Wednesday, November 28, 2007

International Christian Hospice Newsletter Update December 2007

Greetings and Christmas Blessings to each of you and your family!

We look back in gratitude to our awesome God for what He has done in 2007 through International Christian Hospice. How amazing that He has allowed us to participate in His plan for this ministry. We thank Him for all of our friends and family who have partnered with us in so many ways. We are reminded this Christmas, by Jesus’ entry into our world, that He is our personal Good Shepherd who loves each of us with an everlasting love. “Oh come let us adore Him!”

The latest ministry news is all about walking by faith through the open doors set before us. Our vision trip to Dominican Republic (D.R. is a nation sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in the Caribbean) last spring set the stage for our return in November. The week prior to our arrival in D.R. they were struck by hurricane Noel. The massive flooding took its’ toll on the country, especially the people living in the low areas near rivers or any water source. Thousands of homes were swept away, roads and bridges washed out leaving unknown numbers of people dead or homeless with many towns and villages stranded. In this country of 7 million, 1.5 million are Haitians and these are among the poorest of the poor. In the wake of these great losses and disaster God brought ICH with His message of hope found only in Jesus Christ.

God partnered us with His people who are at work in the D.R. in surprising ways. The original plan to travel with a team from Radio Bible Hour to do ICH training for Pastors changed, which God often does. The team lead by Dr. Smith came down the second week as they had planned but now their main goal was to minister to the flood victims in the Jimani area which was hit very hard. They were able to do some medical clinics and food distribution and help villages with other types of relief. Meanwhile we met and worked with a couple who are missionary MDs, Diane and Francisco Sabado, who already have a dream for hospice in the D.R. Through the years, they have taken into their home and cared for many people who were terminal until their deaths. We were able to spend several hours with and minister to a man who has colon cancer that is currently living with them. Because of the love he is being shown each day he expressed to us that he now has assurance of God’s care and peace no matter what the future holds. The next day we joined the MDs as they took a US mission team to do relief work in poor villages which border the dumps. Another day we traveled 3 hours inland and assisted the team with a medical clinic in a remote area which has no medical care. We also visited some property that they are praying about being the site for a Christian Hospice facility. God has given them the desire to open several Christian Hospice training and care facilities throughout the D.R. and we are excited about the opportunity ICH has to minister with them.

It was also a blessing to present our ICH training to the hospital staff and the Director of Integrated Health, Elizabeth Saunarine, RN at Medical Missions International (MMI).
They told stories of seeing people daily at the hospital who are dying. The ICH training provides them with knowledge and resources to understand the special needs of these people and their families. MMI has trained Health Promoters who visit villages to provide health training and care where people live and they were so grateful to learn how to better minister to people who are dying at home. As a result Elizabeth has invited ICH to participate in an international MMI conference in Peru in January 2008. We will be able to present Christian Hospice care to national representatives who run mission hospitals in 6 different countries in Latin America.

Training at Community Church Bus load of relief from the church Medical team from the church Dr. Sabado in clinicIglesia Comunitaria Cristiana (Christian Community Church), in Santo Domingo the capital city of D.R., hosted our ICH seminar for a group of about 35 church leaders and medical professionals. We became very excited as we shared our ministry with these dynamic Christian Dominicans. This is a rapidly growing, evangelical church led by Pastor Guerrera with the focus not on the people’s lives within the walls of the church. The primary goal in all aspects of church life is reaching out into the community with the Gospel. They currently have a daily preschool ministry, a gym open to the public playing Christian music and offering counseling, weekly meals to feed the local homeless in the city and a free medical clinic in the church for the poor. Many church members who attended our training form teams who visit weekly in the local government hospital to pray with and befriend the ill. We listened to many stories of the hopeless and dying people on the streets and in the dismal rooms at the hospital. The compassionate believers of this church are already out their rolling up their sleeves in the name of Christ. Over lunch the Pastor shared his vision with us for all the churches in the Del Camino Association, of which he is president, in 8 Latin American countries. He invited us to participate in their plan for community development bridging the church with the world around it by sharing the Living Word in the form of Hospice.


To further seal our relationship with these believers we went with them on a Saturday outreach to two poor communities. One volunteer group distributed rice and other foods, foam mattresses and other supplies which the church purchased to homeless flood victims about 2 hours out of the city. The group we worked with consisted of 4 MDs and 2 other church members. We went to another town, Bani, 1 ½ hour away. Bani is in the south and was hit hard by flooding. Over 300 houses were destroyed, leaving 1000+ people, mostly poor Haitians, homeless. The cultural rivalry and dislike between the Dominicans and Haitians was no where to be seen as the MDs examined and treated 318 sick people in Jesus’ name. 60 of these people were being housed in the second story of the community building where we held the clinic. The local Del Camino Pastor with whom we worked that day took us on a walking tour to the flood area and mud filled homes no longer habitable. We prayed together for God’s Spirit to pour out His mercy and grace on this area of such great need. The Pastor told us of the growth his church has experienced in the last 2 weeks. The reality of God’s love is being lived out by the believers of this third world country. ICH must provide training to these national Christians so they can reach the dying around them with the only Hope for all men.

God opened another door of opportunity through an interdenominational Pastors’ Association. On Sunday we were invited to introduce ICH ministry for the first time to about 50 Pastors on Tuesday morning. Then we were promptly scheduled for a half-day training seminar on Friday morning. The training was hosted by a missionary couple in a Dominican church plant of the Four Square Church. A group of 11 Pastors and 33 church leaders attended and many told us that they were now planning to begin Christian Hospice outreach in their churches. We concluded the seminar with promises of additional information and training in the future for these eager Christian brothers and sisters.

We have tried to convey to you the powerful and effective tool International Christian Hospice can be to the developing world in the hands of the believers. Just this letter with highlights of one month of our ministry is enough to overwhelm us.

Susan explaining meds in clinic










Susan counseling









Area where 300 homes weredestroyed










Haitian refuges who lost homes












Devastated area near Bani, DR











Our Bus stuck on trip to clinic











That is why we earnestly request your fervent prayers for three very important things.

First, pray for other Christians to answer God’s call to serve with International Christian Hospice. This could be in short-term or full-time service.

Second, pray for financial provisions to meet the needs for ministry travel, training and materials.

Third, pray for wisdom and discernment of God’s plan for moving forward through so many open doors. In 2008 our opportunities lie in 2 additional Latin American countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia (totaling 10 countries of ministry).

“Life is but a vapor” says the Psalmist and his words clearly describe what we have witnessed happening to people all over the world. Were Christ’s 33 brief years of life significant for you? The power we have in knowing the Man whose birth we celebrate is beyond anything else in this life! We urge you to search your heart in light of these words of Jesus…

“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing.
And the words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63 NLT

You can join with International Christian Hospice to take the words of Christ to the nations; words which He promises bring eternal life. Please send donations to:

International Christian Hospice Inc.
145 Chillinghan Rd.
Irmo, SC 29063

Have a Blessed Christmas and New Year filled with His Vision!

Serving Him together,
Ron & Susan
Ron and Susan Naish