a few months, we thought we’d take a look at where we began, and how far God has brought us.
Dr. Thomas Lambie was a medical missionary with the American Presbyterian Mission working among the Sudanese Nuer people. In 1918, he became the first American missionary in Ethiopia when he sailed up the Baro River and began working among the people of the Wellega region. He labored there for the next 10 years, founding a hospital, a school, and a vibrant church. At this point, he combined forces with two other missionaries – Albert Rhoad and George Buxton - and founded Abyssinian Frontiers Mission.
Now at that time, Christianity had not made its way into the southern part of Ethiopia. At least fifty different people groups occupied the south, and most were engaged in animistic worship and witchcraft. Some accounts say they were devoted to the occult and the “worship of Satan”. Dr. Lambie and his colleagues were deeply burdened by this and desired to penetrate this area with the Gospel. Abyssinian Frontiers Mission merged with the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM), and was given permission to set up a mission station in the South. The most logical place at that time was Soddo.
The governor of Soddo was a man named Dejazmatch Yigezu who providentially had been a patient of Dr. Lambie’s in Wellega. He remembered the doctor, and welcomed the missionaries. (In addition, the missionaries had the support of Emperor Haile Selassie since the magistrates of Wellega had spoken highly of them). The mission station in Soddo was established by 1929, and evangelistic efforts were spreading out from there to Sidamo (Yirga Alem), and Gamo Gofa (Arba Minch).
It should be noted that Soddo was chosen as the main hub because of its easy access to Addis Ababa. At that time, it took two weeks with a mule caravan to reach Soddo from Addis. But this was considered a good distance for fetching supplies, and yet still to be a good launching point to reach the South!
In the next post, we'll tell you how the Church in Soddo began under the mission work of the Lambies and others...
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Neurosurgery at SCH?!?
What do you think happens when you combine the following:
- A country with the highest number of pedestrians struck by vehicles relative to cars on the road
- A brand new CT scanner among a population of 5 million people who previously had none
If you answered, “a lot of new diagnoses of head trauma”, you’d be right. Our CT scanner is practically smoking with all the head CTs for trauma that are being done. Most of the time, we find non-operative bleeds. But the last two weeks has been extraordinary. In September alone, we have taken seven patients to the OR with epidural and subdural hematomas that required emergency surgery.
Above are just four of the actual scans done here in the past two weeks. And there are more! We’ve had great outcomes so far, and our surgery residents and staff are doing more emergent neurosurgery than they ever could have imagined.
We praise God that He provided through our donors. Through your generosity, we got a CT scanner. And it is being used for His glory as lives are being saved. May the name of Christ go forth in southern Ethiopia as we use this gift. That is our prayer.
Empowering the Next Generation
Imagine a missionary doctor sitting under a tree in Africa, seeing patients as they line up from far and near. She sees 100 patients a day or more. In a year, perhaps 3000. In ten years, 30,000. Not a bad contribution to the problem of suffering in her country. But imagine how burned-out, how completely exhausted she is after this work. And when she finally gives up, the work is finished. Many thousands of patients were treated, and many lives saved even. But the work is not enduring. It is not sustainable.
Now, imagine that same doctor pouring her life into doctors-in-training in that country. Year after year, spending intentional time teaching 10-15 resident physicians. In ten years’ time, perhaps 20 or 30 are trained. Each of those go on to treat thousands of patients in their careers. Some of them are retained as teaching physicians, and they in turn pour into others. This is multiplication. This is empowerment. The impact of that one person is perhaps 50-fold when compared to the lone worker at the beginning of our story.
This is what we do at Soddo Christian Hospital through PAACS.
The Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons was founded in 1996 with one residency program in the jungles of Gabon. Since then, it has grown to twelve programs in ten countries. We are one of those programs. Why is it so important to train African surgeons?
Right now, 56 million people in sub-Sahara Africa are in need of surgery. In most of the continent, there is one surgeon for every 250,000 population. In Ethiopia, there are only a 300 surgeons for a country with almost 90 million inhabitants. (If WHO guidelines were met, we would have 4,150!) PAACS has the goal to train 100 surgeons by 2020. Thirty-six have been trained thus far, and God-willing, the goal will be met by 2019.
Because the program is fully accredited, our graduates are eligible to be members of the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa. And in turn, are fully licensed by the country of Ethiopia as surgeons. And the faculty actively disciple the residents during their training - teaching them not just excellent surgical practice, but equipping them with the spiritual tools to use medicine to bring people to Christ.
We praise God for this kind of empowerment and training. Of Africans. For Africa.
Battling the Brain Drain
What is the “brain drain” anyway? In developing countries all over the world, the “brain drain” refers to the tendency of qualified and skilled workers to leave the country in search of greener pastures. To America, to Europe. The salary of a physician in the USA may be 100 times that of his counterpart in the developing world. Is it any wonder that so many leave?
And yet, the consequences are felt by the countries they leave behind. The people in those countries long for skilled engineers to design their infrastructure. For skilled physicians and surgeons to treat their medical problems. For talented musicians and artist to elevate their culture.
In health care, the effects are especially acute. People’s lives are at stake. The minister of health for Ethiopia has even famously said that there are more Ethiopian physicians in Chicago than in Ethiopia itself! So the country is taking on the challenge head on. Thirteen new medical schools were opened in the past two years. But this just means more junior level doctors who will also be looking for the exits.
Unless…
We can train them in a specialty. You see, the vast majority of Ethiopian medical school graduates (general practitioners, or GPs, they are called) are looking to advance their education by further training. Just like in the US and other places, they want to do a postgraduate residency. Whether it’s Obstetrics/Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Radiology, Pediatrics, or whatever. They are not content to be only graduated GPs. They want that further training.
And so, Soddo Christian Hospital is actively battling the brain drain as well. We have a five year General Surgery residency that is fully accredited by Ethiopia’s Higher Education Authority and COSCESA – the College of Surgeons of Central, East, and South Africa. We are actively discipling them with the Word of God. As they study Jesus’ heart for the “least of these”, they are motivated to use their skills to alleviate the crisis in their own nation. Not leave for another country. Yes, that's right. Our graduates stay in Ethiopia! And so, we see Dr. Frehun in Addis, and Dr. Haile in Asela and Dr. Tedi here in Soddo training more surgeons. By God’s grace, all of our graduates have stayed home!
We’ll tell you more about PAACS and how this organization is helping not just Ethiopia, but all of Africa, in the next post…
All Things to All People
What does it mean to be a Christian hospital? Do you treat everyone? Do you force people to adhere to your religion in order to be treated?
These are questions that we get a lot about Soddo Christian Hospital. They are good questions. At Soddo Christian Hospital, we want to share the Good News in love. We seek to imitate Christ, and so be the fragrance of life to those who are perishing without the Gospel.
One of the things we seek to do at our hospital is "provide excellent medical services". As a Christian institution, we want to follow the Biblical mandate that "whatever we do, to do all to the glory of God". (I Cor. 10:31) So, from the time our patients come in the front door of the hospital, regardless of their creed, color, or sex, we desire that our staff would give them the excellent medical care that they deserve. Of course, we share with our patients about the sacrificial, atoning death of Jesus Christ for their sins. Is their care is predicated on accepting this truth? No! But we do want them to know why we do what we do.
One such incredible demonstration of superb care happened recently in our hospital. This young man had been in a horrible traffic accident. He came to Soddo Christian Hospital clinging to life.
A severe head injury with an open skull fracture.
A crushed pelvis.
Multiple fractured ribs.
For weeks he lay in our intensive care unit, getting supportive care and surgeries when they were indicated. Our nurses tended to his every need. Turning his frail body so he wouldn't get bed sores. Managing his catheters. Keeping him hydrated and nourished.
But complications kept coming. His open skull fracture got infected. His organs tried to shut down many times. But through it all, steady and consistent critical care was given to him by our team of capable nurses and doctors. And from above, the Great Physician was mending his wounds internally.
Slowly, he began to recover. The nurses began to roll him outside for sunshine. I can remember on Easter Sunday, seeing him on the front porch of the Intensive Care Unit, in a wheelchair, with a few of our ICU nurses. They wanted him to see the grace of God in the beams of sunshine on Resurrection Sunday.
Today, months later, he is discharged and walking again with the support of a cane. Of the six months in the hospital, all but the last week were in Intensive Care. He stood before our chapel service today, his wife by his side, with tears in their eyes to say thanks. Indeed, most of us wept as we witnessed a man snatched from the jaws of death. While he did not become an Evangelical believer during his time with us, his care is a testimony to excellent medical service provided by our staff in the name of Christ. And for that we rejoice. We pray that we would become servants to all, as Paul said, "that we might win those who are under the law." (1 Cor 9:20) As Christians, we know that physical healing is amazing, but the most essential healing of all is reconciling a man's soul to God. And so we pray that this patient and others like him would come to that place.
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Fantastic Visitor Video!
Andre Ishak, his wife Jeanine, and their son Brandon just visited us for about 10 days. Dr. Ishak is a Hand Surgeon, and he performed many life-altering and wonderful surgeries during their time here. We were very blessed to have them. Check out the amazing video they made to document their trip!
Ethiopia 2014 from Andre Ishak on Vimeo.
Taking the Mission Beyond the Hospital
At Soddo Christian Hospital, we are investing in our staff through discipleship. And some of them took what they were learning to the Soddo community - going outside the camp to bring about transformation. Here's how it happened:
While studying the Gospels in their small groups, some of the members had an idea: to minister to the prisoners in the local Soddo prison. They would share the Gospel and meet practical needs of the people they met. Wanting to hear from the Spirit, they took a month to pray, fast, and ask for God's guidance in their plans. Then, they began to collect donations from individuals as well as the Hospital. Those of us working here were more than happy to play our part in seeing these faithful employees live out our mission in Soddo.
On June 7th and 8th, the group ventured into the local prison. There were 50 people involved in the ministry. Their efforts reached out to 600 prisoners - providing medical services, giving out donated medicines and clothing, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In those two days, 74 people prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior. Among them was a man imprisoned for murder. He asked, "Can God really forgive someone like me?" Yes! He repented, and received Christ. Praise God!
One of the core beliefs of our hospital is in doing holistic ministry - sharing with people the salvation found in Jesus combined with practical and excellent medical care. This group of ministers sent out from us carried that holistic message to the broader community. Fueled and excited by seeing the work of God's spirit, they are now planning their next move. They plan to try a similar program in some neighboring towns, or possibly to focus on job creation and discipleship training.
21 New Hips!
Recently, we had the privilege to be visited by a joint specialist from the US. Dr. Clint Barnett is an orthopedic surgeon at the Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas. He specializes in replacing worn out knees and hips in patients who have suffered from severe arthritis and debilitating pain.
Last week, he brought those skills to Ethiopia and Soddo Christian Hospital. In just one week, he and Dr. Anderson and our OR crew knocked out 21 hip replacements! Yes, that's right. Twenty-one!
21 patients who had been suffering for years with severe pain.
21 patients who could barely walk.
21 patients whose lives will never be the same.
We are so proud of our OR team as well. These anesthetists, scrub nurses, porters, autoclave staff, and recovery room staff worked extra hours and on weekends to get the work done! Near the end of the campaign, we had a couple of the patients come up to the front of our weekly chapel service to share how they were already feeling better.
At Soddo Christian Hospital, our desire is to provide excellent medical services and make disciples of Jesus Christ. We are thankful that God sends servants like Dr. Barnett our way, and pray that God will all the glory for the work that is done here in Soddo!
Thank you, Dr. Gray and family!
Recently, we waved goodbye to the Gray family who have been a part of this hospital for the past six years. Dr. Paul Gray came to Soddo to be a General Surgeon, and for much of that time, he was the only one. He served in many roles during his time here including Medical Director and Director of the PAACS residency program. His wife, Becca, served as the Guest Coordinator for all the short-termers that come through, and in recent days she coordinated charity surgeries through the Watsi program.
The Grays are loved by many in Soddo, and much could be said about what God accomplished through them during their time here. More, in fact, than could fill the pages of this blog. God used Paul’s skillful hands to save the lives of countless patients, and his excellent teaching skills to pass the knowledge on to the residents. His administrative skills contributed much to shaping the vision of the hospital, as well as reams of documents and curriculum related to the PAACS program. He spent countless hours in intentional discipleship and Bible study with the residents. Becca patiently coordinated guests’ comings and goings, as well as served out of her professional background as a dietician. Not to mention raising two kids on the mission field.
Recently, one of the residents told a story that really encapsulated Dr. Gray’s attitude when it came to patients. There were two patients in the ICU who had just received tracheostomies – a temporary airway placed in the neck. One of our residents had been called to see the patients because they were in distress… at the same time! In fact both of them were on the verge of cardiac arrest. The resident called Dr. Gray, but as can often happen here, the network dropped the call just as he was beginning to explain the issue. On instinct, Dr. Gray rushed from his house to the ICU arriving, in the words of the resident, “before I even put my phone back in my pocket!” The patients were suffering from occluded trach tubes, which Dr. Gray immediately remedied and saved both of their lives. The reason this story had such a huge impact on the resident, was that it is counter-cultural for a distinguished surgeon to come running. Especially when summoned by someone lower than them in social hierarchy. (Much more common to run when you are called by someone who outranks you). Also, many times a resident would be left to fend for themselves. Dr. Gray’s servant mindset toward his patients (and the resident) saved their life that day, and made an indelible mark on that resident.
We will miss you Grays!
Just Another Week at SCH
Here are a few patient stories from the past week:
1. A young woman was in a terrible car accident, and fractured both of her legs. Oh, and she happened to be 8 months pregnant! Fortunately, there was no sign of trauma to the baby who seemed to be fine. We admitted the young lady to the hospital, and she had surgery on both of her legs. Then, we kept her in the hospital in order to deliver her baby. This past week, she gave birth to healthy baby boy!
2. A young man was struck down by a car while walking on the road a few hundred kilometers south of here. He was found unconscious with absolutely no way to identify him. It was not known who his family or friends were. Passers-by brought him to our hospital where he was admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of severe head injury. For over a week, he lay unconscious. A CT scan of his brain showed no bleeding requiring surgery. St.ill no family showed up, so photos were circulated around the village near where he was found. This past week, his father came and the patient woke up. He is improving every day.
3. Several patients have been hospitalized with severe electrical shock injuries. One was riding standing up in a back of a truck, when the truck went under a low hanging high voltage power line. Another was working on a high voltage power line when he was electrocuted and thrown ten feet to the ground. Both are improving. Although they have severe burns, they will survive.
4. Many patients are having prosthetic hip joints put in this week thanks to some new hardware from St.ryker. We are hoping to do about 15 hip replacements over the next week. Many of these patients have been suffering for many years with chronic hip problems, and this surgery will change their life!
We praise God for all the He is doing at Soddo Christian Hospital. Thank you for your support and prayers.