Dear Friends,

In November 2003, Carol and I were privileged to return to Aden so that we could lead the services for Remembrance Day. Those ten days allowed us to appreciate the dedication of our staff who have carried on an effective health care programme without the benefit of continual leadership. We now write again from Aden as we share the seat of responsibility for three months up to the first week in September. 

The very good news is that in the last few days we received an email from Revd. Peter and Nancy Crooks who advised us that Peter is accepting the position of Chaplain in Aden, arriving on October 7. This is very good news and an answer to prayer.

A look at our clinics quickly reveals how our medical staff enjoy the work they do and approach every aspect with dedication and professionalism. It is always encouraging at the joint “morning tea” break to hear first hand some details of how desperate people have gone away  lifted out of their hopelessness and set on a path to recovery. The medical clinic continues its original emphasis of care to women and children but does offer two short clinics each week for men and older boys.

We have two doctors, Nada and Shada, both sisters who are ably supported by our midwife, Valentina from Russia.  So often when we are out and about we meet people who on learning we are from “the Church” or Ras Morbat Clinic, point to some part of the body they have received medical help with. Of course this little charade is accompanied by lots of comments as to the goodness of the care given. This was emphasized by the recent visit of a group from the Ministry of Health in Sana’a who not only passed our two clinics but gave us a rating of 99%. When I asked what we needed to do to achieve 100%, they laughed and said we never give 100%, what you have is the best possible.

However to maintain such standards takes considerable effort and continues to require the input of prayer and support to ensure we neither become complacent or allow our standards to slip in any way. Support is always needed to maintain our selection of basic medicines, that are made freely available through your generosity. Every day Carol joins the medical staff to count out tablets and pills into smaller quantities than the original packaging so they are in more realistic quantities, avoiding waste or incorrect dosage. Our  doctors opting to see patients a second time and further prescribe rather than assuming the larger quantity will be required from the start.

In this way our precious supply of medicine is most carefully used. In the hot summer months the clinic numbers average around 40 patients per day and that increases to average of 68 per day for the rest of the year. 

The eye clinic is a new venture for Carol and I, only dreamed about in our early days. However, building stronger than required foundations originally allowed the eye clinic to be built on top of the existing clinic. The dedication of the staff can best be described in an event that happened a few days after we arrived. UNHCR have a Somali refugee camp at  Kharaz a three hour drive away from Aden. Our eye clinic arranged for a team, complete with equipment to travel to the camp, on their day off to test as many patients as time would allow. Over 40 adults and children were able to be tested. Some were in the need of surgery, four in particular were urgent, two of those children.

Those needing glasses chose from our supply of frames and UNHCR arranged to have the prescriptions filled. At the end of a long day our people were back in Aden, tired but pleased with  a very useful day. It was not over yet, on the next clinic day we met and worked out how we could assist those urgent cases. The staff agreed to hold an extra surgery day and we would accommodate the families in our Community Centre overnight so our surgeon could check the results before sending them back to the camp. All four operations were successful. I trust this thrills you as much as it does us. Your prayers and your giving are doing so much for those in absolute poverty and need. 

Giving is so important! After last November we returned to our church in Jebel Ali with an urgent plea for new medical instruments for eye surgery. Christ Church members responded and Carol and I had the pleasure of handing over four complete sets of new instruments for the eye clinic.
 

The US$100 that was left over has become 24 pairs of lenses for glasses to the elderly at the Mother Teresa Sister’s of Charity here in Sheikh Othman, Aden. Along with these gifts we carried from NZ over 40 pairs of used glasses from St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Glenfield, Auckland. That leads me to suggest that if there is anyone from a church that might welcome the opportunity to be part of a particular need then you could contact the Christ Church Centre or the Diocesan Office to identify a need that your church could assist us with and so become part of this ongoing outreach ministry of love and care.

Another hat the chaplain in Aden wears is that of Honorary Chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers. I quote Rev. Canon Dennis Gurney OBE who was here with his wife Naomi in January and February. “I found ship visiting most encouraging and was surprised at how many Christian seafarers there seemed to be. Several Bibles and New Testaments were supplied following requests.”

This work is always rewarding and also carries with it the unexpected in terms of those we are privileged to meet. The other day, three ships visited and I met seafarers  from Syria, Romania, China and Turkey. A Bible in Chinese found a good home. 

The ministry of Christ Church continues and we must acknowledge those who have been regular in worship and maintained the services without the leadership of a permanent Chaplain. Regular worship is held each Friday morning at 9.00am followed by a fellowship time. Bible study and prayer in the Chaplain’s flat on Sunday at 7.00pm. By the end of June numbers at the Friday service reached 23, during this summer season we are about 9. Christ Church has been a centre for Anglican worship in Aden for 116 years. (I have allowed  26 years for the period this church  was nationalized.) 116 years as the House of Prayer, no wonder it is a great place to pray, there is a true sense of peace in this church a fitting tribute to those who have gone before. 

I hope that in this news letter we have been able to convey to you that the witness and testimony of Christ Church Aden continues, not without its ups and downs, however the love of God prevails in this place. Your prayers and support have enabled this to be a reality. 

From everyone involved here, from Chaplain to Cleaners we thank you! 

Jim and Carol Wakerley