The Anthis Family Adventures
Volume 4, Issue #3 joel.anthis@sim.org
www.anthisfamily.com May, 2005
Anthis family in Nigeria
Anthis Update
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from Nigeria! We continue to be amazed at the good works “which God has prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10b). We have clearly seen His hand in the work He has given us. Take MM, who is a young Muslim man. His mother comes regularly to Cindy’s weekly clinic for impoverished Muslim women. One week she brought along her son for Cindy to examine. He has had chronic hearing loss and drainage from one of his ears. Cindy started him on medicine and referred him to Joel. Because they are destitute, he had never before seen a doctor for this problem. Joel was able to see him at the hospital and operate on him to close the hole in his ear drum. During his treatment process, both Joel and Cindy were able to pray and share the Gospel with him. Joel gave him the Gospel of John in Hausa, and he returned the next week having read the whole thing. He continues to have more pointed questions, and is open to the Truth he has heard and experienced, but is concerned about possible persecution. Please pray for MM, that God would draw him into a saving faith and relationship. Thanks to all of you who are a part of working with us to bring the Gospel to people like MM.
Medical Rounds
Joel has been faced with many challenging medical cases since coming to Nigeria. Many have stretched his abilities to the limit and allowed us to clearly see the hand of the Lord in the healing that has occurred. One such patient is Emmanuel. In early December 2004, Joel got a call from the Nigerian family practice resident on call to come quickly to the hospital. Emmanuel is a homeless young man in his 20’s who had been working in a commercial bakery in Jos. An oven exploded sending a scorching hot pipe several inches in diameter and six feet long up through his face including his right jaw, mouth, nose, sinuses, right eye, and forehead. When Joel arrived in the hospital, he found Emmanuel with the pipe still protruding through his face, and resting on his chest and abdomen where it had caused severe burns. He was conscious and it was obvious the pipe had somehow missed his brain. The hospital staff tells us now that no one thought he could survive such an injury and that he was a lost cause.
Joel went to work securing a tracheostomy so he could breathe, and the Lord mercifully spared Emmanuel’s life. Over the next two months Emmanuel lived in our tiny one room, four bed “ICU” requiring intense daily efforts to maintain his life. He endured daily dressing changes in the operating room, and saw 30 other patients die over the course of his time in the ICU. Death and suffering are so common here. Our family prayed for the miracle of healing in his life every day. As a family we visited Emmanuel and Abby sang songs to him. Through prayers and encouragement from Joel and hospital staff, Emmanuel slowly began to heal from the inside out. Though he has endured numerous large reconstructive operations and has more to come, he now has the joy of the Lord. It is clearly evident on his face. Emmanuel’s presence in the hospital all these many months has been a powerful testimony to all who see him and have heard his story. He has most recently had his jaw reconstructed by a visiting oral surgeon and Joel, and he is now able to speak through a special valve in his tracheostomy. Please pray for Emmanuel, that God would make him whole and use him as a testimony for the Gospel.
Edward (Emmanuel’s brother and only family), Joel, and Emmanuel
Hall of Fame
We have had several visitors over the last several months. Newly wed medical students Derek and Jackie Meeks joined us for a month. They are both finishing up medical school at UT Houston and came to work with us on an extended honeymoon! While they were here, they and two other medical students from the UK staffed a clinic for a village medical outreach. When it was all over in one day they had seen and treated more than 300 patients and 40 had prayed to receive the Lord.
Dr. David Ash also joined the Hall of Fame in the last month. Dr. Ash is an oral surgeon who came to visit specifically to help Joel reconstruct Emmanuel’s jaw. While here he also helped several other patients. And our most recent addition to the Hall of Fame was Jeff Chadwick, Director of World Outreach. He came to see our work and to encourage us. We were blessed to have him with us. You too can become a member of the Hall of Fame, just let us know when you are coming!
Derek and Jackie Meeks honeymooning in Nigeria! Dr. Ash and Joel working on Emmanuel. Rev Jeff Chadwick visits us too.
Kid’s Corner
The kids are finishing their school year well. Both Austin and Allison have achieved yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do. Austin played “She Will Be Coming Around the Mountain When She Comes” perfectly in his piano recital. Allison and Austin both received the Presidential Award for Physical Fitness. Abby has graduated from play group and will begin preschool three days a week in the Fall. We thank God for all the kids have seen and learned over the last year.
Abby loves babies Allison and Austin ready for Tae Kwon Do
Prayer and Praise
Praises:
- For the ministry opportunities that God has given us here
- For Emmanuel’s continued healing
- For completion of a very challenging school year for our kids
Prayer Requests:
- For continued safety and peace, especially for the kids
- For the short-term mission volunteers who are coming to work with us over the next few months
- Pray that our time as a family this summer would be refreshing.
Serving Christ on your behalf here in Nigeria,
Joel and Cindy
Austin, Allison, and Abigail
|
17197 N. Laurel Park Dr., Ste 567 Livonia, MI 48152 |