MMT in Aceh

Thank You!

2009-02-02T02:32:00.000-08:00

Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge, TN, raised over $3300 to send me to Indonesia and further the team's mission. I'm amazed and humbled by the congregation's overwhelming generosity. The good folks of Faith truly embody God's grace in action, and I'm as grateful for their spiritual support as for their financial support of the trip. From this point forward, any and all funds donated will go toward medications and supplies for our medical outreach.

Special thanks also to the Sunday School children, who listened and responded to my presentation with patience and wisdom beyond their years. They even sent pictures of themselves from their Christmas pagent that I can't wait to share with children I meet in Indonesia! [Note to the little ones in front: thanks to your help, even a blonde orangutan can make a difference for kids far away. ;-)]

Donations and Support

2009-01-01T06:33:00.001-08:00

Those wishing to support the mission financially:

To make a tax-free donation, please donate through Faith Lutheran Church. Checks can be made out to Faith Lutheran Church with the comment: Missions - Indonesia

Mail to: Faith Lutheran Church, 1300 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Those wishing to support the mission with gifts of supplies, please consult the following list and bring any needed supplies to the "Lauryl - Indonesia" box in the nursery at BMC or contact Lauryl directly.

Needed supplies:

Vitamins
Hydrocortisone cream
Antibiotic cream
Antifungal cream
Band aids
Tape
Gauze pads
Alcohol wipes
Kling
Ace wraps
Gloves
Masks
Hand sanitizer
Any hospital “discards” durable or nondurable
(Dr Oyeiyo is looking for pediatric instruments/equipment in particular)
Toothpaste
Tooth brushes

Please make sure any medications collected have at least a 1 year out date of expiration.
Gently used children’s clothes
Dum Dum suckers
Candy,
Pencils or stickers to give to the children

Medical kits usually contain in a 1 gal Ziploc bag:
Wash cloth
Small tooth paste
Toothbrush (es)
Travel size shampoo
6 band aids
Comb
Purse-size hand sanitizer or wipes
Hotel or travel size soap (optional)

assorted articles on missions & Aceh

2009-01-01T06:10:00.000-08:00

Update on Lutheran World Missions in Aceh
Read this if you read nothing else. The most recent article I could find on activities by the Lutheran church in Indonesia, including building a school and credit union around Aceh, from the Lutheran Reporter.

LCMS in Aceh
Article in a secular newspaper about an LCMS pastor previously based in Papua who responded to the tsunami immediately, and is now still working in northern Sumatra through the local school districts and in English teacher training. The tsunami and years of war wreaked such havoc in northern Sumatra that aid groups have struggled to establish schools, not because there are no students but because there are no teachers. LCMS and World Missions are working to train the next generation of teachers.

Lutheran World Missions - 50 Faces of Mercy
Illustrates the many different ways LCMS World Relief and Human Care impacts the lives of those who serve and are served by the missions -- and shows how fluid the deliniation is between "served" and "serving."

Lutheran World Missions and the Indonesia trip

2009-01-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

From February 14-25, Lauryl Smith, who is currently a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner working at Boston Medical Center, will travel with a Lutheran World Missions Mercy Medical Team (MMT) to Aceh, Indonesia. While there the team will set up clinics for care with the extremely underserved poor on the island of Sumatra. The temporary clinics will be set up near the LCMS office in Aceh and the surrounding area of the northern part of the island. LMCS World Relief and Human Care currently has projects under development in Aceh following the destruction from the Tsunami, including an English teacher training school.

The cost of the trip, including travel to and from the site, visas and immunizations, is the responsibility of the participant. Additionally, funds are urgently needed for purchase of medications upon arrival in Jakarta to be transported to Aceh by the team. Those who wish to give financial or supply donations may do so through Faith Lutheran Church's missions fund. Lauryl will return in the spring with a presentation on the mission.

More information on MMTs: Mercy Medical Tams work in conjunction with LCMS partner churches or congregations overseas that already are serving their communities. As team members treat patients, they also improve the ability of local hospitals and clinics to better care for people once the team returns home. Along with treating physial ailments, Mercy Medical Teams help LCMS partners build capacity to address spiritual needs.